The past three favourites for the Betway Easter Classic, the feature event of the All-Weather Finals card at Newcastle on Good Friday, have started at odds-on, but the latest renewal is more competitive despite attracting just half a dozen runners and there is at least a fair case to be made for all six.
It is equally possible to pick holes in the form of most of the field, for the most part because either the trip or the Tapeta surface is not certain to see them at their best. The one horse with cast-iron credentials is the likely favourite, Forest Of Dean (3.00).
John and Thady Gosden’s gelding was a course-and-distance winner in January and acquitted himself well in stronger company in the Winter Derby at Lingfield in February. He is two from two over 10 furlongs at Newcastle and should have just a little too much class for his opponents.
Newcastle 1.50 Perdika ran up a four-timer on the all-weather towards the end of 2022 and improved again to win a Listed contest at Chantilly on turf last time out. She gets weight from most of the field and that could tip the balance.
Newcastle 2.25 Earlofthecotswolds may struggle to dominate this field as he did at Wolverhampton last time out and Fleurman, just a head behind him there, will appreciate this return to Tapeta.
Lingfield 2.40 Billy Loughnane has returned from a stint in America in much the same form as when he left and his 5lb claim could make all the difference aboard Johnny Murtagh’s Final Voyage.
Lingfield 3.15 Rattling is an interesting outsider under useful 7lb claimer Alec Voikhansky. He could not get competitive when stepped up to seven furlongs last time, but has been dropped 3lb as a result. He makes plenty of appeal at around 16-1 on his winning form over track and trip in January.
Newcastle 3.35 Berkshire Shadow was an impressive winner of the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2021, but failed to add another win in eight subsequent starts at two and three. He was gelded before his successful four-year-old debut at Wolverhampton in March and could well be ready to build on that comfortable success.
Newcastle 1.15 Galeron 1.50 Perdika 2.25 Fleurman 3.00 Forest Of Dean (nb) 3.35 Berkshire Shadow 4.10 Manaafith 4.45 Annaf
Lingfield 1.30 Satono Chevalier 2.05 Mr Escobar 2.40 Final Voyage 3.15 Rattling (nap) 3.50 Million Thanks 4.25 Spring Promise 5.00 Sergeant Pep
Bath 1.40 Ma Famille 2.15 Kensington Agent 2.50 Meisterzinger 3.25 King Eagle 4.00 Superstar DJ 4.35 Eight Mile 5.10 Non Mollare
Lingfield 3.50 Benoit de la Sayette, last season’s champion apprentice, will not have a 3lb claim for much longer and Million Thanks could edge him a little closer to fully fledged professional status here.
Newcastle 4.10 Almost certainly a match between Manaafith and Queen Aminatu, with marginal preference for Roger Varian’s mare after a cosy win in a strong time at Lingfield in February.
Newcastle 4.45 Annaf has not put a foot wrong on the all-weather this year and found plenty after a slow start at Lingfield last time to complete a hat-trick with something to spare.
