The going at Newcastle on Tuesday at the time of writing is good to soft, soft in places, while for the bumper which will be run on the Tapeta, it is predicted to be standard to slow.
First up at 12.50.pm, in the two miles bumper for unraced horses is Elena De La Vega who missed her intended engagement at Wetherby on Saturday due to the very soft ground. Elena De La Vega is a flat bred, and will be the fifth produce of her dam who was a winner at two years old, and stayed 10 furlongs, to see a racecourse. The pick of her siblings would be Robbie Roo Roo who was a four times winner back in 2016 and 2017, she will be partnered by our stable conditional jockey Emma Smith-Chaston.
In four starts since arriving from France the five year old gelding Trac is yet to get competitive, which has seen his mark drop by 20lb. His French form over hurdles and fences suggests that on a soft surface he should be capable from this mark of 83. The race is at 1.25.pm, a 0-110 handicap hurdle over two miles with Alain Cawley retaining the ride.
At 2.25.pm, in the maiden hurdle over two and a half miles Great Ballinboris makes a quick transition to hurdles, having made his racecourse debut in a bumper at Wetherby 11 days ago, he will once again be partnered by Becky Smith. Great Ballinboris made a very promising start to his career in that race when finishing fourth, having raced freely, he didn't give best until a furlong out, and he will be much more at home over obstacles.
The ex Irish Disc Donc has already picked up some nice place money from his two starts for us, although he hasn't yet looked like winning. He once again takes on Class 3 opponents, from a mark now 10lb lower than when making his debut for us at Haydock last month. The majority of his form in Ireland, and for us, has been around two miles so this is a significant step up in trip to two miles and seven furlongs. The race is at 2.55.pm, with Alain Cawley retaining the ride.
We are doubly represented at 3.25.pm, in a 0-120 handicap hurdle over the extended two miles and seven furlongs. Furax hasn't been seen since finishing last of the 11 runners at Catterick in February of last year. That was his first run for us since arriving from France in December 2020. He was the winner of a hurdle and a chase when trained in France, and will race from a mark of 120 which is 7lb lower than his opening mark at Catterick, he will be partnered by Jamie Hamilton for the first time.
Our other runner in the race is Penpal who steps up to this trip for the first time.Since arriving from France in the autumn of 2020 he has raced on eight occasions with the pick of his form coming when finishing fourth at Catterick in novice hurdle company in December 2020. Since then he has struggled in handicap company, which has seen his mark drop from 120 to 94, he will as always be partnered by Alain Cawley.
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Good luck to the connections, Grange Park Racing X1v, Randall Orchard & Partners, John Burnett, Ursa Major And Partners, and The Golden Cuckoo.