Simon fancies Via Serendipity (red cap) on Thursday
Simon fancies Via Serendipity (red cap) on Thursday

Free horse racing tips: Simon Holt previews Newcastle and Newmarket on Thursday


Simon Holt has three bets at big prices for Thursday's action at Newcastle and Newmarket including Via Serendipity at HQ.

Recommended bets:

1pt win Time Voyage in 1.00 Newcastle at 11/1

1pt win Drummond Warrior in 4.45 Newmarket at 18/1

1pt win Via Serendipity in 5.55 Newmarket at 9/1

For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record


Newcastle's all-weather surface has been riding quite slow this week and the stiff mile should suit TIME VOYAGE in the opening Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap on Thursday.

John Quinn's filly shaped nicely in her first two starts at Gosforth Park last season and was up against a useful rival when staying on into a three length second behind Queen Gamrah over seven furlongs in November.

It was a similar story first time out over the same course and distance when Time Voyage was doing her best work at the finish and, on her handicap qualifying run at Lingfield most recently, she became slightly outpaced as the field turned down the hill towards the home straight before keeping on close home.

That last race was over a mile but this more searching test can prove ideal for this likeable daughter of Raven's Pass who looks handily treated towards the bottom of the weights.

At Newmarket, DRUMMOND WARRIOR could be over-priced in the first division of the Play 4 To Win At Betway Handicap given his wide margin Windsor defeat of Grisoms last June followed by a fine effort to split Total Commitment (now rated 95) and Tinto (100) on Newmarket's July course. A reproduction of that effort should see Pam Sly's gelding go close off 84.

Drummond Warrior's last two runs in 2019 were less good but he lost his action and returned stiff on his next start at Doncaster and has had a wind operation since dropping away at Kempton in October.

Later, course and distance winner VIA SERENDIPITY is worth an interest in the Betway Handicap having shown improved form on all-weather surfaces during the winter.

In all, the Stuart Williams-trained six-year-old went up 10lb to a rating of 105 on the synthetics whereas he can run here on turf off 90. On past form including wins at Sandown and Ascot in 2018, plus good runs in big handicaps on grass, Adam Kirby's mount is well capable of winning this at the weights providing he remains in good heart.

Posted at 1645 BST on 03/06/20


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