Three course specialists bidding to start with a bang at Newcastle

Trainers and owners would be forgiven for running their horses up a mountain after being forced to miss over two months of racing due to the coronavirus pandemic, but there are some familiar faces in line to make eagerly anticipated returns at Newcastle next Monday.

Lion Hearted

Among those is the all-weather ace Lion Hearted. Mick Appleby coaxed stupendous improvement from the ex-Irish castoff last season, as Lion Hearted won four on the bounce, three of which were recorded at Newcastle.

Lion Hearted went from struggling to get into a race off a basement mark to starting favourite seven times last season, and he produced some of his best performances at Newcastle as he climbed 30lb in the handicap.

Watch Lion Hearted win at Newcastle

He may have been well beaten on his last start at the course in January but Lion Hearted is in the mix to return to his happiest hunting ground on June 1 and is entered in the 0-85 6f handicap (2.30), where Appleby has already jocked up Alistair Rawlinson.

Tathmeen

In the same race, Anthony Brittain has handed an entry to Tathmeen, another course specialist.

Of the seven wins beside his name, Tathmeen has recorded five of those at Newcastle, and placed on a further three occasions at the track.

Last seen going down by just a half a length at Wolverhampton in March, Tathmeen will be racing off a career high mark of 85 if he gets a run on Monday.

Watch Tathmeen win at Newcastle

Ice Pyramid

Ice Pyramid may not be a prolific winner but boasts a definite liking for Newcastle after recording his two career wins there as well as placing a further two times.

The Philip Kirby-trained five-year-old has the profile of an unexposed horse who could be open to any amount of improvement after running out a most impressive winner of a 1m4f handicap at the track in February.

As a result of that career-best effort, Ice Pyramid will return off 92, but few would bet against him running a big race in the 0-95 1m4f handicap (4.00), for which Paul Mulrennan has been booked.

Watch Ice Pyramid win at Newcastle

Newcastle entries

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