Magpies duo keep eyes on Cheltenham

Newcastle United’s dream run of form has denied coach Terry McDermott and captain Alan Shearer the chance to join their horses on the annual pilgrimage to the Cheltenham Festival this week.

The pair are part-owners of tomorrow’s Smurfit Champion Hurdle hopeful Intersky Falcon, but Wednesday evening’s second-leg Uefa Cup tie against Olympiakos at St James’ Park means they will have to watch the action deep in the Cotswolds from afar.

“I won’t be there, unfortunately, as we have a game on Wednesday – I’m gutted,” McDermott said today.

McDermott and Shearer have formed a strong friendship through their Intersky racing link, and the coach will be keeping a watchful eye on Shearer’s other Festival chances during the meeting.

“Alan has got two other runners, Covent Garden on Wednesday (in the Coral Cup) and Akilak on Friday (in the JCB Triumph Hurdle), and he can’t go either as we have got a job to do here,” he added.

“It’s all going very well at Newcastle, though. We have won our last seven games and with the luck we are having, lets hope it carries on into the racing.

“My nap of the week would be Brewster (in the Brit Insurance Novices’ Hurdle on Friday), but my next best would be Akilak in the Triumph – I haven’t backed it, but I will do.”