Oh So Grand will be bidding to continue her rapid progress when facing 14 rivals in the All-Weather Easter Classic Middle Distance Handicap at Newcastle on Friday.
The four-year-old filly has won three races in a row on artificial surfaces – including a course-and-distance success last October – to climb from a rating of 79 to 97.
There are seven more previous winners at Newcastle in the line-up including the progressive Penzance, veteran Sir Busker and Oisin Murphy’s mount Teumessias Fox.
The quality field is headed by Amo Racing’s Elegant Man, who is two from three on all-weather tracks and finished just 1¼l behind 2022 Breeders’ Cup winner Rebel’s Romance at Kempton last December.
Arguably, the most eye-catching entry is Hooking because the French runner is owned by none other than France and Atletico Madrid footballer Antoine Griezmann.
The latest All-Weather Easter Classic Middle Distance Handicap odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
All-Weather Easter Classic Middle Distance Handicap verdict
Timeform: A smashing contest with a host of improving/in-form sorts in opposition with the percentage call in favour of PENZANCE. The 4-y-o has progressed at a rate of knots since joining Mick Appleby and there’s highly likely even more to come judged on his authoritative success at Lingfield 4 weeks ago. Dangers aplenty are headed up by another impressive sort in the shape of Oh So Grand, To Catch A Thief and Elegant Man. Storm Catcher is also respected of the older brigade.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
All-Weather Easter Classic Middle Distance Handicap runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the All-Weather Easter Classic Middle Distance Handicap 2024.
Elegant Man
Trainer: Adrian Murray Jockey: David Egan Age: 4 Weight: 9st 12lbs Draw: 14
Low-mileage 4-y-o who is bred to be smart and took another step forward to make it 2 wins from 3 starts in 7-runner minor event (4/7) at Dundalk (10.7f) 63 days ago, impressive despite still looking green. Highly likely there’s more to come and respected on handicap debut.
****
Hooking
Trainer: P. Decouz Jockey: Aurelien Lemaitre Age: 8 Weight: 9st 10lbs Draw: 10
Smart French performer who has enhanced his excellent strike rate at Cagnes-Sur-Mer in recent months, registering back-to-back victories at listed level. Return to this longer trip will hold no fears with cheekpieces again fitted.
***
Base Note
Trainer: Simon & Ed Crisford Jockey: Harry Burns Age: 5 Weight: 9st 9lbs Draw: 5
Latest win at Chelmsford (10f) in November. 8/1, creditable 3¼ lengths seventh of 12 to Penzance in handicap at Lingfield (10f, AW) 28 days ago, needing stronger gallop. Still, may find a few too good again here.
**
Claymore
Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam Jockey: D. B. McMonagle Age: 5 Weight: 9st 9lbs Draw: 4
Useful horse who ran respectably when fourth of 6 to Military Order in Winter Derby at Southwell (11.1f, 25/1) 34 days ago, albeit better placed than most. Others make more appeal making handicap debut.
**
Teumessias Fox
Trainer: Andrew Balding Jockey: Oisin Murphy Age: 5 Weight: 9st 9lbs Draw: 6
C&D winner. Career best when winning 9-runner handicap at Kempton (12f, 4/1) 62 days ago, quicken clear impressively. Remains pretty low-mileage on artificial surfaces and manner of latest success suggests he could do better again on AW.
***
Blanchland
Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam Jockey: Rossa Ryan Age: 4 Weight: 9st 9lbs Draw: 13
Smart colt who is 2-2 here, latterly when landing 12.5f handicap in October. Respectable efforts since, 1-length third of 8 to Tyrrhenian Sea in listed race at Lingfield (10f, AW) 89 days ago, very much having run of race. Not discounted for all the trip may be on the short side for him now.
***
Freescape
Trainer: David Marnane Jockey: Luke McAteer Age: 9 Weight: 9st 6lbs Draw: 7
Latest win at Dundalk (10.7f) in December. 9/2, respectable second of 6 in minor event back at that venue (1m) 21 days ago. Back up in trip now and he may find a few too good from this mark.
**
Sir Busker
Trainer: William Knight Jockey: Daniel Tudhope Age: 8 Weight: 9st 6lbs Draw: 12
Smart performer who is winless since landing Group 2 York Stakes in 2022. Running respectably on AW in recent months though, sixth of 11 in Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton (8.6f) 20 days ago, running on. Should give another good account.
***
Diderot
Trainer: James Ferguson Jockey: Rob Hornby Age: 6 Weight: 9st 4lbs Draw: 11
Latest win at Chelmsford City in December. 12/1, creditable 2¾ lengths fifth of 12 to Penzance in handicap at Lingfield (10f, AW) 28 days ago, no extra final 100 yds. A little more needed from this career-high mark on that evidence.
***
Storm Catcher
Trainer: Simon Pearce Jockey: David Probert Age: 6 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 9
Likeable sort who was edged out on the post by Penzance over C&D on his penultimate start and deservedly back to winning ways when landing 6-runner handicap at Wolverhampton (9.5f) 55 days ago. Looks sure to give another good account nudged up 2 lb.
****
Penzance
Trainer: Michael Appleby Jockey: Alistair Rawlinson Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 3
4-y-o who has progressed at a rate of knots on AW, supplementing his C&D success on New Year’s Day with an authoritative victory at Lingfield (10f) 4 weeks ago. 6 lb rise looks fair on that evidence and he looks a big player in bid to land the 5-timer.
*****
Star Harbour
Trainer: Adrian McGuinness Jockey: Adam Caffrey Age: 6 Weight: 9st 1lbs Draw: 8
Latest win at Bellewstown in September and best since the turn of the year when second of 9 in handicap at Dundalk (12f, 11/1) 21 days ago. May find some less exposed rivals too good back down in trip, however.
***
Oh So Grand
Trainer: Simon & Ed Crisford Jockey: Jack Mitchell Age: 4 Weight: 9st 1lbs Draw: 1
Upwardly mobile filly who resumed winning ways over C&D in October and won both subsequent starts, including Winter Oaks handicap in January, showing a most impressive turn of foot. Unlikely she’s reached her limit on that evidence and high on shortlist.
****
Onesmoothoperator
Trainer: Brian Ellison Jockey: Ben Robinson Age: 6 Weight: 8st 11lbs Draw: 2
Found the switch to this venue firmly in his favour when landing November Handicap and bee in good order of late, conceding first run but keeping on well for second at Southwell (12f) 3 weeks ago. Return to this shorter trip may not be ideal in what is an ultra-competitive affair, though.
***
To Catch A Thief
Trainer: William Haggas Jockey: Joe Fanning Age: 4 Weight: 8st 8lbs Draw: 15
Son of Cracksman who opened his account at Wolverhampton (9.5f) in November and impressive when following up on handicap debut over C&D a month later. Below best when finishing midfield behind Penzance over C&D on New Year’s Day but no surprise to see him bounce back for his leading yard.
****
Friday’s Racing Tips
- Matt Chapman’s ITV Racing tips for Friday at Newcastle & Lingfield
- Frank Hickey’s horse racing tips for Newcastle & Lingfield
- Jason Weaver’s horse racing tips for ITV on Friday at Newcastle & Lingfield
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