Northwest Frontier made a pleasing come back from a 14 month break when only fading from two out, when finishing forth of the five runners at Beverley four weeks ago.He is a horse of above average ability, already being a four time winner, the latest being at York, from a mark of 86, back in 2018.He is now becoming well handicapped again, and will run on Friday from a mark of 82.At the time of writing the ground is good to firm, a surface which will suit, and the trip of two miles, and one furlong is fine, P J McDonald will ride him for the first time.
Good luck to the connections, Craig & Laura Buckingham.
Northwest Frontier was a late starter, not making his racecourse debut until June of his three year old career, when trained by Richard Fahey, and running in the famous silks of Sir Robert Ogden.He made his racecourse debut at Ripon over 10 furlongs, staying on well to finish third. Just over two weeks later at Redcar he got off the mark, over the same trip at odds of 4/6.He stepped up to 12 furlongs for his handicap debut, off a mark of 77, at Hamilton, finishing third, before going down by a short head at Thirsk in August, over the same trip.His next race was in the Melrose Handicap at York's Ebor meeting, over 14 furlongs, where he finished eighth beaten just over seven lengths.He raced on a further three occasions as a three year old, including his All Weather debut at Kempton in November, but never really got competitive.
Northwest Frontier returned in April 2018, over 12 furlongs at Thirsk, finishing sixth, and 12 days later over the same trip, this time at Musselburgh, he finished third.It was on his next start at Nottingham when stepped up to two miles for the first time, that saw him return to the winners enclosure, winning easily from a reduced mark of 73.He followed up eight days later at Ripon, over their two miles. once again winning without coming off the bridle.He was dropped back to 13 furlongs at Ayr in June, and finished second, but back over two miles at York in July he won again, taking his rating to a career high of 90.In three further runs for the Fahey yard, he couldn't get competitive, but he was highly tried at Goodwood, and again at York, twice.
Northwest Frontier has raced twice for us to date, in April 2019, over the two miles at Ripon, when having his first race in nearly seven months, he ran well off 90, to finish forth of the seven runners, beaten under eight lengths.He wasn't so good on his next start at York in May,missing the break, and then weakening from three out.
Northwest Frontier has been given plenty of time to freshen up, and is obviously a quality performer, he probably acts on most types of going, but Good to Firm would be a bonus, and two miles looks like his trip.