3.10pm Newcastle Tips & Betting Preview 03/01/2017

As usual for a winter maiden stakes at Newcastle, this is a tricky race to way up with a few of these surely capable of better. See our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: A few of these drop back in distance and that is likely to catch out Diamond Kut, who was promising over 1m 4f on all weather debut but might be tapped for toe up the home straight today and preference is for AVOIDABLE. Only raced four times so far, he was entitled to need his comeback run at Chelmsford last time out and if building upon it this half brother to Postponed should have enough about him to beat some mediocre looking rivals today.

1 GREAT ROAR – Showed minor promise in bumpers 2012 but hasn’t been seen since finishing 5th of 10 at Wetherby in a maiden hurdle (2m, Good), and is a very unlikely winner of this.

2 AVOIDABLE – Showed ability on his second start at Wolverhampton when a close 5th of 10 there in January (1m 1f, Std), but was well beaten at Chelmsford when returning this season (1m 2f, Std). He was however entitled to need that run and this half brother to Postponed should have more to give for David Simcock and has to be respected, as he is surely capable of better.

3 DIAMOND KUT – Showed some ability when 7th of 9 on debut at Leicester back in September (1m 4f, Good to Soft) and improved to finish 4th of 9 at Lingfield on all weather debut a few weeks ago (1m 4f, Std). He was staying on all the time so the drop back in trip isn’t an obvious move, and may struggle to get on terms today against a speedier type which would be the concern.

4 FASTNET BLAST – Stays further than this (1m 4f) but showed he has the speed for shorter when just being outgunned in the final 100 yards at Kempton two weeks ago (1m 2f, Std), a good effort. He should be able to build upon that effort and is consistent in the main, which is something that is valuable in a field like this.

5 MS GILLARD – Wasn’t disgraced when 3rd of 7 in a fillies maiden back in April at Wolverhampton (1m 4f, Std) but never went on from that effort, finishing well beaten on both her starts since. Off since August and needs much more today.

6 PAGE OF WANDS – Wasn’t completely beaten off when 6th of 13 in a C&D handicap a few weeks ago, but returns to maiden company today and has more on her plate on much more unfavourable terms. Opposable today.

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