7.50pm Newcastle Tips & Betting Preview 01/06/2017

This is a Class 3 handicap over a mile, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: This is a wide open handicap and ROCKWOOD gets the vote. Connections have found the key to him this season with two victories from three starts and he can add another success to his name off just 2lbs higher. Instant Attraction rarely runs a bad race and shouldn’t be far away whilst Lavetta can also go well at a big price making her first start for Sally Haynes.

1 EL VIP – Finished a length behind the progressive Oh This Is Us in a mile handicap back in April and it was disappointing to see him go on to finish last of ten, beaten 15 lengths next time out. Something was clearly amiss that day having been well-backed and better is expected here of this nice 4yo colt. Jamie Spencer has been in fine form of late with a 22% strike rate and he needs close consideration in this.

2 INSTANT ATTRACTION – Wasn’t disgraced in a Listed handicap at York last month when beaten 7 1/2 lengths to finish seventh. He’s been dropped 3lbs in the handicap for that run which should see him get involved today given he’s placed off higher ratings than this. The stable are in moderate of form of late and a decent run is expected from this consistent sort.

3 CHESTNUT FIRE – Couldn’t land a blow in the Victoria Cup at Ascot last month and Daniel Loughnane’s runner has been dropped 2lbs in the handicap as a result. That leaves him below his last winning mark although that came in a weak seller at Dundalk and he still looks high enough in the weights. Daniel Tudhope is a jockey in form at present (17% strike rate in the past fortnight) although he’ll need things to fall perfectly to get this one home.

4 MOONLIGHTNAVIGATOR – Was a progressive sort last season which saw him climb through the handicap and he didn’t look done improving last time out. He finished second of 6 beaten by a nice horse and he remains on the same mark today so he should be able to get competitive although this is slightly tougher. The yard are in below average form at present with just 2 winners from their last 31 runners which is off-putting.

5 LAVETTA – Has joined the Sally Haynes yard following the sad passing of Alan Swinbank. This mare was a decent sort for the Swinbank stable, recording four victories including a Class 2 handicap at Newmarket last October. She will have improved for her seasonal reappearance and she enters calculations here off the same mark of 88. That does leave her 5lbs higher than her last winning mark but that did come in a stronger race than this.

6 ILLUSTRISSIME – Yard are in poor form of late (without a winner from their last 11 runners) and their runner makes his stable debut today. He wasn’t beaten far in a Class 3 handicap for Roger Fell last October but he’s been moved on following just two starts which raises slight question marks. He starts his 4yo campaign off a one pound lower mark and others make more appeal today.

7 MULLIGATAWNY – Has run to a consistent level in three starts this year which includes a half-length defeat in a Class 4 handicap last time out. He’s been raised 2lbs for that run which isn’t ideal but it still looks workable based on his form in Ireland as a 3yo. This is a step up in class which may just find him out but he looks reliable enough and he should run a respectable race today and could sneak a place.

8 TORRID – Consistent handicapper and Mick Easterby’s runner scored in a Class 4 handicap on his seasonal reappearance by 1 3/4 lengths. He’s been handed a 5lb rise following that success and he will need to take another step forward to score in this company off this mark. The stable have an excellent 18% strike rate at Newcastle so he should go well and Nathan Evans claims the usual 3lbs off his back.

9 JACOB BLACK – Without a win since May 2015 and he makes his first start for Kenny Johnson today. Connections will be hopeful that a change of scenery improves his form having been beaten a long way in all four starts as a 5yo and he has major questions to answer here. He can only be watched today for a stable without a winner from 17 runners at Newcastle.

10 PRYING PANDORA – Won a C&D handicap by 2 1/2 lengths last time out which has seen her jump 5lbs in the weights to today’s mark of 81. She won a small 4-runner contest last time out and this will be much tougher although she looked to enjoy the step up in trip to a mile last time out and Paul Hanagan remains in the saddle today. The stable are in fair form and she should go well.

11 TESTA ROSSA – Multiple C&D winner who loves it around here. He hacked up in a Class 5 handicap at Ayr early last month and he’s shot up the weights by 7lbs to a near-career high mark of 79 which is 3lbs higher than his last winning mark. This is a step up in grade and this is likely to find him out against better opposition and others are preferred today.

12 MYWAYISTHEONLYWAY – Has been beaten a long way on his last three starts and he has shown a fraction of his true form. He’s clearly regressed since leaving the Martyn Meade yard and it’s no surprise to see him dropped 3lbs in the handicap following a 13 1/2 length defeat last time out. He’s stepped up in trip today to a mile which doesn’t look likely to suit and others are preferred.

13 ROCKWOOD – Won a Class 4 handicap by a narrow margin last time out when well-supported and he races off a career high mark of 77 today. That looks a high enough mark on what he’s achieved to date although he has been in good heart this season and connections have clearly found some more improvement in him. This mark isn’t beyond him and he could provide some value in an open contest.