REDCAR’S most historic race celebrates its 75th anniversary on Monday with trainer Ed Bethell hoping he can bring the Zetland Gold Cup back to Middleham.
The first running of the race, in 1950, was won by Near Way, trained at Middleham by Sam Hall.
And the Racing TV Zetland Gold Cup was declared as the target for Bethell’s progressive See That Storm as soon as the gelding had racked up a fourth consecutive victory at Redcar’s May 1st meeting.
Bethell was clearly impressed that day, saying: “I was a bit worried that he could have stripped fitter, so that was a good performance.”
There should be more to come from the horse, who has risen 15lbs to a rating of 91 since joining Bethell from the Andrew Balding yard, with the sequence of four victories for the Middleham yard starting at Redcar at the end of July.
Callum Rodriquez, who has ridden See That Storm for each of those four wins, is back in the saddle but the competition looks tough, notably from Sir Lowry’s Pass.
Sir Lowry’s pass, trained at Lambourn by Ed Walker, was an impressive winner of a Class 2 handicap at Goodwood last time out. Jim Goldie's fancied Faylaq has been declared as a non-runner.
Tom Marquand has had a contrasting couple of days. He was over in Hong Kong on Sunday for three rides at Sha Tin, including Dubai Honour who was fourth in the Group 1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup for William Haggas.
He's flown back for three rides for Haggas at Redcar - Crown of Oaks in the Celebrating The Life Of Colin Brown Maiden Stakes, Another Abbot in the Market Cross Jewellers Handicap. and Approval in the Zetland Gold Cup.
Crown of Oaks, a son of Wootton Bassett, has been third on two starts so far and looks to have Archie Watson’s Spy Kingdom to beat.
Another Abbot was a moderate seventh of 10 at Yarmouth earlier this month and, in an open-looking race, it may be worth tuning in with in-form Tim Easterby’s Angelic Bugler, ridden by David Allan. A winner on her debut at Ripon in April, she was then third of 10 at Redcar, in as race won by a smart performer in Ed Bethell’s Fluorescence.
Approval, a winner of a Class 2 handicap at Goodwood last August was off the track until reappearing at Newmarket this month,finishing down the field, and should improve for that run.
The Easterby and Allan combination is always to be feared at Redcar and the pair also look to have solid chances with Queen’s Road Revue in the In Memory of Billy Higgins Handicap (Division 1) and Amayretto in Division 2.
A winner at Beverley and Leicester last year, Queen’s Road Revue looked ready to return to the winner’s enclosure soon when third at Beverley on May 5.
Amayretto followed up a good second at Musselburgh by landing a Doncaster handicap in good style at the back end of April and is clearly in good heart.
Redcar’s eight-race Bank Holiday card gets underway at 1.45pm with the Join Racing TV Now EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes for two-year-olds. The market will be the best guide and it will be interesting to see if there are signs of confidence behind the Karl Burke newcomer High Rubican. But, of those with form, Hugo Palmer's Dubai Time should come on for a debut fifth at Chester.
Filly One was an impressive winner at Southwell at the start of May, and PJ McDonald retains the ride as Geoff Oldroyd’s charge tries to defy a stiff penalty in the penultimate Celebrating 30 Years of Jacks Coaches Handicap.
The one to beat is Michael and David Easterby’s Diligent Resdev who put up a very creditable show to be fifth of 17 in the competitive Schweppes Victory Cup at Ascot two weeks ago and has the popular Joanna Mason back in the saddle.
David O’Meara’s Young Fire was second at Ayr last time and the winner that day, Glasses Up, has won again since. Young Fire can go one better in the Racing Again Tomorrow On Racing TV Handicap with Cian Horgan claiming five pounds.
TODAY'S REDCAR NON-RUNNERS:
13.45: Hellcat, Naana's Shadow; 14.15: Highfield Comrade, Breizh Sea; 14.50: Naval Academy; 15.25: Once Adaay; 16.35: Faylaq; 17.45: Desert of the Sea.