6.45pm Newcastle Tips & Betting Preview 31/03/2017

This is an interesting maiden for fillies only, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: William Haggas should increase his excellent strike rate at Newcastle with the fascinating THE SKY IS BLAZING. She’s got an excellent pedigree and is related to the quality Excellent Time so she should outclass these if she’s ready on debut. Sulafah will appreciate the extra distance whilst an eye should be kept on England Expects in the betting.

1 ACADIAN ANGEL – Relatively cheap purchase as a 2yo having been bought for 15,000 Euros. She finished second on debut at Newcastle behind an average enough type and whilst the form doesn’t jump off the page it does entitle her to be competitive in this. She has the benefit of racecourse experience and the extra distance should suit this Dark Angel filly. Yard have a 9% strike rate here.

2 DAVINCI DAWN – £30,000 yearling who was very well-beaten on her sole start of last year when beaten 18 1/2 lengths on the turf at Carlisle. She’s by Poet’s Voice so this step up in trip should be fine although she clearly wasn’t ready when making her debut so it’ll be interesting to see how she fares in this. Others make more appeal on paper.

3 DUSKY MAID – Has run three times this winter and the best of her form gives her an average chance in this. She was beaten 2 lengths by a nice horse over 7 furlongs here earlier this month but she put in a poor performance at Wolverhampton having never been able to threaten the winner. She has the benefit of experience but may be one for handicaps late in the season. Jockey has a 5% strike rate here.

4 ENGLAND EXPECTS – 28,000 Euro purchase and she was withdrawn from an engagement recently. She’s a nice enough type on pedigree and she’ll probably want every yard of this although she is related to a couple of winners so it’ll be interesting to see how she fares here. Stable are in red hot form (3 winners from last 9 runners) and one to watch closely in the betting.

5 FORTUITIES – Made her debut over 7 furlongs at Thirsk last year and she was beaten 3 lengths on that occasion. She showed promise on her debut but the pair that finished in front of her have gone on to be beaten since and it doesn’t look particularly strong. She’s worthy of respect with that experience under her belt but she may want further than this.

6 MULTICULTURAL – Outran her odds on debut (33/1) when finishing fourth in a hot Newmarket maiden. The third has come out and won since recently and the form could arguably be the strongest in this race. She was a 55,000GNS purchase and she should love this extra furlong (by Fastnet Rock). Her stables maidens have been a bit hit and miss lately but her trainer does have a 31% strike rate at Newcastle and she deserves maximum respect in this.

7 NAVAJO GREY – Related to some average types over this trip and she was a fair purchase as a yearling, costing 26,000GNS. She’s another by Dark Angel that should enjoy the mile trip but the yard aren’t renowned for first time out winners and the stable have yet to have a winner here from 37 runners. Best watched today.

8 NONNIE AND NORNY – Beaten 40 lengths on debut earlier this month and on that basis, she is going to need a lot more time to come into her own. She was never involved in a similar contest to this over an extended mile and her trainer has just a 4% strike rate here. One for handicaps in the future and avoided today.

9 ROYAL FLUTE – 100/1 on debut and finished fifth of ten beaten 13 lengths. Her trainer is without a win in 17 attempts here and she’s another that will do better once entered into handicaps later in the year. She may even want dropping back in trip at some stage (by Piccolo) and is hard to fancy here.

10 SULAFAH – Most experienced runner in the field and she finished behind Acadian Angel on her last start having looked a touch outpaced. She was receiving a decent amount of weight from that rivals that day and on a literal interpretation of the form she will find it difficult to reverse the standings this time around. However, she will improve for the step back up in trip and she does at least know her job. Sets an average standard with a rating of 69.

11 THE SKY IS BLAZING – The standout horse on paper in this. She’s a 240,000GNS yearling by Sea The Stars out of Mamonta who is also the dam to Endless Time (highest Official Rating was 110) and that makes her an eye watering prospect here. She will want every single yard of this trip and this looks like an excellent opportunity to record a first victory before she goes onto better things. Her trainer has sent out two winners from his last 3 runners and the stable have an excellent 36% strike rate here. She should be an excellent racehorse.