4.10pm Newcastle Tips & Betting Preview 17/05/2016

IN SUMMARY: Lightly raced 3yo Turbine won his maiden on Tapeta in good style and is interesting back on this surface but there could still be further improvement to come from Newmarket raider PERIL (11/4), who has made good progress since switched to handicaps last summer and gained two of his four wins on Tapeta. Fullon Clarets deserves credit for running respectably on ground softer than he prefers on both starts this year and is expected to be seen in a better light here. Wall Of Fire raced only twice when in the care of Richard Hannon but won an Ascot maiden on his debut and is another contender from Newmarket to consider.

1 Peril – 4-6 since moving into handicaps last year and gained most recent success on Tapeta when last in action at Wolverhampton (7f) in February; another 4lb higher here but the runner-up won his next start and he might still be improving; could be the answer.

2 Lat Hawill – Not at best on any of three starts for Marco Botti this year and recently changed hands for 36,000gns; has more to prove than several of these but has been give a chance by the handicapper if the switch to a new stable has done him good.

3 Finn Class – Began season with very creditable fifth in the Spring Mile at Doncaster and comes here after gaining narrow success in the Thirsk Hunt Cup (1m, soft); evidently in rude health but not  sure to benefit from today’s drop back in trip on first AW start since 2014.

4 Free Code – Non-runner

5 Gerry The Glover – Ended last season with a couple of decent efforts on turf (7f/1m) but was never a factor when reappearing at Catterick last month; entitled to have benefited from that outing but remains on fairly tough mark for AW debut.

6 Cape Speed – Won his maiden at Chelmsford (1m, AW) December and began 2016 with two handicap wins on Polytrack (7f/1m), but comes here after two bitterly disappointing performances; remains lightly raced but needs to get career back on track.

7 Johnny Cavagin – Rarely seen on the AW in recent years but has a win on the old surface at Wolverhampton to his name; made satisfactory seasonal reappearance when sixth of 19 at Doncaster (7f, soft) last month but needs to build on that performance and others make more appeal.

8 Tiger Tim – Improved upon low-key seasonal debut when staying-on fourth of 15 at Doncaster (6f, soft) last month; unraced on the AW since first two career starts back in 2013 but 7f could be his ideal trip now and no surprise if he’s on the premises.

9 Fullon Clarets – Not quite at best on either start this season but there was ease underfoot on both occasion and, given he won his only previous AW start, there is significant hope he’ll be seen to better effort today; on workable mark if that’s the case.

10 Wall Of Fire – Cost 270,000gns as a yearling and made winning debut at Ascot (6f, good to soft) for Richard Hannon last summer; not seen since struggling to land a significant blow in 7f Listed event in September but remains unexposed and it will be interesting to see how he fares for new stable; sports first-time blinkers.

11 Shouranour – Disappointed on ground that ought to have suited on seasonal debut but may not have enjoyed front-running tactics that day and his fifth under a more patient ride at Ripon (1m, good to soft) last time was much more encouraging; reliant on a strong gallop over today’s trip on AW debut, though, and is 1lb out of the handicap.

12 Gurkha Friend – Still quite lightly raced and comes here after a couple of decent efforts on turf, the more recent when staying-on third at Catterick (7f, good to soft) a fortnight ago; contests a stronger race from 2lb out of the handicap today, though, so needs to improve.

13 Turbine – Comfortably held when third on handicap debut at Ascot (7f, good to firm) but that race looked competitive and it’s worth noting that his quite impressive maiden win in November was gained on Tapeta; open to improvement back on this surface and one to consider.

myracing Forecast Prices: 11/4 Peril. 5/1 Wall Of Fire, 8/1 Finn Class, Tiger Jim, Fullon Clarets, Turbine, 12/1 Cape Speed, 14/1 Gerry The Glover, Shouranour, 16/1 Lat Hawill, Johnny Cavagin, Gurkha Friend,