5.50 Newcastle: the one race you do not want to miss on Tuesday

5.50 Newcastle
Betway Handicap | 6f, 4yo+ | SSR

A fiercely competitive sprint handicap featuring five course-and-distance winners in Glenamoy Lad, Athollblair Boy, Reckless Endeavour, Lucky Lodge and Epeius.

The drop back to a stiff 6f from 7f could be just what is needed to get consistent mare Lady Of Aran back in front.

Charlie Fellowes’s five-year-old has run three fine races to be placed over 7f at Kempton (twice) and Lingfield this winter, and could have a pound or two in hand of the handicapper now she reverts to arguably her best trip.

She certainly devoured the Pontefract hill over 6f when catching the four-timer seeking Gale Force Maya in September and has a good attitude.

Pick of the course-and-distance scorers could be Glenamoy Lad. Michael Wigham’s Newcastle runners must be respected and he takes a drop in grade.

Barrington, who represents the in-form Mick Appleby and Ben Curtis, is sure to be highly competitive at this level, but recent efforts suggest he has nothing in hand of the assessor.

Four-time course winner Athollblair Boy can produce a good turn of foot but looks another who may need his mark to drop a few pounds before he returns to the winner's enclosure.
Richard Birch, tipster

What do the stats say?

Mick Appleby, trainer of Barrington, has a 21 per cent strike rate at Newcastle this year with three winners from 14 runners.

Athollblair Boy's jockey Faye McManoman has enjoyed two winners from seven rides at this track this year, boasting a strike-rate of nearly 29 per cent.

What do the trainers say?

Michael Wigham, trainer of Glenamoy Lad
There are only nine runners so it makes sense to take our chance although I'm not sure how he'll run as the surface at the track is always changing.

Peter Chapple-Hyam, trainer of Mia Mento
She came to us in great condition from Thomas Mullins. She's been going nicely at home but off a mark of 84 there are only a few races she can run in.

Nigel Tinkler, trainer of Athollblair Boy
The surface was a bit deep for him the other day and hopefully it will ride quicker this time after the rain they had at the weekend.

David Barron, trainer of Reckless Endeavour
The surface will be similar to when he won there the time before last and this looks the right race for him.

Charlie Fellowes, trainer of Lady Of Aran
She has been slow out of the gates recently which going around a bend at Lingfield and Kempton can prove very costly. Hopefully she can keep tabs on them and the drop back to six furlongs on a slow surface should suit.

Mick Appleby, trainer of Barrington
He just got mugged at Lingfield last time and has ran well here.

Antony Brittain, trainer of Lucky Lodge
He's in the twilight of his career but he's arguably in the form of his life. He's up in class but he's a course-and-distance winner so we thought we'd take a chance.

Ben Haslam, trainer of Epeius
He missed the break last time and could never get into the race but I would have preferred this to have been a 0-70 or 0-75 race. If he gets out on terms he should go well although he's vulnerable to a higher grade rival.

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