Racing - Give Highland a fling in Plate (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Racing - Give Highland a fling in Plate

10:37am Saturday 28th June 2008 in Sport By Flared Nostril

HIGHLAND Legacy can give jockey Jamie Spencer a smooth ride to victory in the John Smith Northumberland Plate (3.20) at Newcastle today (Saturday).

The progressive son of Selkirk has been brought along cannily by trainer Michael Bell, who sent him out to win a modest Ripon prize earlier this season.

He earned a crack at the Chester Cup for that effort, but palpably failed to act on the tight track, particularly on the final bend, and is better than his fifth place.

Carte Diamond has a touch of class and would be a memorable winner for birthday boy Brian Ellison - all the facets of a sparkling story, but he has just a touch too mhch weight for me.

REDFORD is another who will appreciate cut in the ground after running at Royal Ascot. He ran behind Fitten Love as if a mile was beyond him and this drop back to seven furlongs should suit and he could be a blot on the handicap.

The opening race at Newcastle is a very good sprint and REVERENCE, owned by Lake District connections Gary Middlebrook and his wife, gets the cut in the ground that suit him at last.

Eric Alston's sprinter has not looked the same animal that won the Prix L'Abbaye - the top French sprint - but can go well here at reasonable odds.

TRANQUIL TIGER looks the pick on Newmarkety's card.