All-weather expert Jamie Maynard previews the pick of the action at Newcastle tonight and he's got two bets including one trained by Ben Haslam.
7.45 Newcastle preview
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I’ve tackled both divisions of the class 5 handicaps being run over a mile for this evening’s meeting. Dual-course winner Gun Case arrives here on the back of a seven furlong victory prior to a neck second, both at this course. He’s upped in grade for this and steps up to a mile trip where he’s yet to score which, at his short odds, will potentially worry backers. Malaspina for the Ivan Furtado operation is interesting on UK debut having accumulated ten wins in France and Italy, seven of which were over this distance. The market should be a good guide to his chances. Off Art has been running well in better company on turf this year and he won the ‘Legends’ race at Doncaster three starts back. His best effort though came after that win, when only beaten two-and-a-half lengths by 100-rated Khamaary and a repeat performance of that will see him go close, providing he handles the surface on all-weather debut. The horse I’m siding with here however, is Jim Goldie’s five-year old, THELLO. Although his two wins here have been over a mile-and-a-quarter, he has won a couple of times over a mile and he went mightily close over track and trip last month. He travelled nicely into the race but struggled to find a gap when making his move and when he did get through it was too late. A clearer run today could see this gelding gain compensation.
8.15 Newcastle preview
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The second division has a couple of last time out winners in the line-up and although they’ve both gone up the weights, they look set to play a major role in this. REY LOOPY’s victory here at the start of the month was impressive, kicking clear in taking fashion after a patient ride from Tom Eaves and a repeat run will surely see him go close despite a 6lb rise in the weights. He’s a horse with plenty of scope and clearly has the speed having also bolted up over seven-furlongs here in May. Newmarket Warrior beat Thello (my selection in previous race), by a length-and-a-quarter and has a good record on the tapeta with form figures of 2-4-3-1-2-1, so should go close off a 5lb higher mark. Breanski ran well in a classified stakes race the last day and a return to handicaps should suit for powerful combination of David O’Meara and Daniel Tudhope. But they may have to play second fiddle to Ben Haslam’s lightly raced three-year-old who should be open to more improvement and can take this.
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