Andrew Balding targets a fourth consecutive victory in the BetMGM All-Weather 3 Year Old Championships Handicap (1.50pm) with Silent Strike, following Berkshire Whisper, Fire Demon and Desert Cop.
Like Berkshire Whisper, Silent Strike makes his handicap debut on the back of three starts in maiden and novice company, which have yielded a win and two seconds. Northern Empire boasts a similar profile for Ed Walker, although all three of his starts have come over further.
Al Najashi (pictured) has made the largest handicap gains of any Finals Day contender this season, climbing 32lb to 85 for Ollie Sangster following four straight victories. Stablemate Eternal Solace, among four fillies in the field, caught the eye when third in her prep race at Kempton Park.
Top weight Ten Carat Harry has proved a revelation as well this term. Jamie Osborne’s runner completed a four-timer of his own at Newcastle’s AWC Trials Day in January and subsequently finished third in the Listed BetMGM Spring Cup.
Saffron Dandy landed the trial at Lingfield Park for Richard Hannon, although she was not so good next time when sixth behind impressive winner Ghost Mode at Southwell – a race in which Monarch’s Gold (Kevin Philippart de Foy), Rogue Supremacy (Archie Watson) and Jungle Ruler (Mick Appleby) finished ahead of her.
Lightly raced duo Three Non Blondes and Sparksmith arrive on the back of career-bests for Karl Burke and James Ferguson, while Adrian Keatley’s Cotai Lights was a staying-on third in the Madrid Handicap at Naas two weeks ago.
One And Gone, who was not disgraced in either of the trials for Ian Williams, is towards the foot of the weights alongside Linda Perratt’s course scorer Justmyluck. Brian Ellison’s Elizabetty is first reserve.
Runners chasing a £15,000 bonus:
Saffron Dandy
Ten Carat Harry
The view from connections
Andrew Balding, trainer of Silent Strike, said: “He was a late starter and has a similar profile to Berkshire Whisper. While the handicapper has not taken any chances with an opening mark of 90, he is improving all the time and I do think he should be competitive off that rating.”
Ollie Sangster, trainer of Al Najashi and Eternal Solace, said: “Al Najashi has progressed nicely through the ranks this winter and we have purposely freshened him up. He is off a career-high mark, so we will find out whether the handicapper has him in his grip, but I would be hopeful of another positive performance. Eternal Solace has form with Ten Carat Harry earlier in the season. She ran well in her prep for this and deserves to take her chance.”
Ed Walker, trainer of Northern Empire, said: “I have always thought of him as quite a smart horse. He was outstayed over a mile by a nice Teofilo colt [Guildmaster] of Godolphin’s, so we dropped him back to seven and he dominated from the front. Tom Marquand rode him that day and felt he had bags of speed. We are taking a punt coming back to six, but we think he might get away with it on a stiff track like Newcastle. Ashley Lewis takes a handy 5lb off and we think he will run a big race.”
Jamie Osborne, trainer of Ten Carat Harry, said: “This has been the plan since he won off 90 at Newcastle in January. I was worried January to April was going to be too long, so we gave him a run in the Spring Cup and he acquitted himself well. I think the stiff six at Newcastle is more to his liking, although the draw [14] could have been kinder. He is ready to run his best race, it is just a question of whether there will be something better handicapped against him.”
James Ferguson, trainer of Sparksmith, said: “This is a big step up for him, but we think he deserves to be there. He is improving with every run. I thought he was unlucky not to win at Kempton with the head bob, as we were in front before and after the line. I think the stiff track at Newcastle will help him, while we are taking 7lb off with Harry Vigors, who has had a sit on the horse at home. I think he is well handicapped.”
Karl Burke, trainer of Three Non Blondes, said: “She has done well over the winter and has come back good from a little break. We will find out here whether she is well handicapped or not. I would be hopeful rather than confident.”
Richard Hannon, trainer of Saffron Dandy, said: “She won the trial at Lingfield and then we had to back her up relatively quickly to get qualified. She is a scopey filly and I am pretty sure there is more improvement in her.”
Mick Appleby, trainer of Jungle Ruler, said: “He is a decent horse. We freshened him up a bit after his two runs in January, so he should come forward from his run at Southwell last time. The six furlongs at Newcastle should suit him. I can see him running a good race.”
Hollie Doyle, rider of Rogue Supremacy, said: “He is a horse we have not had too long. He won a nursery off 87 as a two-year-old and then was only beaten a neck in the Sirenia Stakes, which he probably paid the price for in terms of a handicap mark. He is down to 94 now and I think Newcastle will suit him.”
Ian Williams, trainer of One And Gone, said: “He has been running well in competitive races. He gets in with a low weight and, although he will be taking on a classy type of horse, we have had this pencilled in his calendar for a long time.”
