Passing Pleasure will attempt to make it three straight victories for trainer Oliver Greenall and jockey Josh Guerriero when he contests Tuesday’s feature at Newcastle.
4.05 Newcastle — In-form Passing Pleasure bids to complete hat-trick
Eight go to post in the penultimate Virgin Bet A Good Bet Handicap Chase over about two miles and seven furlongs. Passing Pleasure tops the weights and will try to remain unbeaten for his new stable after transferring from Lawney Hill. The six-year-old, who failed to win in four starts for his previous yard, has taken both starts for Greenall — including his chase debut at Catterick — and steps up in trip on Tuesday.
Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore hope a wind operation helps Cosmic Blizzard, who showed his best form at Kelso two starts ago but was pulled up over this course and distance last time. Veteran Uptown Harry, a 12-year-old trained by Jane Walton, arrives in decent form with two seconds and a win from his last three and returns to a course and trip where he is unbeaten. Dollar Collar, Cowboy Cooper and Valence d’Aumont are other runners to note.
5.25 Wolverhampton — Gemmari and Shrimp Shady headline
Nine runners are declared for the Midnite Are Upping The Betting Game Handicap, with Richard Hannon’s Gemmari a leading player. The Expert Eye gelding is seeking a fourth win from his last six starts. After early all-weather wins, he was gelded and given a 228-day break before returning at Kempton in October and scoring at Chelmsford last time. He tackles a career-high mark here.
Shrimp Shady, for Andrew Balding, has underperformed as favourite on his last two starts but has produced solid all-weather form previously and steps up to 1m 6f for the first time for an in-form yard. Dance Time, a previous course-and-distance winner for David Loughnane, drops back in trip and benefits from the booking of Rossa Ryan. Stuart Williams’ Bystander stretches out to 14 furlongs for the first time and is an interesting contender. Robusto (Eve Johnson Houghton) has Billy Loughnane booked, while Circuit Breaker has been runner-up on his last two starts and takes a notable ride from Cieren Fallon.
6.30 Wolverhampton — Beauzon chases sixth straight
Ian Williams’ Beauzon aims to extend an impressive winning run to six in the Make The Move To Midnite Handicap. After dropping to a career-low mark in January and having cheekpieces reinstated, the seven-year-old has rattled off wins at Lingfield and Wolverhampton and faces a 5lb rise as he seeks a sixth consecutive success, which would lift him nearer the All-Weather Horse of the Year top 10.
Woodhay Whisper, trained by Dylan Hogan and ridden by Jack Jones, is perhaps the main danger after a recent course-and-distance victory and will look for a third Dunstall Park success. Mart, for Dylan Cunha, remains without a win since May but has been placed several times and now races 3lb below his last winning mark. Charlie Wallis hopes Due Date can return to last autumn’s form when he completed a six-furlong hat-trick, while Initial Blue (Dr Richard Newland/Jamie Insole) bids for back-to-back wins after scoring at Kempton.