Nick Luck’s blog: Vadream can keep golden run going at Newcastle

William Hill ambassador Nick Luck runs his expert eye over Good Friday’s cards from Newcastle and Lingfield.

Newcastle, Friday

DESERT COP is worth an each-way investment at 16/1 in the Good Friday TV opener at Newcastle (1.50pm). He has masses to find on ratings, but represents top connections and has a great sprinting pedigree – certainly one that suggests he should be well up to this. More pertinently, he looked much more at home over six furlongs last time and is open to bundles of improvement considering how green he looked.

NOLTON CROSS gets a speculative vote in the stayers’ race (2.25pm) at 8/1. Most of these are capable of beating each other on any given day, so I’d rather take a chance on the ‘new’ boy at this trip, a horse who has turned over a new leaf this season and who has finished his races so strongly that he must have a shot at getting this trip. I like the booking of James Doyle to eke out his stamina.

FREESCAPE should be a worthy opponent for the Gosden duo in the Easter Classic (3.00pm) at 11/2. He’ll find this a bit easier than the races he’s been tackling in Dubai, and a return to this trip, the synthetic surface and positive tactics in a small field should all combine to produce an optimal performance.

CHICHESTER might be six, but he’s a horse going places on this surface and can give Berkshire Shadow a fright in the Mile (3.35pm) at 13/2. He was simply devastating here two back, so much so that you thought it might not be all it seemed, but the way he travelled at Chelmsford suggested that improvement was bona fide. Back at this distance, he’ll be a major threat to all.

HODD’S GIRL is a possibility to upset the applecart in the Fillies’ race (4.10pm) at 10/1. The front of the market – well related from smart stables – have been well placed to win plenty on this surface, but the selection, although exposed, has been in some really tough spots against hardy colts. This is a bit of a hidden class drop, and Oisin Murphy takes over this time.

VADREAM can follow up last week’s success in the sprint (4.45pm) at 5/1. It would be easy to dismiss that as a heavy ground freak-out, but her best efforts suggested that was a possibility and, now that she’s in form, she ought to be very competitive here in receipt of the mares’ allowance and with Hollie Doyle up.

Lingfield, Friday

POWER OF DARKNESS is another Fellowes possibility at Lingfield (2.40pm) at 12/1. Brewing will be a tough nut to crack, but there was just enough in the Newcastle run (third for the new yard) to think new connections were getting to grips with him. He’s dangerous off this mark if that’s the case, and it must be significant that Harry Davies gets the call for the big money race.

EPSOM FAITHFULL looks way too big a price at 18/1 in the second of the three telly races at Lingfield (3.15pm). She would have a serious chance off this mark on her run here behind Annaf, since when she’s not really had any luck and been dropped a bit. That enables a significant class drop and a return to her optimum trip.

OBSIDIAN KNIGHT (7/1) is another with conditions in his favour in the 10 furlong race (3.50pm). He has a nice bit of pace, and was ground down by a more searching test last time. Still, he’s holding his form really well, is tactical enough to make use of an inside stall, and has a great record at this track.