Warwick and Newcastle

6 meetings today but the main action this afternoon is at Warwick and Newcastle. The top event at Warwick is the listed 7 furlongs race for 3yo fillies at 16.40 CET, with a tie-in to 1,000 Guineas form in 3 countries. Winning Express (Ed McMahon/ James Doyle) was fourth in the Newmarket version, Exactement 9th at the Curragh and Senafe (Marco Botti/ Neil Callan) third at Düsseldorf.

Senafe has since run badly at Royal Ascot - two more of these were unplaced in the same race - and it is clear that the Newmarket form of Winning Express is far superior to anything any of the others can offer, especially as ther winner there, Sky Lantern, confirmed the form in no uncertain manner at Ascot. A possible opponent is Victrix Ludorum (Richard Hannon/ Richard Hughes), just beaten at Windsor last time and representing the Sky Lantern Team, but Winning Express only has to reproduce her Newmarket form- or for that matter her second place last year in the Cheveley Park, to win here.

Newcastle´s 3-day Northumberland Plate meeting starts today. Main event on today´s card is the mile handicap at 16.00. Top weight is Validus (Luca Cumani/ Jamie Spencer), who was hampered on his only start this season, at Epsom´s April meeting over 10 furlongs. He is lightly-raced and not far off listed class and can win here despite the weight concessions. Galician (Mark Johnszton/ Graham Lee) and Dubai Dynamo (Riuth carr/ Peter McDonald) have been running almost every week; they keep their form well but look exposed, and bigger dangers could come from Dance and Dance (Ed Vaughan/ Joe Fanning) and Balducci (David Simcock/ Martin Lane) both of whom have been dropped in the weights after some below-par performances. However our suggestion is My Freedom (Saeed bin Suroor/ Silvestre de Sousa) with the Godolphin runners now in top form. He has not run since the Meydan meeting in February but goes well fresh.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Saigon City - Ziekhani - Muthmir
2. Race: Buy Art - Winnie Perry - Buy Art
3. Race: Alnoomaas - Indian Affair - Picture Dealer
4. Race: Victrix Ludorum - Exactement - Sorella Bella
5. Race: Whitefall - Al Thumama - Echo Brava
6. Race: Paphos - Dutch Mistress - Tartan Trip