NIGWA looks a little too big a price at Chester tonight given she is bang in form and back against her own sex. She has a fair lump of weight to concede but she has that for a reason and although the unexposed favourite looks the one to beat, I'm hoping the selection's experience can be put to good use. A handy draw means she should get a good position which could allow Jack Mitchell to dictate from the front.
Chester 8.00 – Nigwa
Saturday
The Northumberland Plate is the highlight on these shores tomorrow and I'm going to have a good bash at finding the winner of the Plate & the Vase. In the Vase I think Heather Main's MOSTLY SUNNY has very good claims at 9/1 given his course form and his return to form last time out. I'm sure this weekend would have been highlighted in the diary for quite some time and I expect him to be in peak form. At a bigger price I think WINTERWATCH could be one to keep an eye on. Harry Fry is making a bit of a name for himself on the flat as he is landing some nice pots. This again looks to be another plot job and a recent spin at Kempton would have put him spot on for this.
In the big one itself I'm split between 4 or 5 but I've just about landed on OMNISCIENT and CALL OF THE WIND. The former will have to defy a lay off to win this but his shrewd trainer, Sir Mark Prescott, will no doubt have him tuned up. Being a half brother to smart stayer Dashing Willoughby I suspect he will relish this step up to 2 miles and a mark of 95 could prove very lenient. The latter is a standing dish in these races and deserves to win a big one soon. He hasn't raced at Newcastle before but I am willing to give him a chance at his current price. He ran a big race at Ascot last week so if none the worse for that he should be in the shake up.
Newcastle 1.30 – Mostly Sunny / Winterwatch
Newcastle 2.05 – Omniscient / Call Of The Wind
