7.00pm Newcastle Tips & Betting Preview 01/03/2017

This is an interesting maiden with some potentially high quality newcomers on show, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: It’s easy to make a case for four or five of these runners and the betting market will be very useful in gauging the chances of those making their racecourse debuts. However, it could be worth sticking with ARMANDIHAN now he returns from his winter break. Connections obviously thought a lot of him when he was purchased and now he has two fair runs under his belt, he should really be opening his account here under Kevin Stott. Temir Kayzk and Harlow are two very interesting newcomers and any strong support for either of these debutants would be significant.

1 ARMANDIHAN – Backing Kevin Ryan’s runners here would have yielded £32.08 to £1 stakes and he runs an exciting Zoffany colt here. He’s the most expensive horse in the field having been bought for 320,000GNS at the Tattersalls sales in April of last year but he couldn’t break his maiden tag in two runs on the turf over a mile. He can be forgiven his first run in a Class 4 maiden when going down to two more experienced rivals but it was a shade disappointing he couldn’t get closer to his rivals on his last start. This will definitely be easier an easier task and off a small break he should now know what he has to do to win this. Kevin Stott retains the ride and he’ll be very prominent in the betting and should be poised for a good year if he is to fulfil his price tag.

2 CRAY – This Rip Van Winkle colt was a decent purchase as a yearling, fetching 18,000GNS at the Tattersalls October sale. Showed some early promise on debut when only beaten 3 3/4 lengths over C&D in a Class 4 maiden although he couldn’t build on that when stepped up to a mile on his next start, beaten 15 lengths in a decent Class 4 maiden again. Although this is slightly easier, this is his third run for a mark and he may do better later on in the year. He’s interesting though and worth a second look in the betting.

3 ELEMENTS LEGACY – First run for Tracy Waggott who picked up this son of Kheleyf for £2,000 last month. He’s shown very poor form in his career so far and the first time hood is unlikely to bring about any significant improvement here. He’ll do much better when returned to handicap company off a lower mark and it’s impossible to make a case for him here now back up in trip.

4 HARLOW – Bought for a lofty price tag of 70,000GNS as a 2yo at Tattersalls but has obviously taken time to mature now making his debut here. Hugo Palmer has a very good record here with a 32% strike rate (£6.28 profit) and he’s sent out two winners from 7 runners in just the last 14 days. He’s related to a decent sort and is extremely interesting making his debut in a hood. He has a good chance on paper and the betting should be revealing for a trainer who can ready one first time out.

5 SPIRITOFHAYTON – Made a very good impression on debut when beaten a neck by a nice sort for Hugo Palmer at a big price (25/1 SP). He couldn’t follow that up in a Class 4 maiden and stays over C&D but may want further in time (son of Big Bad Bob). He’s got experience which will count for a lot in this field but that last run was a tad disappointing and perhaps connections have their eyes on some early season handicaps. Best watched today.

6 TEMIR KAYZK – David Simcock has a 26% strike rate here and saddles a very interesting newcomer, the fifth foal out of Storm Cat mare who has already bred with the likes of Sea The Stars and Galileo. He was withdrawn from the Tattersalls sales earlier this month and makes his debut here for a yard that have landed a couple of maidens with debutants already and should definitely appreciate the mile trip. As with many of the newcomers, the betting will be key but it would be no surprise to see him win here and deserves respect on breeding alone.

7 TRENCHCARD – Once raced colt for John Gosden who has a 37% strike rate here with a profit of £2.42 to level stakes which is impressive for such a big yard. He was weak in the betting on debut and didn’t really look at ease at Southwell when beaten 6 1/2 lengths over 7 furlongs. He was bought for a massive $285,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland sales and he should really be building on that run to justify such a big price tag. He should improve a lot for that run as well as today’s step up in trip and he’s been given a little time to gather himself and has a leading chance in this.

8 CORAL PRINCESS – Keith Dalgleish has been out of form lately and his 6,000GNS filly is unlikely to better his record here. She was beaten out of sight last time out (66/1 SP) and is impossible to make a case for today. She’ll do much better further down the line and whilst another go at a mile is warranted, she’ll do better in handicaps further down the line.

9 STRETEWISE – 5,000GNS yearling who has shown some very limited ability on her two starts to date for Jason Ward. Her overall profile suggests she’ll enjoy the mile and may even want further in time but this Tagula filly looks like she has a lot of learning to do and is best watched here. This is her third run for a mark and she’ll fare much better when entered into handicap company.