Westow trainer sends out five-strong team at Newcastle (From Gazette & Herald)

Westow trainer Paul Midgley sends out five-strong team at Newcastle

10:23am Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in Sport By Tom O'Ryan, Racing journalist

North Yorkshire trainer Paul Midgley is pulling out all the stops to win a race at Newcastle tomorrow.

A maximum field of 16 runners have been declared for the Racing Post Weekender Out Every Wednesday Handicap – and Midgley saddles five of them in a bid to repeat his success in the corresponding contest 12 months ago.

Cool In The Shade, last year’s winner, is not in the field this time, but set to line up from the Westow yard are Besty, Made In The Shade, Headstight, Ever Roses and my pick of Midgley’s quintet, Choc’a’moca, already twice a winner this term.

Both those successes, at Catterick and Carlisle, came in June, but there was every indication on his latest start that Choc’a’moca remains in winning form. He finished sixth of 13 to Mr Mo Jo on this course last time, beaten by only three lengths in a race which was fairly competitive for its standard.

Midgley will not be bothered one way or another which of his runners comes out ahead, so long as one of them does.

Choc’a’moca, with Lee Topliss on board, gets my vote.

Norton trainer Julie Camacho bids to gain a second Newcastle win on the spin with Dandarrell in the SV Rutter Handicap.

Dandarrell beat Wiseman’s Diamond by a length and a half here just under three weeks ago and is again opposed by the Midgley-trained runner-up. There may not be much between the pair once more, but Dandarrell is open to further improvement on this softer ground and, having been raised only 4lb, is fancied to follow up.

Bravo Ragazzo promises to be hard to beat in the opening Racing To School St Benets Primary School Maiden Stakes.

A beaten favourite on his debut at Carlisle three weeks ago, Bravo Ragazzo finished third, but looks in need of the experience.

He should be more streetwise this time and the expected soft ground should not trouble this son of Pivotal, whose progeny tend to cope well with the mud. He carries the nap.

At Nottingham, Paul Hanagan has double prospects on Lahaag and Muthmera.

Trained by John Gosden, and with only two outings under his belt, Lahaag looks a promising type, having won nicely on his latest start in maiden company at Yarmouth. He now contests the Roseland Business Park Handicap and, although burdened with top weight, should be involved in the shake-up.

Muthmera runs in the second leg of the Double M Catering Challenge Maiden Stakes.

The Roger Varian-trained juvenile shaped well on her debut at Leicester to finish third and left the impression that the best was ahead of her. She is likely to produce an improved display.

Gallena (2.20) and the promising Woody Bay (5.30) are two others to note on a typical back-end card.

Racing selections

Newcastle (tomorrow)
2.10 Bravo Ragazzo (NAP), 2.40 Krupskaya, 3.10 Danat Al Atheer, 3.45 Clumber Place, 4.20 Pivotal Prospect, 4.50 Generous Dream, 5.20 Dandarrell, 5.50 Choc’a’moca.

Nottingham (tomorrow)
2.20 Gallena, 2.50 Cardinal, 3.20 Lahaag, 3.55 Cushion, 4.30 Muthmera, 5.00 Starfield, 5.30 Woody Bay, 6.00 Maybeme.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Kempton and Salisbury.

Today’s meetings: Ayr, Sedgefield and Wolverhampton.