Free horse racing betting preview and tips from Jamie Maynard for Newcastle races

Horse Racing

Thu March 08, 2018 · 7y ago

All-weather expert Jamie Maynard previews the pick of the action at Newcastle tonight, where Kevin Ryan is taken to strike.

Jamie's best bets

6.45 32Red Casino Handicap

Montague has gone close the last twice and is on the same mark for his most recent second at Chelmsford last Saturday so enters the picture here but this three-year old has yet to get his head in front in handicap company (won two claimers and a novice event) from seven starts and is the most exposed in this field of eight. He's worth taking on. Although Kodi Beach was last of three on handicap debut he wasn’t beaten far and now stepped up in trip from a 2lb lower mark he’s entitled to go well but I quite like the chances of handicap debutant VJ DAY for Kevin Ryan.

He’d shown promise in his first three starts on the turf and then tackled the tapeta surface for the first time at Wolverhampton just over a week ago when a decent second behind Dubai Acclaim (rated 76) and this gelding has been given an opening mark of only 72 so could be able to capitalise on that here. On his penultimate start he was headed inside the final furlong when not seeing out the seven furlong trip and the form of that race has been boosted on several occasions since. The six-furlongs looks his best option for now and I can see this gelding making it a winning handicap debut here.

8.15 Betway Cheltenham First&Last Race Losers Moneyback Handicap

This evening’s finale is quite a competitive little handicap over the six-furlong trip though there are question marks surrounding most of the seven runner field. Oriental Lily has been superb at this track this winter after a close third place finish on all-weather debut back in November, this filly has notched up a course hat-trick with the most recent coming over this trip. She’s been raised another 5lb in the ratings which would require a bit more but it would be foolish to rule her out with the form she’s in.

Firmdecisions is on a 2lb lower mark than for his highest winning perch but has yet to score over this distance whilst Born To Finish has struggled numerous times in this grade and despite excelling over this trip may again come up short against better opposition. Heaven’s Guest was a winner over track and trip on his penultimate start and was a little out of his depth next time in a stronger race so a drop back to identical conditions as for that win could help but is on his highest all-weather mark.

The selection therefore is GLORIOUS POLITICS for David Barron. He was a close third behind the re-opposing Oriental Lily, beaten by two-and-a-quarter lengths, when conceding 7lbs to the winner and has a great chance of reversing that form now in receipt of a pound on their revised marks. This gelding is the least exposed in the field and has gone well over track and trip having gained his only success here in a maiden, along with a couple of close placed efforts and he’s taken to gain a first handicap success in the hands of Ben Curtis.