Newcastle All Weather Championships Preview - 15/04/22

The first race at Newcastle on Friday is the Listed Burradon Stakes over a mile and off the back of his form Imperial Fighter could be tough to beat.

The three year old colt bounced onto the scene at Glorious Goodwood in a classy seven furlong Maiden and went on to win in good fashion.

Off the back of that he went to York in the Group Three Acomb Stakes and finished a good second behind Group Two winner Royal Patronage.

Going up to a mile at Newmarket for the Group Three Autumn Stakes he had to settle for second again behind the talented Coroebus.

Imperial Fighter was last seen finishing a fair fifth in the Group One Futurity Stakes and holding the best form in this field by a mile, if handling the tapeta he will be tough to beat.

Next up is the All Weather Championships Conditions Stakes over a mile and My Oberon for William Haggas should be head and shoulders above this field.

The five year old was a bright three year old winning a novice event on his second start and then went on to finish second in the Group Three Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes and the Superior Mile Stakes.

As a four year old last term he carried on in good form, winning the Group Three Earl Of Sefton Stakes and then trying his hand in Group One company in the Lockinge.

Staying at the top level he was a fair third behind Skalleti in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan and then he went to Ascot in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes, finishing a close fourth behind some smart horses.

Running well in defeat again in the Strensall Stakes and Superior Mile Stakes again, he was put away for the season and returned in February winning at Conditions Stakes at Southwell.

My Oberon was last seen over at Meydan in the G1 Dubai Turf and was a staying on sixth and now markedly in grade for this event he has to be taken seriously being a Group Two horse at the worst.

Another nice event on the afternoon at Newcastle is the All Weather Sprint Championships over six furlongs and Volatile Analyst for Keith Dalgleish won't be far away.

The five year old has been a smart horse over six furlongs, winning the Class 2 Sprint Trophy Handicap at York in October and then finished a good fifth in the Listed Wentworth Stakes at Doncaster.

This season the gelding has been seen three times, twice over seven furlongs at Wolves when winning on his first start, but then underperformed on his second start.

Volatile Analyst was last seen putting in a career best run back at 6f winning the Listed Cammidge Stakes at Doncaster ahead of Diligent Harry.

Running to the same standard in this race makes him a player.

In the Three Year Old All Weather Championships Conditions Stakes over six furlongs, Annaf for Mick Appleby looks the value in the field.

The three year old son of Muhaarar made his debut for the yard in January this year over course and distance when getting off the mark in taking style.

He then went to Kempton and finished a good second behind the talented Kaboo and backed that up last time out at Newcastle in a Novice Stakes over 5f when winning comfortably.

Annaf is a very progressive horse that looks overpriced to us in the market and if staying on an upward curve has to be of some interest at the price.

The Fillies' And Mares' Championships Conditions Stakes looks a cracker this year and the Jane Chapple-Hyam trained Internationalangel looks a big player.

The five year old mare over the last year has been highly progressive winning at Yarmouth off a mark of 59 in July 2021 and is now rated 100.

Since that win in July she has gone on to win six of her last eight events which is remarkable, with all of her wins coming on the all weather.

Seen twice this year she made it six wins in a row landing a handicap over course and distance and then last time out was moved up to Listed company and ran no race.

The form of that Listed event has worked out well with the fifth and eighth since franking the form.

The penultimate event of the day up north is the All Weather Marathon Championships over two miles and Nigel Twiston-Davies' Earlofthecotswolds looks an attractive bet.

This eight year old is a very smart dual purpose horse, winning well over hurdles at the back end of last year, taking a nice handicap event at Wetherby and then backing that up in an even better event at Newbury, beating Listed Silver Cup winner Annsam and Betfair Hurdle winner Glory And Fortune.

Sent back on the flat of late, he has been in fine form in his last two runs, winning at Kempton over 1m4f and then backed that up at then same track over two miles in this races' qualifier.

Set to run at the Cheltenham festival in the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle, he was instead saved for this and is looking to bring up the hat-trick.

Big player.

The final event of the afternoon at Newcastle is the All Weather Middle Distance Championships Conditions Stakes and Al Zaraqaan for Archie Watson could outrun his odds.

The five year old previously owned by Shadwell Estate and trained by William Haggas was a very smart horse easily winning a good handicap event at Kempton.

After that he lost his way and was sold and moved over to Watson's yard and on his first start for the yard got off the mark over course and distance.

Seen three times since he put in two lesser performances before getting back to form at Kempton last time out when a nose second to Living Legend in the Listed Magnolia Stakes.

Every chance on that form.