RACE PREVIEWS & TIPS (FRIDAY)

19:00 Newcastle The Betfred Gosforth Park Cup is a fascinating sprint handicap over the minimum 5f trip and the usual contenders line up in a competitive field. The likes of Jack Dexter, Distant Past and Hoofalong are all more than capable at this level, but it ma pay to side with one who is due to recapture his old form. The horse in question is Orion’s Bow who is yet to reach the heights of his old form since his switch to the Tim Easterby yard. The horse has disappointed a number of times over 6f in recent times, but was a notable hard luck story dropped back to the minimum trip in the Scottish Sprint Cup at Musselburgh. The six-year-old has an entry in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes entry on the horizon, so a bold show must be on the offing here if he is to take up that booking and so a chance is taken that he can recapture his best form and land this with a clear run this time around and he gets the nod at an each way price. Paul Midgeley’s last time out winner Line of Reason rates as the main danger, but he will have to reproduce the form of his victory in the Scottish Sprint Cup off today’s higher mark. ORION’S BOW (E/W)

20:30 Newmarket William Haggas has endured a frustrating few weeks as his early season red-hot form has been cooled slightly by a number of near misses at Royal Ascot, but he looks to have a leading chance of landing this competitive handicap over 1m2f this evening. Al Neksh ran a corker behind the impressive Master Carpenter at York last month and despite that rival letting the form down slightly at Royal Ascot last week, that York run still looks the best form on offer in this field. Ryan Moore takes over the steering duties for the injured Frankie Dettori and that only strengths the case here today so he gets the confident nod. Roger Varian’s UAE Prince rates the main danger, but has questions to answer after disappointing as hot favourite last time out. AL NEKSH (WIN) – NAP