We have four runners on Friday evening at Newcastle on the all weather Tapeta surface where it is currently riding standard to slow.
Merlin's Gold has yet to show any real signs of ability in three runs last season as a two year old, and also at Ripon six days ago when failing to beat a rival. He now steps up to two miles in first time cheek pieces. The race is a 0-60 handicap at 5.23.pm, for three year old's only, with Aiden Brookes whose claim is now down to 5lb, riding him for the first time.
Frankelio makes his British all weather debut at 7.04.pm, in a 0-70 handicap over seven furlongs, with Aiden Brookes who rode him at Thirsk last August on board. Frankelio has run well on both his previous attempts on the all weather as a three year old in France, and looked set for a good season when finishing third at Wetherby back in June, but his two runs since have been disappointing. Frankelio is probably seen to best effect over a mile, but if he is back to his best he might just get away with this stiff seven.
Western Melody was having her first start in four months at Carlisle 10 days ago when racing keenly, but still finishing a respectable fourth, that was only her fifth career start so there could be more to come. She has run well on the all weather before, including here at Newcastle, and this seven furlongs looks like her trip. The race is a 0-55 handicap at 8.14.pm, with Aiden Brookes who was second on her at Wolverhampton in March taking the ride.
The Retriever returns to his favoured all weather surface at 8.45.pm, in division 2 of the 0-55 handicap over seven furlongs, where once again his regular pilot Aiden Brookes is in the saddle. The Retriever has ran his last three races on turf when failing once again to reach the first three from a 12lb lower mark than now, which appears to confirm that he is much more at home on the all weather. His all weather mark of 56 still looks a little on the high side, but his prominent running, and consistency on the surface must give him some sort of a shout in this.
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Good luck to the connections, Oakwood Racing, Forty Forty Twenty, The Rat Pack Racing Club, and RM&T Holdings Limited & Partners.
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