AWARD DANCER is fancied to improve on an already impressive record at Newcastle by landing the Boost Your Acca-Fenwa With BetUK Handicap (4.15) at Gosforth Park today.
From four visits to the track, the Grant Tuer-trained five-year-old has got his head in front on two occasions, including when collecting over a mile here last October.
Award Dancer then missed the target on his next seven races but was back in business at Redcar 23 days ago, making his first try at a mile and three-quarters a winning one with a neck margin over Edge Of Darkness at Redcar.
Oliver Stammers’ mount should have no problem with the step back to a mile and a half – the son of Awtaad has raced at the trip just once, when trained in Ireland by Joseph O’Brien – and his course victory of 12 months ago came from this afternoon’s British Horseracing Authority rating of 76.
Later on Newcastle’s card, LADY CELIA gets the vote to follow up a last-time-out course-and-distance triumph by beating 11 opponents for the BetUK. It’s Where the UK Bets Handicap (8.00).
Harry Cobden says winning Cheltenham ride on Il Ridoto did not deserve banAlan Brown’s daughter of Mayson had three parts of a length to spare over the in-form Elzaal 17 days ago and a 4lb rise in the weights should not prevent another good account.
Monday's selections
HUNTINGDON
12.40 OUT THE GLEN
1.15 CATUABA
1.50 BILLY BOI BLUE
2.25 STORMINHOME
3.00 FIRST QUEST
3.35 GENEROUS DAY
4.10 JEUNE BELLE
NEWCASTLE
4.15 AWARD DANCER (NAP)
4.50 COMPLETED
5.25 CHESHIRE DANCER
6.00 AMASAR
6.30 HAVANA ROSE
7.00 SPIRIT OF BOWLAND
7.30 MUMCAT
8.00 LADY CELIA (NB)
DOUBLE: AWARD DANCER and LADY CELIA