Newcastle (N.H.) and Southwell (a.w.)

Following the abandonment of Folkestone´s poor N.H. card, there are now only two modest meetings in the U.K. today, all-weather racing at Southwell and over jumps at Newcastle on very testing ground. At Southwell the main event is a 7 furlongs handicap at 17.00 CET. Most of the runners are regulars here, but have been mainly racing over 6 furlongs, but top-weight Nightjar (Kevin and Amy Ryan), runner-up here last time over 6 with Ingleby Arch well behind, did win 3 times over this CD last winter and could score again today.

Bel Cantor (Bill Ratcliffe/ Kelly Harrison) and Onceuponatime (Michael Squance/ Luke Morris) finished second and third here last week, also over 6, and could take the minor places again. The mile handicap at 16.30 looks very open, but bottom-weght Trans Sonic (James Hetherton/ James Sullivan) won so easily over CD last week that he can win again under a penalty, even though this opposition looks tougher. With the stable still going great guns, Mark Johnson´s Elusive Fame (Joe Fanning) could be the danger, but German-bred Full Speed (Alan Swinbank/ Robert Winston) also looks interesting; he is having his first run on the all-weather, his first race since the summer and is running over a much shorter trip than usual. There are also two horses with good German pedigrees running in the 1 1(/2 mile handicap at 18.00. Tyrana (Ian Williams/ Steven Donohoe), by Acatenango, was only beaten a head over this CD last time, while the Monsun filly Glorybe (Colin Bealby/ Dane O´Neill), a wi nner at Cologne last June, is having her first run in Britain. However the logical selection here is Sarah´s Boy (David Pipe/ Greg Fairley), who made all to win similar race here last week very easily and can now defy a 6 lbs penalty.

Newcastle goes ahead after an early morning inspection, but the going will be very heavy. These conditions will be in favour of Sammy Spiderman (Alistair Whillans/ Brian Harding) in the 3 mile handicap chase at 17.10. The two bottom weights Tree House and Sycho Fred, both last time out winners, could be dangerous, as is Gilsland, representing the in-form team of Donald McCain and Jason Maguire. However a more likely winner for this duo is Seedless in the mares novice hurdle at 15.40; she has never yet been placed in 10 outings on the flat and over jumps, but her two fourth places could well be good enough in this very modest company. Devil´s Delight (Jimmy Moffatt/ James Smith) won for the first time after 22 poor efforts when winning under this jockey on heavy ground at Sedgefield last week and she can follow up under bottom weight in the handicap hurdle at 16.40.