2.10pm Newcastle Tips & Betting Preview 23/05/2017

This is a Class 6 handicap raced over a mile, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: This race won’t take much winning and the vote goes to THE KING’S STEED. Micky Hammond’s runner doesn’t have much form to his name but he’s been dropped a hefty 8lbs since he was last seen and he could be dangerous here off this mark now returning to action off a break. Muzaahim is a solid enough sort but he remains a long-standing maiden whilst the booking of Daniel Tudhope catches the eye aboard Beverley Bullet.

1 THE NAME’S PAVER – Won a Thirsk handicap over 7 furlongs last month by a neck having been prominently ridden. That was his first victory in 17 starts and the handicapper has nudged him up 4lbs which looks fair and still allows him to race in Class 6 company. He should be popular in the betting here on his All-Weather debut and whilst more is required again, his trainer has been in excellent form (2 winners from his last 7 runners).

2 LUATH – Finished behind The Name’s Paver on his last start by 6 1/4 lengths. He’s better off with that rival today and he should get much closer now switched back onto the All-Weather on more favourable terms for the Suzzanne France stable. It’s a small concern that both of his career successes have come on Fibresand and he still looks high enough in the weights here so he may be worth taking on today.

3 THORNABY NASH – Makes his stable debut today for Karen Tutty following a winter break. It’s rather tricky to know what to expect off him here following two heavy defeats on this surface at the end of last season although he’s been dropped another 3lbs which leaves him on a career low mark. He’s handicapped to win if he’s fresh off a break and the market should be revealing here.

4 HELLAVASHOCK – Comfortably beaten on two occasions over this C&D over the winter when sent off 66/1 and 125/1 respectively. He’s down 6lbs in the handicap to a career low mark but he’s still without a win and his patchy record suggests he’s had one or two problems to deal with. Rowan Scott retains the ride and claims 5lbs here but he’s another that’s tricky to assess off a break and may be best watched.

5 GREY DESTINY – Hasn’t been beaten all that far off today’s mark having been raised 3lbs for a victory over 7 furlongs in March. This is the right grade for him and whilst he doesn’t look to be particularly well-treated, he does at least arrive here in reasonable form and represents a solid yardstick in this. His trainer is without a winner from 26 runners here which is rather off-putting but he’s worthy of another chance today.

6 MUZAAHIM – Ran on past beaten horses last time out to finish third of nine at Wolverhampton. He remains on a mark of 58 which looks fair given he’s placed three times off this mark and he should be thereabouts again now slightly back down in trip. He may benefit from a more prominent ride here and could be dangerous if he receives that, although he still remains a maiden following 14 career starts.

7 BEVERLEY BULLET – Another to race at Thirsk last month and finish behind The Name’s Paver. He’s been dropped a pound for that effort and will be much fitter and sharper here given that was his first run off a seasonal break. The booking of Daniel Tudhope catches the eye and more is expected from him here although he’s another long-standing maiden and he’ll need this career low mark to inspire some improvement.

8 NELSON’S BAY – One of the most experienced runners in today’s field and he’s struggled since springing a 33/1 surprise over C&D back in March. That came off a 3lb lower mark so he’s not completely ruled out at the weights although his recent efforts have suggested that was something of an outstanding performance when he won earlier this year. He’s worth opposing here based on his form.

9 SYMBOLIC STAR – Another runner here to land a surprise, winning a 7 furlong handicap having been sent off 25/1 in March. The first time cheekpieces clearly helped that day and he wasn’t beaten far on either of his last two starts off this mark of 54. Connor Murtagh continues to claims 7lbs and he shouldn’t be far away in this slightly easier contest. He steps up in trip today and that could just spark some improvement in his form. Interesting.

10 THE KING’S STEED – 14-race maiden and Micky Hammond’s runner was out of form last season. He’s been beaten by a fair margin on virtually every start for this stable since summer last year and it’s no surprise to see him return to action off an 8lb lower mark this year. However, that could be a generous piece of handicapping and he’s worthy of a chance in this against weaker opposition on better terms. Interesting.

11 IVORS INVOLVEMENT – Won a fair handicap off a 19lb higher mark back in September 2015 but he’s gone badly backwards since. He did show a small glimpse of promise back in November on this surface over 7 furlongs but he failed to follow that up and he’s left on a mark of 49. He returns to action off a 164-day break and is best watched here for a stable without a winner from 12 runners at Newcastle.

12 GINGER CHARLIE – Ruth Carr doesn’t have too many runners rated 48 and her runner isn’t completely without a chance here. He’s been well-beaten on his last two starts and he’s been dropped 2lbs as a result but he did show some ability when placing over 7 furlongs at Thirsk last summer. He certainly needs to improve his overall form but it wouldn’t be the greatest shock to see him improve off his seasonal reappearance.