MICK EASTERBY may have been out of luck in the big sprint at York on Saturday with the unplaced Aetna, but the veteran Sheriff Hutton trainer can bounce back at Newcastle today by saddling a double.

He is fancied to score with Boris Grigoriev and Old Man Clegg, both mounts of Barry McHugh and two horses who ran at last month's Ayr Western Meeting.

Boris Grigoriev, a winner at the same fixture last year, was scuppered by the draw this time and failed to get in the money. But he is lightly raced this season and is perfectly capable of winning the Bootneck 350 Tartan Handicap if in anything like his best form.

Old Man Clegg has more obvious claims in the Royal Marines 350th Anniversary Handicap.

A winner on this course, with McHugh in the saddle, on his penultimate outing, he was a beaten favourite at Ayr but went down fighting in second place behind Bachotheque. He is selected to get back on top this afternoon.

The nap selection is awarded to Zarosa in the M. R. Strategic Handicap over two miles.

Trained in Newmarket by John Berry, the five-year-old mare was a winner on this course last year, as well as scoring at Nottingham.

She goes particularly well on soft ground and down to the same mark as when gaining her last success at this venue, is certainly worthy of the utmost respect. Shelley Birkett claims a valuable 5lb off her back, which means Zarosa is receiving weight from every one of her rivals.

Fleurtille, beaten only half a length by Breakable on this course a fortnight ago, is taken to go one better in the second division of the Bootneck 350 Tartan Handicap.

PJ McDonald takes the mount on Ray Craggs' mare who is a previous course winner.

Also worth noting at Newcastle are Game Pie (2-00), who ran such a cracking race to finish second at Newmarket last time, and Gala Casino Star (3-00), who just missed out at Newcastle last week and who is clearly in good nick for Great Habton trainer Lawrence Mullaney.

At Leicester, Cordite may prove the answer to the featured £25,000 Wreake Handicap over seven furlongs.

Trained by Mick Appleby, the three-year-old ran well to be beaten only three-parts by Loving Spirit on this course last week. He is now set to meet the penalised winner on 6lb better terms and is selected to turn the tables in a race in which Tim Easterby (Royal Rascal and Azagal) and Richard Fahey (Rufford) make a bold bid from North Yorkshire.

Norton trainer Brian Ellison may hold the key to the opening Fosse Way Nursery Handicap with Star Ascending.

The mount of Andrea Atzeni, the juvenile has yet to win a race but has run some creditable races and finished fourth to Multi Grain, his stable mate, at Beverley last time out.

This is Star Ascending's first try in handicap company and his rating of 58 looks a fair one. He should go well and will appreciate the step up to an extended mile.

Emirates Skywards should be hard to beat in the British Stallion Studs Maiden Stakes.

The Charlie Appleby-trained winner looked a surefire winner when he quickened into the lead at Haydock last time but he seemed to idle in front and was caught late on and beaten into second place by the Queen's promising type, Mustard.

William Buick takes the mount this time and Emirates Skywards is fancied to go one better.

 

Racing selections

Newcastle today
2.00 Game Pie, 2.30 Sampera, 3.00 Gala Casino Star, 3.30 Gale Force, 4.00 Zarosa (NAP), 4.30 Boris Grigoriev, 5.00 Fleurtille, 5.35 Old Man Clegg.

Leicester today
2.10 Star Ascending, 2.40 Classic Collection, 3.10 Mandy The Nap, 3.40 Cordite, 4.10 Beautiful Romance, 4.40 Emirates Skywards, 5.10 Johnny Barnes, 5.40 Lobster Pot.

Today's other meetings: Huntington and Wolverhampton.

Tomorrow's meetings: Kempton, Lingfield, Nottingham and Wetherby.