19:00
Newcastle (AW)
Odds correct as of 12:39pm 18th Mar
Newcastle isn’t the most convenient of all-weather tracks for Andrew Balding to send runners, although he does often like to do so. This has proven to be a very successful strategy for the Hampshire-based trainer, as he has a more than healthy strike-rate of 37 per cent so far this year.
Seven winners from 19 runners certainly isn’t to be sniffed at and he could add to that tally with one runner at the track on Thursday.
The horse in question will make the 600-mile round trip and victory would cover the travel costs. Take a look at our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.
Infinite Dream has had two starts to date and it’s highly unlikely that we’ve seen the best of him just yet. He’s got a middle-distance pedigree, so it remains to be seen if 7f is his trip, but we’ve seen enough evidence to suggest he should be competitive at this level.
Balding’s colt finished fifth in a warm Newmarket novice back in August and the winner, Al Zanati, was second in the Autumn Stakes next time, before going one better in a French Group 3. That was certainly a solid performance and he was always going to improve for the experience.
Contesting a decent maiden at York next time, he didn’t get the smoothest of passages through the race on that occasion but ran well enough back in fourth. This looks like a much easier race and either piece of form probably makes the son of Night Of Thunder the one to beat.
Inishbeg was runner-up at Redcar when last seen and there could be more to come from him. James Fanshawe’s Tiger’s Nest was third at Kempton on debut in November and shouldn’t be discounted either. A lack of fitness is probably Infinite Dream’s biggest danger, but a big run is expected on form.
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