El Hadeeyah has a gilt-edged opportunity of doubling her winning tally when attempting to defy a penalty in the eleven-runner Fillies’ Novice Stakes over six furlongs of Newcastle tapeta tonight; the sole success of this Invincible Spirit juvenile was gained on Lingfield polytrack way back in July since when James Tate’s charge has improved considerably.
Earlier this month El Hadeeyah achieved a career-best time-handicap mark, when second in a competitive nursery around Wolverhampton, where she led throughout alongside eventual winner, joint top-weight Mohl, a well-backed favourite; half a length separated them with the rest well beaten off.
Given El Hadeeyah was drawn wide, and Callum Shepherd needed to ‘hit the gate’ superbly, it was a tremendous run; taking Dunstall Park form to similar-surfaced Gosforth Park often pays off.
Brazilian Beach and first-up failure, George Bughey-trained Foxy Rascal, not to mention Laura Pearson’s mount Lotus Rose, add spice to what promises to be an intriguing dash but I’m confident of the outcome and will bet the Luke Morris-ridden top-weight.
Ten furlongs represents a colossal distance for two-year-olds but Noonie, one of two Mark Johnston ‘decs’, looks set to take advantage of her undoubted stamina breeding in the seven-runner Novice Stakes; significantly the Middleham-based ‘winning machine’ has conscripted services of champion jockey Oisin Murphy!
Last time Noonie made much of the running and stayed on well to finish third over a mile at Thirsk after being headed by Grey Belle and Candy Kitchen; distances were only a neck and one and a half lengths and so it was creditable effort by the Almanzor filly which is advantaged with a vital 5lbs fillies’ allowance, equating to about three lengths!
Earlier Karl Burke’s Silky Wilkie, second in all four starts, is superior and selected to finally go one better at the expense of ten rivals in the class 5 Novice Stakes over five furlongs of ‘good’ ground Beverley, where experience and jockeyship are of paramount importance; Clifford Lee is back on board his guv’nor consistent, hitherto extremely unlucky charge and so, don’t oppose!
Selections, Beverley, 1.20 Silky Wilkie Newcastle, 6.50 El Hadeeyah; 7.20 Noonie.
Jeffrey Ross, horse-racing correspondent for WMN since 1983 when winning the most prestigious racing journalist award, Sporting Life Naps Table, before winning it a record number of six times collectively in the Racing Post, the current ‘trade’ paper, including 2019