Saturday at Newcastle

Grand National day (although it appears to resemble a handicap hurdle more and more as each year passes) but we head down the road to Newcastle, and heavy going.
A couple of modest affairs with the ground sure to suit one of our runners but well, the jury is still out on whether heavy ground is the surface of choice for our mare in the opener.

Newcastle 13th April : 2.45 pm 2m 7½f 0-100 Cond'l Jockeys Handicap Hurdle (Class 5)

Arguably, a sound (ish) surface would appear to suit our mare Bollin Matilda and after a little bit more encouragement from her performance on good ground last time, she runs in the opening staying handicap hurdle for Conditional Jockeys with Dylan Johnston in the saddle.
Formerly based with Rose Dobbin, young Dylan is up here to ride for Olly Murphy in the last so comes in for a chance ride here.

Just the 5 opponents but 2 or 3 have shown their best form on heavy ground.
A repeat of Fainche's form a couple of runs back when runner up over a similar staying trip at Carlisle, would see her as the one to beat. The lightly raced Young at Heart has shown worrying signs of temperament so a bigger threat may come from Perculator who has been displaying improving form this season.

Newcastle 13th April : 4.30 pm 2m 4f 0-100 Handicap Chase (Class 5)

We hope you'll be able to strike a line through Nights In Venice's poor effort at Hexham last time - last of 4 finishers beaten a fair way.
He seemed very ill at easy on the undulations of that Northumberland course, and is better judged on his victory at Ayr in February over this distance.
This galloping track should see his strengths come to the fore (a steady galloper) and Henry Brooke again is in the saddle.
That's the theory anyway......

Just 5 runners, and Six One Nine has done his winning at around the 2 mile mark so may not stay this 2m 4f distance especially on testing ground.
Like our lad, Poetry Man is lightly raced over fences and has promising hurdles' form to his name. Along with the 10yr old Rollerruler, who is plummeting down the handicap, he looks to be the main danger.