2.55pm Newcastle Tips & Betting Preview 15/12/2016

Six horses’ line-up for this Maiden Fillies Stakes at Newcastle this afternoon with £3,558 going to the winner. Read on for our experts’ thoughts and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: This is a tricky race to assess with the two likely favourites having moved yard recently and coming back off a long lay-off respectively. That being said Notte Illuminata has the best recent run albeit in France and she has changed hands for a pretty penny since. She is likely to have a big run in her and could outclass these but a chance is taken on SHADELE who has a taking pedigree and although coming off a lay-off herself, she has joined a top-yard who have plenty of winners on this surface and she is likely to know her job for this. Hopes will be high for a big run here and she can just edge out Karl Burke’s filly.

1 Madame Bond – Only one so far for this yard and showed inexperience when starting slowly here in August to finish seventh of 9 in a Class 5 maiden. Needs massive improvement to figure here.

2 Amber Mystique – Previously trained by Richard Fahey and two decent runs at this level including a two-length runner-up on debut at Leicester when outpaced. Looked one-paced again on final start before joining Kristin Stubbs when third of 10 at Pontefract (Good) last year. Has an absence of 448 days to overcome and likely to find one or two too strong on come-back. Best watched for now.

3 Notte Illuminata – Acclamation filly who showed good form in France when trained by Henri Pantall and finished fifth of 16 in a maiden at Saint-Cloud on last start in October over 1m. Bought for 165, 000 euros last month and has joined a top yard. Must have big chance in this line-up with a few of her rivals returning from a break and she should appreciate the conditions given her pedigree. Big player.

4 Ribbing – Out of a damn by Giant’s Causeway and not beaten far in fourth on the AW at Kempton last year and good second at Thirsk (Good) upped in grade seventeen days later when beaten by a neck. Has been off for 510 days and she should come on for the run. Interesting to see what the market thinks of her on come-back. Player.

5 Scannermandango – Bahamian Bounty filly who cost 6,500 gns as a yearling and is a winner to a couple of decent winners up to 1¾m. Dam was also related to a decent winner Ecclesiastical. Decent enough pedigree and market will guide on debut but looks held by a couple here.

6 Shadele – Rip Van Winkle filly who had one run last October for Ed Walker in a Class 2 maiden at Newmarket and finished well-beaten when fifteenth of 17. Has been off for 433 days but has joined a top yard who have plenty of winners on this surface and should improve for the run. Interesting especially if market speaks in her favor.