Good Friday Card at Newcastle!

All Weather finals day see’s a good card at Newcastle today, and although it is perhaps a little tougher to find a winner than when these races were run as conditions events, there is perhaps better value to be had.

The Burradon Stakes opens the card and you can read my thoughts on that race here.

I am keen on Al Najashi in the three-year-old sprint. He really looks a horse going places and although he is dropping back down to six furlongs I don’t see that inconveniencing him on this stiffer track. My biggest worry would be whether he will be too keen after a break. Rated just 85 currently, I definitely see his ceiling being much higher than that, and although there are a few in here that could still improve above their current marks, he looks the more obvious one at this point.

In the Mile, Chancellor looks a class above these and has solid form over the trip. Although he does have top weight here, he was actually dropped 2lb for his defeat in the Winter Derby and considering his size, he should have no trouble carrying big weights. At 11/4 he is probably still just about a bet.

The Sprint Handicap looks a typically competitive affair, but I am happy to give Marshman one more chance. He has run well here several times and showed his wellbeing last time out over seven furlongs at Wolverhampton, against a few of these. If he gets away on terms he will be very dangerous at the end. Bet365 have currently price boosted him, which at 7/1 makes him a very good each-way proposition with four places on offer.

The last race I have an interest in is the last, where I think Beylerbeyi will be very difficult to beat. Winner of the Cesareswitch last year, he has been campaigned over shorter trips this winter and that would have helped with keeping his mark down. I am happy to take the general 9/4 available. This has obviously been a well thought out plan with the three runs and Champion AW Jockey Billy Loughnane has been booked to ride.


Recommended bets:
1:50 Newcastle: Al Najashi @ 4/1 (Generally) – 1pt WIN
3:00 Newcastle: Chancellor @ 11/4 (Coral, William Hill) – 1pt WIN
3:35 Newcastle: Marshman @ 7/1 (Bet365) – 1pt Each-Way (1-2-3-4)
4:42 Newcastle: Beylerbeyi @ 9/4 (Generally) – 1pt WIN

Good Luck Punting!!