RECENT rainfall at Gosforth Park will greatly assist the chances of Snow Princess in today's Newcastle Brown Ale Northumberland Plate at Newcastle. Although suited by fast ground, the daughter of Ela Mana Mou is considered by her connections not to want the going too firm, conditions which prevailed prior to the showers.
Successful in last year's Tote Credit November Handicap at Doncaster over 12 furlongs, the filly made a winning reappearance over two miles when returned to the same track in May.
Seeing the extra distance out well, Lord Huntingdon's charge easily defeated Latahaab by four lengths. She was held up off a steady pace, gradually warmed to her task in the straight, led one furlong out and soon drew clear. This represented an improvement in form on her first attempt over the distance.
Still capable of progressing even further and obviously well suited by the two mile trip of the `Pitmen's Derby', Snow Princess can make it two out of two for the season by capturing Newcastle's stamina test.
The consistent Iktamal has an opportunity to regain winning ways in the Whitley Bay Holiday Park Chipchase Stakes.
Successful earlier in the season at Salisbury, the son of Danzig Connection has run well on both starts since, most recently when a good fifth in the Group Three Cork And Orrery Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Outpaced early on at the Royal meeting, the Ed Dunlop trained colt stayed on strongly in the closing stages to be beaten two and a quarter lengths by Atraf. A reproduction of that form will be good enough for Iktnmal to take this Listed race.
Another Royal Ascot failure, Ben Hanbury's Ramooz, can gain some Group Three consolation for his defeat by Lucayan Prince in the Jersey Stakes with victory in the Van Geest Criterion Stakes at Newmarket.
At Ascot, the Rambo Dancer colt was held up until finding a clear to passage to lead inside the final furlong. But, although keeping on well, he had no answer to the wiiner's late burst and was beaten a length and a half at the line. Successful in two of his four starts this term, Ramooz can make it win number three in the July course's feature.
At Bath, Michael Stoute's Irish Sea can get off the mark in the St John Ambulance Maiden Stakes. The Zilzal gelding has shown fair form on both outings and on his latest start he didn't get the best of runs when eight lengths sixth of 15 to Male Ana Mou over 10 furlongs at Goodwood. Capable of better, Irish Sen can gain his first success in this extended 11 furlong contest.
