Newcastle and Wetherby

the only jumps racing today comes from Newcastle and Wetherby and a glance at the map will show how stupid this is. However some trainers based much further south have sent runners, including Nigel Twiston-Davies, who has two fancied runners at Wetherby, Big Casino at 16.20 CET and Arthur´s Secret at 16.55, both partnered by son Sam. Both have run a couple of disappointing races but have been dropped in the weights and now look attractively handicapped if back to form. Sam also rides Philip Kirby´s Hail the Brave at 15.50; he has not been seen since winning easily over this CD on Boxing Day, but must have a good chance if in the same form, while Cowslip (George Moore/ Joseph Palmowski), a recent course winner, is the obvious danger.

These are all moderate handicaps, and they also make up most of the card at Newcastle. The best race here is the handicap chase over 2 1/2 miles at 16.40. Montoya´s Son (Keith Dalgleish/ Craig Nicol) is going for a five-timer here and De Vous a Moi (Sue Smith/ Jonathan England) for a hat-trick. Clearly they can score again but this is a very tricky race and our preference is for top-weight Shadows Lengthen (Mick Easterby/ Jake Greenall) who has plenty of winning form to his credit and is certainly capable of winning in this grade. An interesting pedigree here is that of Next Hight (Smith/ England) in the handicap chase at 16.50. He is from the third crop of High Chaparral, now a superstar stallion, out of German Oaks winner Night Petticoat; he is bred to win the German Derby, as did his half-brother Next Desert. He has been a total disappointment and is also very inconsistent, but we would not be at all surprised to see him pop up at a big price some time - possibly even today.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Mossies Well - Donna`s Pride - U Name It
2. Race: Gin Cobbler - Shine A Diamond - Rosquero
3. Race: Honourable Gent - King`S Chorister - Copt Hill
4. Race: De Vous A Moi - And The Man - Montoya`S Son
5. Race: Ivan Boru - Avidity - Pearl Castle
6. Race: Notonebuttwo - What A Dream - Ultra Du Chatelet
7. Race: Whichwaytobougie - Purple Harry - Lakefield Rebel