Ryan picks Pele for big Cup run

Don Pele returned to form with a bang when scoring at York last time and Kevin Ryan’s speedster will attempt to follow up in tomorrow evening’s Northern Rock Gosforth Park Cup at Newcastle.

The four-year-old was successful in Listed company as a juvenile but endured a winless campaign last summer.

Thirsk-based Ryan was thrilled to see him back in the winner’s enclosure and with his charge in top trim, he is expecting another bold show.

“He is in really good order and we were very pleased with his run at York,” Ryan said. “It had always been the plan to go for this race if he won at York.

“I wouldn’t be running him if I wasn’t hopeful – he’s in very good form and comes into the race on the back of a good run,” he added.

David Barker’s Sierra Vista is a notable opponent among the final field of 16, having run with credit in three starts this season.

She has twice been successful at this meeting in the past and Barker reports the six-year-old to be in good shape ahead of tomorrow’s bid.

“She’s come out of Epsom in cracking form, we’re very, very pleased with her and we’re hoping for a biggish run,” he said.

“It’s a competitive race but she’s been holding her own in very good company and she quite likes this meeting.

“The ground might just be getting on the quick side, but she seems to be handling it pretty well,” he commented.

Other runners in the five furlong dash include William Haggas’ much-improved Fyodor, Bryan Smart's Titus Alone, and former July Cup hero Continent, who heads a five-strong David Nicholls’ entry.

He will be joined in the race by stablemates Merlin’s Dancer, Peace Offering, Pieter Brueghel and Funfair Wane.

After a pronounced bias was evident at last week’s Royal Ascot meeting, clerk of the course James Armstrong is hoping the draw will prove less influential at Newcastle.

Speaking on At The Races, he said: “I’ve walked down both sides and it walks very similar. Down the middle might be a little bit quicker, having done a lot of artificial watering – whether they come down there remains to be seen.

“Walking it either side, especially the last three furlongs, there’s not much difference from a walking point of view,” he reiterated.