FOREST OF DEAN rates a worthy favourite for the BetUK All-Weather Easter Classic (3.00) on All-Weather Finals Day at Newcastle.
The John and Thady Gosden trainee proved no match for stablemate Lord North in the Group 3 Winter Derby at Lingfield Park last time but his course-and-distance win in a qualifier for today in January gives the son of Iffraaj a strong chance.
On the back of a return to winning form in Wolverhampton’s Listed Wulfruna Stakes 27 days ago, Andrew Balding’s BERKSHIRE SHADOW is the one to beat in the Spreadex All-Weather Mile (3.35).
Balding saddles favourite Berkshire Rocco in the BetUK All-Weather Marathon (2.25), but preference is for Nigel Twiston-Davies’ defending champion EARLOFTHECOTSWOLDS .
After ending 2022 with successes at York and Wolverhampton, SHAQUILLE gets the vote to rack up a hat-trick in the talkSPORT 3 Year Old Championships Conditions Stakes (1.50).
Also on course for a threesome is QUEEN ANIMATU in the talkSPORT All-Weather Fillies’ And Mares’ Championships Conditions Stakes (4.10), while DILIGENT HARRY should be forgiven a below-par effort in France on his most recent outing as he tackles 10 rivals for the BetUK All-Weather Sprint (4.45).
At Lingfield, Ryan Moore has strong claims of a double aboard MR ESCOBAR in the BetUK All-Weather Vase Marathon Handicap (2.05) and BREWING in the Spreadex Sports All-Weather Vase Mile Handicap (2.40).
Also before the ITV4 cameras, ADEB has plenty going for him in the BetUK All-Weather Vase Sprint Handicap (3.15).
Good Friday's selections
NEWCASTLE
1.15 ARABIAN STORM
1.50 SHAQUILLE (NB)
2.25 EARLOFTHECOTSWOLDS
3.00 FOREST OF DEAN
3.35 BERKSHIRE SHADOW
4.10 QUEEN ANIMATU
4.45 DILIGENT HARRY
LINGFIELD PARK
1.30 SATONO CHEVALIER
2.05 MR ESCOBAR
2.40 BREWING (NAP)
3.15 ADEB
3.50 MILLION THANKS
4.25 ALGHEED
5.00 HAVANA BY THE SEA
BATH
1.40 LUKLA
2.15 SHESADABBER
2.50 FAST FORWARD
3.25 V TWELVE
4.00 HE’S OUR STAR
4.35 DOUBLE DOWN
5.10 NON MOLLARE
DOUBLE: BREWING and SHAQUILLE
