AMANDA PERRETT saddled Bangalore to win the John Smith’s Northumberland Plate (3.15) three years ago and is fancied to provide the answer again with Tungsten Strike at Newcastle today.
This four-year-old showed progressive form last season, putting up his best effort when beating Carte Diamond and Lochbuie in listed company at Newmarket in September. That form is rock solid, with the runner-up subsequently landing the November Handicap and Lochbuie, who reopposes on 9lb worse terms, finishing second in the group two Henry II Stakes at Sandown last month.
Tungsten Strike tackled an inadequate 1½-mile trip in a hot handicap at Epsom on his reappearance, shaping with plenty of promise in finishing seventh of 20 behind Crow Wood. A high draw here is a worry, with only two horses managing to overcome a double-figure stall in the past ten renewals. Both of those raced close to the pace and the front-running Tungsten Strike should be able to take up a similarly handy position before winding the pace up in the home straight. He looks much too big at the 28-1 offered by Ladbrokes.
The John Smith’s Extra Cold Chipchase Stakes (2.10) can go to Beckermet. Time may well show that he faced an impossible task against the classy Iffraaj in last week’s Wokingham Handicap, and he was the only one to make a race of it with the winner in the final quarter-mile. Provided that he is none the worse for those exertions on extremely firm ground, he should cope with this step up to group three company.
The best bet of the day is Rising Shadow in the totescoop6 Northern Sprint Handicap (2.40). He put up a remarkable effort over this course and distance on his penultimate start, having no luck in running before making up at least five lengths in the final furlong to lead close home. He again did better than the bare result suggests at Epsom last time, beaten just two heads behind Gift Horse and Bahiano despite being badly drawn. A 3lb rise in the weights for that run is far from harsh and he looks sure to go close.
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Namroud, a useful performer two years ago when trained by Sir Michael Stoute, has returned to form on his past two starts and remains well treated in the Journal Good Morning Handicap (3.45). He found only Acomb (winner again since) too good at Ayr last time and can go one better.