Buratino & Pretend Go For Chipchase Spoils

Time/Date - 14.30hrs local time/Saturday, June 25, 2016
Racecourse/Country - Newcastle/UK
Surface/Distance - Tapeta/6f

Buratino and Pretend line up in the G3 Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle, UK, on Saturday, June 25, with the six-furlong contest switched from turf to the course's new Tapeta surface.

Three-year-old Buratino (Mark Johnston/James Doyle) faded to finish ninth over a mile in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on April 30 but ran better when fourth in the six-furlong G2 118Bet Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock Park on May 28.

The son of Exceed And Excel captured the G2 Coventry Stakes, also over six furlongs, at Royal Ascot last year and also won on his only previous All-Weather appearance, when readily taking a five-furlong Polytrack maiden at Chelmsford City on his racecourse debut.

Pretend (Charlie Appleby/James McDonald) also returns to the All-Weather after disappointing on turf in a six-furlong Listed contest at Windsor in June, 2015 - his most recent start.

The five-year-old was one of the stars of the 2014/2015 All-Weather Championships, winning five times including a five-furlong Listed race and the six-furlong All-Weather Sprint Championships, both on Polytrack at Lingfield Park.

Mark Johnston reported: "We are very happy with Buratino and feel that this provides an ideal opportunity for him. He's back on an All-Weather surface, so there shouldn't be any issues about ground.

"He showed an awful lot of pace in the middle of the race at Haydock and we even wondered slightly whether to try him at five furlongs one day. The main thing is that he will get a fast surface."

Charlie Appleby said: "This is Pretend's first run back off a long lay-off, but his synthetic form would give him a good chance if he brings his A-game to Newcastle."

Buratino, drawn seven, and Pretend, exiting from stall two, tackle nine rivals headed by G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest fourth Watchable and recent York handicap scorer Mr Lupton.