Newcastle - Sat 28/6/08

[fintron]

Newcastle 2.10 <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Greek Renaissance is a proven group winner after scoring in a group 3 at Newmarket last season. He’s proven with a bit of cut in the ground and is proven over the distance. Beckermet has never won above listed level, and although Confuchias won over CD to win this last year, he was well beaten by Green Renaissance in the aforementioned race at Newmarket. Utmost Respect has won handicaps and conditions races but was well beaten when raced in group company before, Zidane has won at listed level but not fared greatly in Group races of late and was beaten by the Godolphin runner too, plus the fact Spencer rides I find off-putting. Lady Grace has won listed races but not carried it into group races, and although Philario won a group 3, that was on the all-weather and he has disappointed in listed races on the turf of late. Brave Prospector won a handicap LTO but has never scored in pattern races. Burnwynd Boy is the same – never won a pattern race.

Newcastle 3.20

Carte Diamond can hopefully give local boy Brian Ellison a birthday treat here by picking up the Northumberland plate. He was trained for the Melbourne Cup and during a training run at Flemington crashed through the rail, throwing off the jockey and piercing himself though his back end by the rail. Vets said he wouldn’t live but he battled back and Ellison kept faith with a horse that was only 1 length behind the legendary Sergeant Cecil at York in 2005. He returned from a three year break at Doncaster earlier this season when I backed him in a race won by Soapy Danger, but he stayed on well at the end. NTO he was tried in Group 3 at Chester and finished 3^rd to McArthur. He was 4.25 l behind the winner that day, but drops back into a handicap here. Hope he can go well.

[Rainbow]

Re: Newcastle - Sat 28/6/08 my best bet of the day would be zidane 0.5 pts ew 210 newc. should get pace to stalk and in good enough form to run it down. strong finisher and should go close under a jockey that's ideal to ride him the way he likes.