Check out our race-by-race verdicts and nap selection for this evening's meeting at Newcastle.
3.10
Bumper winner FAIR STAR has won two of three outings on the all-weather and was beaten only a short-head at Wolverhampton on his handicap debut. He looks worth sticking with in this. King Of The South also has scope for further progress raised 6lb for winning over track and trip while Zabeel Star scored here last time with Paddyplex back in third and can also figure. Polyphony is another to consider and makes more appeal than Bay Of Naples, who was placed yet again when second at Chelmsford last week.
3.45
Stand Free came good over track and trip last time though is drawn on the outside today while Calonne finally opened his account when catching BUDANOVA in the closing stages over course and distance at the same fixture. But the latter is less exposed and having only her second outing in a handicap, Archie Watson’s charge is fancied to improve further and come out best on this occasion. Jewel Maker returns to the all-weather having finished second at Redcar last month while Deolali has won three times over 7f here this year and beat Forus easily enough when last successful.
4.15
Tigerhon finished just ahead of Bhaji when runner-up over track and trip on his debut. But VIOLET WARDA placed in what looked a tougher contest here on her introduction and given the Haggas yard has an impressive strike rate at this venue, she gets the vote. Galeophobia finished third at Hamilton earlier and returns from a lay-off while Open Mystery is related to three winners and preferred to Whittle Le Woods of the newcomers.
4.45
Patsy Fagan has had plenty of chances but returned a beaten favourite at Lingfield last time while Fircombe Hall is similarly exposed though placed over track and trip on his penultimate start. Accrington Stanley and Stay Smart look no nearer winning but several make their handicap debuts and may improve. That includes Blu Boy and Available Angel but PANORAMIC ran her best race so far over today’s trip back in October and she gets a speculative vote.
5.15
Juan Les Pins has switched yards since winning at Kempton and is 8lb higher while Astro Jakk beat Kind Review with Call Me Ginger and Gunmetal further behind when returning a 50/1 winner over track and trip a fortnight ago. Gowanlad is upped in class as he bids for a hat-trick while Royal Prospect won this back in 2018 and has undergone wind surgery since last in action. Mohareb has been thereabouts over 7f and FORTAMOUR drops back down in trip having won over 6f at Ascot in September. Twice a winner at this venue, the latter may prove good enough again.
5.45
Bringitonboris bids for a hat-trick of course and distance wins having finished in front of Anif last time and beat subsequent winner Dawaaleeb before that. But SANDRET looks set to take advantage of a slide down the weights having been narrowly beaten here a fortnight ago and it could be the turn of Ben Halslam’s charge today. Gravity Force has been in the mix over 7f and Defence Treaty won over the same trip here in October while Convertible has more scope than most.
6.15
Without a win in seven starts in Ireland, Kells has switched yards and is weighted to beat THRILL SEEKER. But the latter has been gelded since beaten over 1m2f at Chelmsford and improvement is expected back over a shorter trip today. Silent Hunter showed some ability on the all-weather as a two-year-old back in 2018 and has been kept in training. The Godolphin colt should be noted in the betting but the remainder are hard to recommend including the newcomers.
6.45
First Response went close over a mile here last time but has yet to win over today’s trip while Velma’s earlier success here also came over further. Dawn Breaking won over track and trip last month but CRANTOCK BAY (NAP) was only a neck behind having failed to get a clear run and George Scott’s charge gets another chance in this with normal luck in-running. Tommy G, Daniel Deronda and Medicine Jack have all placed here recently while Kumasi makes his handicap debut on his first start for over a year having joined Archie Watson’s yard.
7.15
Last year’s winner Herringswell beat Prophecy over track and trip a fortnight ago but is 7lb higher today and NUBOUGH is preferred. The latter didn’t take to the Fibresand surface at Southwell last time but was narrowly beaten here on a couple of occasions before that and gets another chance. Pearl Of Qatar is best at Southwell and beat Global Humor at the latter track earlier while Six Strings and Afro Blue have slid down the weights and the latter has switched yards since last seen.
