NAP of the Day: Fariha can make punters happy at Newcastle

Google tells me ‘Fariha’ means ‘happy’ in Arabic, which is what I’m hoping the aforementioned filly can make us feel at Newcastle on Friday.

Regular readers will know that a bet on the flat at this time of year is a rarity for me. However, away from Cheltenham – which I’ve covered here – it’s slim pickings on Friday and, buoyed by an easy 11/4 winner in this sphere earlier in the week, my eyes have been drawn to one on the all-weather at Newcastle.

That’s the William Haggas-trained, Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum-owned Fariha for this 0-60 nursery handicap over 7f.

The two-year-old daughter of Sharmadal, who’s a half-sister to the 105-rated Al Mubhir, has been comfortably beaten in all three of her starts to date, but has shown enough ability in the process to suggest an opening mark of 59 could underestimate her.

Most of that promise is taken from latest effort, in a decent fillies’ novice contest at Newmarket just under two weeks ago. Despite being keen early on, I thought she travelled through the race well despite testing conditions, before being denied a run two furlongs out and fading under a tenderly-handled ride. That greatly exaggerated the losing margin, which was just over 11 lengths in the end.

Expect her to strip much fitter for that, and appreciate this significantly easier assignment. She also goes in first-time cheekpieces, which will hopefully have the desired effect of helping her settle better.

With the very capable Adam Carragher on board claiming a valuable three pounds, she starts out in handicap company off a mark of essentially 56 and, given breeding and connections, there’ll be plenty of head scratching if she doesn’t at least go close here.