Racing’s return across England continues on Tuesday with two more meetings. Newcastle hosts a second card in as many days and there is also a card down at Kempton Park as we head towards the first classics of the English season towards the end of the week.
We have scoured both cards intensively and while there is nothing that we fancy at Kempton Park, it is the total opposite at Newcastle where we have picked out five bets across the course of four of the 10 races on the card.
12.45 Newcastle
Preview
The opener looks to be a competitive heat on paper with 12 running in this 1 mile Class 4 handicap.
Star Shield, from the O’Meara yard, is the current favourite. He was 6th last time out in a course & distance event in this grade off this mark so has claims but may just need his first run back. Amplification has finished 2nd the last twice but is up 5lbs in total for those 2 runs. There’s also a question mark whether the step up to a mile will suit so he’s passed over.
Jackstar has won first time up as a 2 and 3 year old so this could be the time to catch him but he did disappoint after a 125 day absence last September. He likes to make the running but would prefer a turning track. Breanski is lurking on a dangerous mark but first time out isn’t normally his time.
Betting
The selection is Siglo Six. He’s still relatively raced, having won 2 and twice finishing 2nd in 6 turf wins (he is 0 from 3 on the all weather). He likes to be held up and needs cover, otherwise he can pull hard so his middle draw, coupled with pace in the race is a positive. He won last time in this grade off 2lbs lower at Sandown and was then 3rd, less than 2 lengths back, in a higher grade. He’s been given 2 poor rides the last twice, the first when pulling so hard at Kempton early doors. He then made eyecatching progress and looked sure to be involved in the finish but those early exertions told and he faded. Last time, at Wolverhampton, was one disaster after another so I’m pleased to see him eased in grade, eased in mark (3lbs lower) and with a new & top jockey on board with Andrea Atzeni taking the ride, He has also been gelded since his last run which often brings about further improvement.
Tips
Back Siglo Six (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 7.00 William Hill BOG (⅕ odds 1-4)
Back it here:
2.30 Newcastle
Preview
The best race on the card is a Class 2 handicap over 6 furlongs where there is a warm favourite in Sir Michael Stoute’s Mubakker. He’s lightly raced, winning 2 of his 4 career starts but was down the field on his only try in a handicap. Whilst he remains with potential, there’s surely better value as he takes on some battle hardened sprinters. Justanotherbottle is having his first run for an in-form Kevin Ryan yard but all 6 career wins have been at the minimum trip and this is his first all weather start.
Betting
We are taking 2 in this race, the first of which is Glen Shiel. This is a horse that has won at 9 furlongs in France but is now having his first start over this trip. Since being campaigned in the UK over 7 furlongs, he’s won here off a mark off 96 despite taking a keen hold and was then less than 1 length 3rd off his revised mark off 100 (races off the same mark today). That day, he only gave way inside the final furlong so the drop in trip could eke out the necessary improvement. That was backed up when he was unplaced in a Listed event at Wolverhampton where the turning track didn’t suit. Even then he was in front at the furlong pole and, again, he was a bit too lively early door. His RPRs suggest he could be ahead of his mark & he’s sure to be involved in the finish.
Our second selection is Cosmic Law who was a very decent 2 year old having been placed in Listed company & running well at Group level. His 3 year old campaign was cut short due to injury but he showed enough to suggest he could win this today. He was 4th in a big field, ultra competitive sprint at York and was then 2nd over this course & distance off this mark & in this grade. He can be forgiven his run in midfield in the Stewards Cup as the course doesn’t suit many & he faced the older sprinters too. He’s now over his minor injury setback & his trainer has been noted as saying ‘he’s fit & ready’. The yard had a winner & 2 more in the places on the first day back so, with stable wellbeing assured & form in the book, he’s a decent each way bet.
Tips
PLACED – Back Glen Shiel (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 8.50 Coral BOG (⅕ odds 1-4)
Back Cosmic Law (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 9.00 BetVictor BOG (⅕ odds 1-4)
SPECIAL OFFER
OPEN UP A BETVICTOR ACCOUNT AND BET £5 TO GET £30 IN FREE BETS TO SPEND OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS! CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO JOIN. NEW ACCOUNTS ONLY. 18+ T&Cs apply. Gamble Aware
5.25 Newcastle
Preview
12 runners for this Class 4 handicap on the round course for a trip of 1 mile 4 furlongs. The favourite has a great name but not so great credentials; Sexy Beast was 2nd of 4 over course & distance last time out so needs to find some improvement to land this.
Blue Medici, similarly, needs to show more if he’s to win whilst Azzurri hasn’t been seen on the flat for almost 2 years although he has been racing over fences. Mountain Ruler could be anything with only 2 career starts to his name but, on the face of it, he doesn’t look that well handicapped.
Betting
Instead, the pick is Unit Of Assessment who has won 4 of 15 starts on the all weather, albeit he’s a definite Kempton specialist. He won 3 races last season off marks of 69, 73 and 76 with his last win coming with Atzeni in the saddle. Today he rides again for the first time since which feels like a pointer in itself. Since that last win, he’s struggled off marks in the 80s (back to a mark off 78 today) but his last run, when 6 lengths 3rd in a race at Catterick is better than it first appears. The winner has been raised 6lbs, the runner up goes up by 1lb, yet our selection is down 2lbs. Admittedly he was beaten a fair distance but the weights were in the favour of the front 2 as they are progressive 3 years old and received a 6lb age allowance. The pair have since gone on to contest hurdle races in Graded company. The form of that should stack up as the 4th horse home was a further 4 lengths back and the rest another 8 lengths or more adrift. With an eyecatching jockey booking, a workable mark & form on the all weather, he should go well.
Tips
Back Unit Of Assessment (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 10.00 Coral BOG (⅕ odds 1-4)
6.00 Newcastle
Preview
The last race on the card is another handicap, this time in Class 3 over 1 mile 2 furlongs. Medal Winner could easily be better than this class having hosed up in a maiden last time out and he’s only raced 3 times. However, we’re prepared to seek out a longer price especially as he’s yet to contest a handicap.
Cape Cavalli is having his first start for a new yard with the worry being a 3rd consecutive change of headgear. Jus Pires won over course & distance last time out but is up 3lbs & up in grade, a comment that can also be applied to Sucellus.
Betting
The one we have on side is Where’s Jeff, a winner at this track 2 years ago when last racing on the all weather. That day, he spread eagled a field over a mile off a mark of 59 and, since then, he’s won 4 times, the most recent off 81. He keeps progressing and gets this trip & further so is extremely versatile. This race doesn’t have loads of pace so he could go from the front & try to stretch this field out. His jockey has won 4 times on the horse so there are no worries on that score. What is interesting is he keeps pulling out more & last time, he always won on his 2nd start from a revised mark & bids to do the same today. He opened last year finishing 4th off 75 before winning off 74. He was then 3rd off 77 before winning off 77, and was then 8th off 81 before winning off 81. Last time out he was 6th on unsuitably heavy ground off a mark of 84 and gets in here off 83. There’s definitely more to come for a horse from an unfashionable yard & he looks to be too big a price, especially as he’s one of just 3 in the field to have won at the track.
Tips
Back Where’s Jeff (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 10.00 Betfair Sportsbook BOG (⅕ odds 1-4)
Back it here: