Tominator given the green light to chase Northumberland Plate double

Wednesday 27 June 2012

Tominator is back on course to attempt back-to-back victories in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle on Saturday following an injury scare.

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WHITE AND GOLD

Reg Hollinshead's grey had given connections cause for concern when bruising a hoof but yesterday he came through his first serious workout since then with flying colours. It now looks as though the five-year-old can try to emulate Tug Of War who was the last horse to land successive victories in the race in 1977 and 1978

"We had a scare last week when he had an injury, but he worked well this morning, so hopefully we're back on track," said Hollinshead's son and assistant Andrew yesterday"I was happy with his work, so the plan is to go. I don't know what the ground is. I wouldn't want very soft ground, that's the only thing. This was his first proper piece of work since the setback. I was quite relieved because he was just a touch lame, but he seems fine now."Jessica Harrington is hoping for decent ground for Steps To Freedom. A smart hurdler, the six-year-old was an encouraging third to Fame And Glory on his return to the Flat in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan last month."We're a little bit ground dependent so we just want to know what is going to happen. The weather is very much up in the air everywhere," said the County Kildare trainer."I was delighted with him at Navan. We just haven't had the ground since. Hopefully it will dry out."Pat Phelan has warned he would not run Ermyn Lodge if he considered the ground too soft, and said: "We wouldn't go on anything worse than good to soft. He's been second on good to soft on his favourite track at Ascot, but softer than that would be a waste of everybody's time and money and maybe you'll only end up damaging the horse mentally or physically.The going at Newcastle is soft, heavy in places and the course could be hit by thundery showers tomorrow before an improvement in for the last two days of the fixture.The Carlisle Bell is the highlight of the eponymous track's biggest meeting of the year and the expectation is that Barwick will lead the field home. The extended seven-furlong race is always keenly contested and in the lightly raced Barwick, trainer Mark Tompkins has an animal who is bang in form. He began the year without a win in six starts but he has wasted little time since opening his account in a Yarmouth handicap in April. The four-year-old came unstuck when second at Sandown next time but the heavy ground that day possibly took its toll. A return to Yarmouth had Barwick regain the winning thread earlier this month, staying on well to strike by just over a length in what was a fair contest.The handicapper has raised him 6lb for that success but Barwick appeals as a horse with more to give.

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Tominator given the green light to chase Northumberland Plate double

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