UK racing Sat. War Artist

Good morning, War Artist runs in the first race at Newcastle today over 6 furlongs in a group 3, next race planned is the July Cup for a clash with JJ?

Post any fancies or thoughts for UK racing today.

good punting!

scotia

Could be a good weekend for south africa in the uk, Imbongi and war artist both look to have good chances.
Don`t know if your keeping tracks on keegan Latham over there but he`s flying in Ireland ATM and has improved as a jockey big time,landing a big job at Ger Lyons and getting plenty of winners.
Keegan is riding Jessica Harrington`s Speed ticket in the northumberland plate(uk`s bigest handicap)and has a right chance on the morning favourite..


Keegan on left with Emmet McNamara

War Artist just been scratched unfortunately,the going changed overnight from good to firm to soft

Thanks for the updates Hibby, good and bad.

More rain at Newcastle leaves going officially soft


FURTHER rain after racing on Friday has left the going at Newcastle officially soft on John Smith's Northumberland Plate day, with clerk of the course James Armstrong saying there could yet be more to come.

After 12mm of rain in the last 24hours, the going atGosforth Park has progressively changed from good, good to firm in places with course officials altering it to good to soft after two races on Friday night.

However with more rain still to come over the course of the morning, Armstrong painted a bleak outlook, saying it was likely the going description will be changed to heavy during the course of the afternoon.

He said at 7.45am: "So far we have had a total of 12mm of rain. That definitely leaves the ground soft.

"However there is low cloud around at the moment and the forecast is for drizzle and light rain - they have told me between 1 and 2mm of rain.

"I therefore wouldn't rule out the chances of the ground becoming heavy as racing gets underway.

"Temperatures are due to reach a maximum of 18C with the cloud and fog that's here at the moment, lifting during the course of the morning."

The first casualty of the going was War Artist, with trainer James Eustace withdrawing the six-year-old from the Group 3 Freebets.co.uk Chipchase Stakes on account of the going.

The 2008 Golden Jubilee runner-up was expected to make his belated return to action having made a successful recovery from a near career-ending bout of colic.

He has not been seen in public since finishing third to Marchand D'Or in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket last year.

Love the northumberland plate,suppose its the uk`s version of the melbourne cup without all the Glitz and glamour.

It is europes most valuable 2 mile handicap,suprisingly for a 2mile race the draw seems to be important with 8 out of the last ten winners being drawn in stalls 1-9,also another stat is that 9 out of the last ten runnings the race has been won by under 1/2 a length

Fancy Hits only Vic.