Surfing The Sand

PARIS TO LIGHT UP NEWCASTLE FEATURE

John and Thady Gosden have found LIGHT OF PARIS (NAP) a clear opportunity in the feature race at Newcastle on Friday, the Midnite A Next Generation Betting App Handicap (2.53).

The daughter of Sea The Stars ran with credit on her handicap debut in Class 2 company at Newmarket after floundering in soft ground in Listed company at Goodwood.

This stiff 10f looks tailor-made for Robert Havlin’s filly, who gives me the impression she is well treated, dropping in grade off an unchanged mark of 87. What’s more, she will benefit from a 3lb weight-for-age allowance.

Top weight Twisting Physics is an interesting contender back on the All-Weather after winning at Windsor in the summer and then running well in defeat in the Chesterfield Cup at Goodwood. He has done well fresh in the past but must give his unexposed rival 6lb.

FRANKEL FILLY CATCHES MY EYE

Though she has something to prove, Ed Walker’s Frankel filly FRANTIC catches my eye in the Midnite: Built for 2026 Not 2006 Handicap (5.30) at Newcastle.

She is without a win in eight starts but has shown more than enough ability to win at this level. Indeed, she is 5lb lower than when second in a 6f handicap at Leicester in May.

Well drawn in stall 10 and with Kieran Shoemark in charge, she promises to enjoy this stiff 5f after showing speed before fading in easy ground over 6f at Yarmouth last time. The addition of first-time blinkers should also sharpen her up.

Dangers are aplenty, with top track trainer Jim Goldie’s Hamilton winner Thistle Nil stepping onto a synthetic surface for the first time under capable 5lb claimer Rhys Elliott, while Simba’s Pride made a good impression on his All-Weather debut over course and distance.

MIDGLEY SPRINTER HOLDS CLAIMS IN TRICKY FINALE

GET UP EVERYBODY has the credentials to go well in the closing Make The Move To Midnite Handicap Division II (7.00) at Newcastle. Paul Midgley’s sprinter takes on five last time out winners in a tricky puzzle but a reproduction of his course and distance effort two starts ago will see him in the mix.

He came from a long way back to almost gun down Blazing Son off just a 1lb lower mark before finding himself too far out of his ground over 7f at Gosforth Park last time.

Of those reappearing on the back of a win, Rebecca Menzies’ Catterick specialist Battenburg Belle looks progressive enough to overcome a 6lb penalty but faces a contrasting test over this straight, stiff 6f. 

RIDGER TO BOUNCE BACK FOR BILLY

Ollie Sangster’s RIDGER was unlucky to bump into a prolific rival in his pursuit of a hat-trick at Wolverhampton last time but can quickly get back to winning ways in the Midnite Building The Future Of Betting Handicap (3.13) at Southwell on Saturday.

He came to win his race under Oisin Murphy, only to be narrowly outpointed by James Owen’s subsequent dual scorer Mini Mac, whose challenge came from a different part of the track.

With champion jockey Billy Loughnane taking over, Ridger has been found a clear chance to win again off just a 1lb higher rating, though any market support for Mick Appleby’s stable debutant Teggy Lasso could prove significant.

MASTER WELL TREATED ON SOUTHWELL RETURN

MASTER OF MY FATE has produced some of his best performances over the straight 5f at Southwell and must be of interest in the Create Your Bet Builders At Midnite Handicap (5.30) on Saturday.

John and Sean Quinn’s five-year-old has been keeping better company on turf since scoring twice over course and distance earlier in the year. Returning from a three and a half-month break, he has run well fresh in the past and is 4lb lower than his win in a better race in April.

Mick Appleby’s Bona Fortuna is clearly on the improve as she demonstrated when chasing home the useful Rhythm N Hooves over this 5f last time so must be respected off an unchanged mark.

FOLLOW UP ON CARDS FOR CASTLE

Michael Wigham can capitalise on some smart placing with FRAM CASTLE (NB) in the 2m Join The Midnite Movement Apprentice Handicap (6.30) at Southwell on Saturday.

The five-year-old came from a long way back to score over 1m6f at this track last week under John Egan and should prove tough to deny off just a 3lb higher mark with the jockey’s daughter Alexandra Egan taking off 5lb.

A Kempton winner over 2m last year, he stays the longer trip well and can put himself in with a chance of sharing the first monthly bonus by securing what could be an unpenalised win at the Nottinghamshire track.

EYE-CATCHERS

SHADOW BOXER

Simon Crisford’s gelding bumped into one in a 1m novice at Southwell last week, won by the potentially smart Beaujon. Now placed in all three starts, the son of Too Darn Hot can capitalise on a workable opening mark of 75, possibly over slightly further. 

HELL OF AN ANGEL

Making ground up from the rear has never been easy around Chelmsford City but Terry Kent’s filly made steady headway up the deeper inside part of the track to finish a closing third on her debut in a 6f maiden on Monday. This daughter of Harry Angel cost only 4,000 gns at the breeze-ups in the spring but this was a promising start.

ENAMORED

Ed Dunlop’s filly also made up a lot of ground off the home turn to beat all but the short-priced favourite in a 6f nursery at Chelmsford on Monday. On this evidence, the Brighton maiden winner looks worth a try over the stiff 6f at Newcastle or possible even an easy seven. Her dam Red Box was a Listed winner over 1m.

SOVEREIGN BAY

James Owen conjured instant improvement out of this maiden on his stable debut in an 8.5f handicap at Wolverhampton on Monday. He was given a patient ride to finish second and should be able to build on this in Class 5 company in the coming weeks.