Ed Bethell has high hopes for unexposed sprinter Yorkshire ahead of his comeback in the six-furlong BetUK. Home Of The Acca-Fenwa Handicap (3.05pm) at Newcastle tomorrow, Friday, November 3.
Yorkshire made a promising start to his career with a pair of novice victories, including at Southwell in March, before being touched off on his handicap debut at the same track in May.
The son of Harry Angel has been sidelined since disappointing favourite backers in a seven-furlong handicap at York later the same month, during which time he has been gelded and undergone wind surgery.
Bethell, who celebrated a breakthrough G1 success with Regional in September, said: “Yorkshire has enjoyed a break and this looks a nice opportunity to get him back on the track after a wind operation.
“He is a very nice horse and I love him to pieces. He looked promising earlier in the year and then basically I got it wrong by running him at York.
“He seemingly has come back from the wind operation a different horse and hopefully he can run a big race at Newcastle.
“The stiff six furlongs should play to his strengths, although he might just need the race given he has been off since May.”
Elsewhere on the all-weather, Shadwell runner Mostabshir (John & Thady Gosden) looks to rediscover his early promise in the Little Leighs Handicap (4.30pm) at Chelmsford on Saturday.
Successful first time out at Kempton Park last year, the half-brother to multiple G1 winner and Breeders’ Cup contender Mostahdaf powered to a five-length victory in a novice at York’s Dante Meeting.
He has tackled Stakes company on three subsequent appearances, including finishing sixth in the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
At Deauville on Sunday, Fast Raaj could bid to make it six wins from eight all-weather appearances for Yann Barberot in the Listed Prix Irish River.
Kempton Park stages the Listed RacingTV Floodlit Stakes on Monday, in which Godolphin’s unbeaten Measured Time (Charlie Appleby) may clash with recent Newcastle scorer Blanchland (Jane Chapple-Hyam).
Further Listed action takes place at Lingfield Park on Tuesday, with Finals Day heroine Queen Aminatu (William Haggas) in line to bid for back-to-back wins in the BetMGM Fleur De Lys EBF Fillies' Stakes.
A strong list of entries for the mile contest includes Zellie (John & Thady Gosden), who landed the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac for Andre Fabre in 2021, and Winter Oaks winner Al Agaila (Simon & Ed Crisford).
Roger Varian’s Divine Jewel, who was beaten a head in the G3 Stanerra Stakes at Leopardstown in July, sets the standard in the Listed BetMGM River Eden EBF Fillies' Stakes later on the card.
