6.15pm Newcastle Tips & Betting Preview 10/03/2017

There are a couple of nice types in this 3yo handicap, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: At the prices, it could pay to side with FOREST ANGEL now she’s into handicap company for the first time. She has to shoulder top weight but her form has got a nice look to it and James Tate doesn’t send many runners here without a very good chance and she’s a decent price to win this. African Grey is at threat of the ‘bounce’ having won only 6 days ago whilst Scala Regia would be a serious danger if there was strong support for her now entered into a handicap for the first time.

1 FOREST ANGEL – Handicap debut today for this Dark Angel filly who races off a mark of 62. She was comfortably beaten on debut but did run against some future group winners and she wasn’t beaten far on her last start at Wolverhampton. She steps back down in trip here and that shouldn’t be an issue with her liking for tapeta already confirmed although Luke Morris abandons her for Scala Regia. James Tate has an excellent record here (33% strike rate, 4 wins from 12 attempts) and she has a major chance although she does carry top weight.

2 LADY VOLANTE – Yet to win in 12 starts although she has slipped down the weights since arriving in the UK and is now down another 2lbs. Philip Prince takes off 3lbs today which should help her cause although she still needs to improve to get the better of a couple here. There was money about for her on her last run when beaten only 3 lengths and at least she arrives here with some modest form unlike some opponents. She’s possibly worth a second look in the betting albeit she’s vulnerable to a couple of rivals today.

3 SCALA REGIA – Sir Mark Prescott has an excellent 26% strike rate here (£4.69) and his runner is of interest here. She’s a first time handicap debutant for a yard that thrive with this type of horse and the step up in trip to 7 furlongs should definitely be up her street having seen the 6 furlongs out well on her last start. An opening mark of 60 looks fair and this is an effective drop in grade so she should be thereabouts with Luke Morris aboard.

4 LA HAULE LADY – Makes her 3yo debut today and arrives here with a less than impressive record. Started at no shorter than 20/1 in all her starts last season and has dropped 9lbs since her handicap debut back in August over 5 furlongs. She is kept over 7 furlongs today and another 4lb drop is welcome but she’ll have to be race fit to get competitive here and is best watched on overall form.

5 DE VEGAS KID – Had three runs this winter and hasn’t come within 9 lengths of the winner on each occasion since arriving from Ireland. His mark is really starting to drop and he now races off 58 and the step down in grade will definitely help his chances. He drops back to 7 furlongs which looks like it should suit so he’s not without a chance although he’s yet to place in 9 attempts and is a very risky proposition.

6 PRINCESS WAY – Dave Evans doesn’t have the greatest record here (2 winners from 28 runners) but he has been in good form of late although his runner arrives here in poor form. She has finished last on her last two runs and the handicapper has left her on the same mark of 58 which looks slightly harsh. She’s won off 2lbs lower and John Egan was on that day as well so that’s a positive although her career record of 1 win from 17 attempts is extremely poor and she’s probably best watched again.

7 AFRICAN GREY – Returned from a long break to score by 2 lengths on his 3yo debut. That was over C&D off 57 with today’s claimer aboard although he’s not punished for that success (Apprentice Handicap) and has another leading chance off the same mark. He only ran 6 days ago so he’s not had much time to recover which may be a slight concern but he has shown he is on a very workable mark and is well-in with a couple of these. He’s definitely of interest but you wouldn’t want to be taking a really short price about him.

8 HOLLYWOOD HARRY – Had shown some improvement in the first time cheekpieces over C&D two starts ago on handicap debut. He was disqualified on his last start for riding 10lbs light (lost weight cloth) and he was unable to get near African Grey so he’s going to find this much tougher. He isn’t completely discounted here and the booking of Connor Beasley looks positive although he’ll need to do more off a mark of 56 to reverse the form with the aforementioned David Barron runner.

9 MAGIC JOURNEY – Has started to improve since moved into handicap company and looks as if he can be competitive off this mark. He switches to Newcastle for the first time and that shouldn’t be an issue based on his Wolverhampton form. He was sent off 7/1 and 6/1 on his last two starts so there’s definitely been some money around for him and he should run his race again here albeit not looking the best treated. Interesting, although trainer without a win in 10 attempts recently.

10 BORN TO BOOGIE – Trainer has no winners from 9 attempts here and this filly may need this run from a 237 day break. She was well-beaten on all bar one of her starts as a 2yo and an opening mark of 52 looks fair given how she’s performed. Tony Hamilton is a positive jockey booking but it would be a surprise to see her win this today on her second starts over 7 furlongs.

11 I DONT BELIEVE IT – Trainer can’t quite believe he’s yet to train a winner here from 11 starts although that record is unlikely to be bettered here. He’s been dropped 6lbs for another very poor run on his handicap debut when beaten over 13 lengths over 6 furlongs at Chelmsford. Makes his 3yo debut today off 52 and the cheekpieces are applied for the first time although they’ll have to work a miracle to turn that form around and looks up against it here.

12 TRANQUIL TRACEY – Another who is yet to place in her career so far (7 runs) and she looks really against it here. Her trainer is in extremely poor form without a winner in over a year as well as barely any runners so she’s very hard to fancy now a 7lb claimer gets aboard. She’s 1lb out of the handicap and shouldn’t win this on all known form.