Cracking Gold is one of three Clive Cox-trained contenders gearing up for Finals Day following his authoritative success at Southwell last week.
Backing up placed efforts at Southwell and Kempton Park in February, the four-year-old showed the benefit of wind surgery as he took a mile handicap by two lengths.
Cracking Gold has made the frame in all six of his all-weather appearances, with the handicapper raising him 5lb to 93 for his latest success.
The four-year-old is set to be joined in the Mile final by last year’s runner-up Kingdom Come, who finished third in the BetMGM Lincoln Trial last time out.
Stable-mate Diligent Harry could bid for a third Finals Day success in the Sprint, a prize he won in 2023 when it was a conditions race.
Cox said: “We were very happy with Cracking Gold at Southwell the other day. He has gone up 5lb, which will hopefully assure him of a run in the Mile final.
“He has always given us confidence in his ability and he posted some good performances earlier in the season without getting his head in front.
“His wind is something we felt we had to address and I think you would have to say that it has been a success. It was nice for him to hit the target at Southwell and hopefully that will give him confidence to progress again.
“Kingdom Come will go for the Mile final as well, so we should have a pretty strong hand there. He is a confirmed track and distance performer who excels on the all-weather, and I was very happy with his lead-up run at Wolverhampton.
“All being well, Diligent Harry will hopefully be heading to Newcastle for the Sprint. He needs to have one more qualifying run, which will hopefully be at Southwell next week.”
Elsewhere, Paddy’s Day completed a four-timer over Newcastle’s five-furlong course, this time beating Ventura Express by three-quarters of a length. Nigel Tinkler’s sprinter has been given a 3lb hike to 89.
Blinky and Westmorian have both been given 7lb rises to 84, with Blinky in contention for the Three-Year-Old final after making it two wins from as many starts since joining Antony Brittain from Ed Walker.
Billy Loughnane has drawn level with Hector Crouch in the race to be crowned all-weather champion jockey. The duo are tied on 63 wins, with Luke Morris third on 56.
The all-weather champion apprentice standings also looks set to go down to the wire, with Jack Doughty on 29 wins and Sean Dylan Bowen on 27.
