Dark to land Gosforth prize
Out After Dark can strike for trainer Clive Cox in the Northern Rock Gosforth Park Cup at Newcastle tomorrow evening.
The five-furlong race is the highlight of day two of the Northumberland Plate fixture and will set the scene for a fantastic afternoon’s racing on Saturday.
Cox’s four-year-old lines up for tomorrow’s feature under a 3lb penalty after just seeing off Dame De Noche at Beverley earlier in the week.
Out After Dark displayed a determined attitude that day and has been in good heart all season, having made the frame in a competitive heat at Goodwood last month after again scoring over the minimum distance at Beverley.
While on a roll, it is worth siding with the improving gelding and he can see off some more exposed rivals in Newcastle’s feature race.
Folkestone hosts the pick of the afternoon’s action and Sir Mark Prescott has a good chance of enhancing his excellent record at the Kent track with Wicked Daze.
The gelded son of Generous showed a glimmer of ability on his racecourse debut over six furlongs at Windsor earlier in the month and built on that effort somewhat when second to Royal Power over a furlong further at Thirsk a week later.
Although beaten five lengths on that occasion, the Derby entrant certainly looks to be moving in the right direction and appears the answer to the seven-furlong Barry Dennis Betting Shop Median Auction Maiden Stakes.
Jumping fans are catered for at Market Rasen and Giorgio could be up to winning the Weatherbys Insurance Handicap Chase over an extended two and three-quarter miles.
A maiden hurdle winner at Worcester last August, Lucinda Russell’s inmate has since notched victories over fences at Towcester (twice) and, most recently, last month at Wetherby.
The gelding was always jumping well at the head of affairs that day and did not need to be harshly handled to account for his three rivals by upwards of six lengths.
With the fast ground remaining in his favour, the seven-year-old is expected to continue paying his way throughout the summer.
