Norton trainer Malcolm Jefferson and jockey Harry Haynes – hoping to team up with Attaglance at next week’s Cheltenham Festival – can maintain their good run of form at Newcastle this afternoon.

The North Yorkshire partnership, successful with Milan Royale at Sedgefield on Sunday, will be represented by Firth Of The Clyde in the Benfield Kia Novices’ Hurdle.

A slow-maturing and lightly-raced eight-year-old, who is still learning his job, Firth Of The Clyde is now starting to progress. Runner-up efforts have highlighted his last two starts at Wetherby and on this course behind the highly-regarded and unbeaten Bufffalo Bill last month.

The step up to two and a half miles today will be in the favour of Firth Of The Clyde, who is fancied to have the edge over the more proven Victor Hewgo in receipt of a stone from Keith Reveley’s dual winner.

Norton trainer Tony Coyle has done a good job on cheaply-bought aquisition Billy Cuckoo, winning three races with him already this season, most recently at Carlisle.

The R F Henderson Ltd Handicap Chase is the latest assignment for Billy Cuckoo, who will have the services of his regular jockey Brian Toomey, who gets a good tune out of him. A good run looks on the cards.

Also worth nothing at Gosforth Park are recent Sedgefield winner Runswick Royal (2.20) and previous course winner King’s Chorister (3.50).

Joe Fanning journeys to Kempton tomorrow evening from his North Yorkshire base with good prospects of making his trip well worthwhile.

The Middleham-based jockey is fancied to complete a double on nap selection Dangerous Age and the promising Incorporate, who runs in the Betdaq Maiden Stakes.

Trained by Pat Eddery for Prince Khalid Abdulla, a combination which enjoyed wholesale success when Eddery was at the height of his powers as a champion jockey, Incorporate shaped well on his debut to finish third, beaten only a length. That experience will not have been wasted on this son of Beat Hollow, who can now take a step forward.

Dangerous Age is in rude health for Lambourn trainer John Hills. She broke her maiden at Lingfield on her second start and has since followed up in handicap company at Wolverhampton, coming from nearly last to first.

Dangerous Age, who runs in the Betdaq Handicap over five furlongs, has been raised 7lb, but she still figures on a handy mark and is selected to complete a hat-trick.

Marco Botti has been going great guns with his runners since the turn of the year and Spifer can be another winner for the talented Newmarket trainer in the Betdaq Games Handicap.

The five-year-old made a winning reappearance on this course in January with a short-head success. A rise of only 2lb for that win brings him right into the reckoning once again. The excellent Andrea Atzeni has the mount.

Hayley Turner fans will be keen on the chances of Homeboy in the Come Dine In The Panoramic Restaurant Handicap.

The five-year-old, trained by Marcus Tregoning, has won both his starts this year and although those wins were gained only in selling company this handicap is no better than average selling standard. He should give Turner something to smile about.


Racing selections

Newcastle today
2.20 Runswick Royal, 2.50 Glen Countess, 3.20 Lukey Luke, 3.50 King’s Chorister, 4.20 Firth Of The Clyde, 4.50 Billy Cuckoo, 5.20 Kings Bandit.

Today’s other meetings: Exeter and Southwell.

Kempton tomorrow
5.30 Dangerous Age (NAP), 6.00 Incorporate, 6.30 Penbryn, 7.00 Spifer, 7.30 Homeboy, 8.00 Lily Edge, 8.30 Crucis Abbey.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Catterick, Fontwell and Lingfield.