Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles.
One app.

Start reading

Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles. One news app.

Start reading

Liverpool Echo

Sport

Chris Wright

Horse Power: Rajinsky can win the 'Pitmen's Derby'

Hugo Palmer Tuesday Aidan OBrien Cleveland (Person) Coltrane Liverpool FC William Haggas Irish Derby

It’s ‘derby day’ in the north east and in Ireland and RAJINSKY can win the JenningsBet Northumberland Plate Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (4.20pm) at Newcastle on Saturday afternoon. While in the Group One feature at the Curragh TUESDAY can beat the boys to land the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (No GeldIngs) (3.45pm).

The Northumberland Plate, known as the affectionately as the ‘Pitmen’s Derby’ can go to Hugo Palmer’s Rajinsky. Palmer – who took over as trainer at former Liverpool FC striker Michael Owen’s Manor House Stables in Cheshire at the start of the season – almost provided his new boss with the perfect start in the Chester Cup with Rajinsky at the Boodles May Festival on the Roodee.

The six-year-old ran a fine race to be third behind Aidan O’Brien’s winner Cleveland and Coltrane in the prestigious handicap. That form was boosted at last week’s Royal Ascot with the Chester Cup winner Cleveland finishing second in the Copper Horse Stakes and runner-up Coltrane going one better when winning the Ascot Stakes.

Rajinsky also has some top form himself, winning at Ripon on his seasonal return, having been third in last year’s Northumberland Plate and having also scored at Ascot on his final start of 2021.

With Trueshan being declared as top weight, Rajinsky runs off the same mark as last year’s third, while top apprentice Harry Davies takes a further 5lb off with his claim.

He is a strong stayer and usually travels well, which you need in this type of race. Rajinsky looks to be improving, even at the age of six, and he can go a couple of places better than 12 months ago.

The dangers are plentiful and Andrew Balding’s Spirit Mixer, the Keith Dalgleish-trained Alright Sunshine and Godolphin’s Bandinelli can also go well.

At the Curragh Aidan O’Brien supplemented Cazoo Oaks heroine Tuesday for the Irish Derby and it can be money well spent as the daughter of Galileo can become the first filly since Balanchine in 1994 to win the Classic.

Tuesday will be running in her fourth Classic in just under two months and having been placed in both the English and Irish 1,000 Guineas, she narrowly scored at Epsom ahead of Emily Upjohn stepped up in trip.

O’Brien has won the Irish Derby a record 14 times overall and three of the past five runnings. And Tuesday looks well up to the task on beating the boys – chiefly Westover – to give the Ballydoyle maestro another victory.

Back at Newcastle, the Group Three Pertemps Network Chipchase Stakes (2.25pm) looks a competitive sprint with several course and distance winners but one who hasn’t scored at Gosforth Park before, Liverpool FC fan Karl Burke’s SPYCATCHER, may triumph.

The four-year-old has run well in defeat recently and may be able to land another win for a stable who has been doing well over the past few weeks.

The JenningsBet Northumberland Vase Handicap (Consolation For Northumberland Plate) (3pm) looks as good as the real thing and Hughie Morrison’s RAVENS ARK may come out on top.

The four-year-old gelded son of Raven’s Pass won at Lingfield last month over 1m6f and has also gone well in two runs at Goodwood since. He steps up to two miles for the first time and it can bring out more improvement.

Richard Fahey’s course and distance scorer STRIKE RED has not built on an eye-catching return at Newmarket but may be able to return to winning ways in the Pertemps Network Handicap (1.50pm).

Others who may win at Newcastle are Hugo Palmer’s THE NU FORM WAY in the opener, the Downland The At The Races App Handicap (1.15pm); the William Haggas-trained BOOSALA in the JenningsBet Handicap (4.38pm); and AASHEQ, from the Tim Easterby stable, in the finale – the Free Tips Daily On Attheraces.com Handicap (5.13pm).

At Newmarket Roger Varian’s LANEQASH can win the Group Three House Of Cavani Criterion Stakes (3.15pm).

The four-year-old has not won since his racecourse debut at Ascot in August 2020. But the gelded son of Cable Bay remains fairly lightly-raced and was possibly a shade unlucky not to have won the Group Three John Of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock Park on his seasonal return last month.

He was only beaten a nose in a bob of heads on the line by Pogo on Merseyside. Laneqash should have come on for that run and may finally deliver on the promise he has shown in several races, before possibly stepping up to Group One company at next month's Glorious Goodwood.

Grant Tuer’s MERSEA has been in good form recently and can bring up the hat-trick stepped up to Listed company in the House Of Cavani Fred Archer Stakes (2.40pm).

The Listed Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Fillies’ Stakes (2.05pm) looks a match between two Godolphin runners, Rebel’s Romance and KEMARI, and it may be the latter who resumes his progress with victory.

Others who may score at Newmarket are Mark Johnton’s newcomer DARK MAJESTY in the It’s Racing Staff Week Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (GBB Race) (1pm) and the Kevin De Foy-trained D DAY ODETTE in the Time Test Fillies’ Handicap (1.30pm).

At Chester Scouse specialist Franny Norton may be among the winners again with the Haggas-trained hat-trick seeker HEBRIDES in the Chandon Garden Spritz Handicap (3.40pm); FAST RESPONSE, trained by fellow Liverpool FC fan Burke, in the Grey Goose Essences Handicap (3.10pm); and BAILEYS DERBYDAY in the finale, the Mud House Wines Summer Adventure Handicap (5.20pm). And the well-drawn STREE LIFE can take the five-furlong Budweiser King Of Beers Handicap (4.45pm).