3.30 Newcastle Tips & Betting Preview 25/11/2016

12 go to post for the feature race at Newcastle today with a pot of £5,175 up for grabs. Read on for our experts’ thoughts and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: Westward Ho is on a decent mark after his win here last month and can be expected to go well in this. Testa Rossa has solid claims in his bid for a hat-trick and is sure to be popular in the market for a yard that do well with their runners here. A chance is taken on THE LYNCH MAN who was good winner at Ayr in July and with a decent run behind him and dropped in trip today, may well just spoil the party if positive tactics are employed again. Tadaany can go close if translating his turf form to Tapeta.

1 Tadaany – Won a decent Handicap at Ayr in August but has been in-and-out of form in 5 runs since. Close up 4^th last time at Catterick on Heavy ground and makes his Tapeta Debut today. Possibilities from this mark.

2 Amazement  – 6 runs so far and only 1 win, at Ripon in May, winning nicely that day by 3 ½ lengths to Sunglider from David O’Meara’s yard. Was below form in a Handicap at Redcar last time out finishing 3^rd of 7 although he did look like he was crying out for a stiffer challenge on that occasion. Could get involved if putting his best foot forward but has been off for 161 days and best watched for now.

3 Eastern Dragon – Has won over C&D before including last month at Newcastle when blitzing a field of 14 to win by 2 lengths when 33/1. Only 5^th of 13 in a Handicap here 3 weeks ago when slowly away and may find life tough again here today.

4 Westward Ho – Only 3 runs so far and has been steadily progressive in each culminating in a win here last month getting up to win by 2 ½ lengths. Has a lenient mark to work with but this is a lot tougher and may find it hard to grab a follow up win today. Solid place claims.

5 War Department – Won here comfortably by 2 ¾ lengths in August and won at debut in Ripon last year. Both of those races were over 6f and 7f however and despite a decent 6^th out of 10 in Handicap here 11 days ago, will no doubt struggle upped back to 1m. Easy to ignore this time.

6 Character Onesie – Last win came at Yarmouth back in August, getting up to win by a head in a decent Handicap. Fair form since and 10^th of 12 at Lingfield 2 weeks ago. Can be forgiven that last run as he didn’t find much space that day and has a decent chance of getting into a place today.

7 Auspicion – Won at Pontefract in May by 1 ¼ lengths but in-and-out of form since. Finished behind the re-opposing Testa Rossa in 5^th last time out in a Handicap here when not in the best position. Has the form to get involved but others more persuasive.

8 Weather Front – Won a decent Handicap over 1m at Redcar in June by 1 ¼ lengths. Struggled since including a Handicap here 17 days ago when finishing 7^th of 14 behind the re-opposing Testa Rossa. Wears a visor for the first time and hard to see him closer to that one. Others look to have better chances.

9 Testa Rossa – Has shown massive improvement since being switched to this surface with back-to-back wins in his last two here in the last few weeks. Up another 3lb for those wins and will no doubt give it a good shot at making it 3 in a row. Big player.

10 Balducci – Previously trained by David Loughnane and hasn’t won since a marginal victory at Chester last summer and hasn’t shown anywhere near that form in 12 runs since. Only 9^th of 14 behind Testa Rossa here 17 days ago and will struggle to land a blow again.

11 The Lynch Man – Winner of a good Handicap at Ayr in July, getting up to win by a neck over 1m on Soft ground. Flopped next time out but two progressive runs since at Carlisle and then here last month. Back down in trip today and is interesting off his current mark with his yard continuing in good form. Dangerous to rule out.

12 Pickett’s Charge – Having his first run for the yard since leaving tony Coyle and managed only 6^th of 13 here last month. Back down in trip today having contested over farther but may not find the pace to his liking in this.