Sport

Tatlisu can repeat recent Newcastle success

TATLISU recently ended a near 16-month losing streak with victory at Newcastle and he can replicate that success in the Betway Sprint Handicap back at Gosforth Park.

The seven-year-old may only have won seven of his 49 races to date, but he has been a regular contender for some of the hottest handicap prizes over recent years, including the Wokingham at Royal Ascot and Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood.

Indeed, his finest hour came in just such an event as he posted what was undoubtedly a career-best effort when winning the Ayr Silver Cup back in 2015.

However, there have been more downs than ups since that triumph and Tatlisu has dropped from a career high mark of 103 to as low as 85, which proved the magic number as he got back to winning form in January.

Raised 5lb for that success, Tatlisu narrowly failed to follow up dropped back to the minimum trip next time while a step up to seven furlongs most recently proved beyond him.

It therefore makes sense for Richard Fahey to return to his favoured six furlongs here and with Sebastian Woods taking off a valuable 7lb, Tatlisu could have his optimum conditions for further success.

Mandrell returns from a long spell on the sidelines in the 32Red Casino Fillies’ Handicap and it would be dangerous to discount her chances.

A winner at Kempton on her only start to date back in 2015, it is interesting that the Godolphin team have opted to continue with this daughter of Dubawi.

Her dam was a dual Grade One winner though and Mandrell won quite tidily on her opening effort, so perhaps Charlie Appleby feels they have only just scratched the surface so far.

Escalating recently hit the mark at Southwell and a repeat victory would not be totally unexpected in the Betway Handicap at the Nottinghamshire venue.

The five-year-old was a winner last June but then had to endure an unsuccessful run of results until bouncing back to his best just over two weeks ago in a moderate event.

This is merely another average heat and while a 5lb hike is clearly not ideal, he remains some way below his best mark.

Tikkapick should not be too far away in the Bathwick Tyres Yeovil Novices’ Handicap Chase at Wincanton.

With the Cheltenham Festival now within touching distance, trainer Colin Tizzard has rather more pressing matters in which to address.

That said, he can be sure to have this seven-year-old ready to go after his inmate finished second at Fontwell in January.

Tikkapick is still winless from 17 starts, but he is hardly handicapped out of it and was probably doing his best work towards the finish of that handicap chase over just shy of two-and-a-quarter miles.

To that end, the decision to step right up in trip to three miles and a furlong looks a calculated risk.

Carlisle’s meeting hardly sets pulses chasing but Present Times got the job done nicely at Towcester last time and looks primed for a double in the Racing UK HD Novices’ Handicap Hurdle, in which he is just 4lb higher in the weights.

IRISH NEWS YANKEE

Nap: Tatlisu (6:45 Newcastle)

Double: Mandrell (7:15 Newcastle)

Treble: Escalating (3:55 Southwell)

Yankee: Tikkapick (4:40 Wincanton)