6.45 Newcastle Tips & Betting Preview 25/01/2017

The final race on Wednesday night is a 5f sprint confined to three year olds. Read on for our expert analysis, runner by runner guide and free tip.

IN SUMMARY: Brother McGonagall is interesting on his handicap debut for a canny yard so any market move should be noted. Erissimus Maximus won when fitted with these cheek pieces last time out over this C&D, he would have a sound chance of just two pounds higher providing that they have a positive effect for a second time. MAGDALENE FOX has been in smart form on the Tapeta surface at Wolverhampton when shaping as though a drop to the minimum trip would suit. His mark is due to go up by four pounds so connections have wisely got him out quickly to take advantage of his old mark while they can.

1 ERISSIMUS MAXIMUS – Came good again following a frustrating run of third place finishes when fitted with cheek pieces last time. They appeared to concentrate his mind on the job enough to finally score off a mark of 74. That C&D success was a career best and with the second following up at Wolverhampton on Monday afternoon, the form has taken a kindly boost. If the cheek pieces work as well a second time then he is likely to be in the mix at the post.

2 IMDANCINWITHURWIFE – Made all the running to score on her Tapeta debut at Wolverhampton back in April. She has the experience edge on the field that day and had the run of the race but despite that she shaped well when returning eleven days ago when third at the same track. That was a stronger race than this one but a second quick run off a long break tempers confidence from what is probably a mark still a shade on the high side.

3 LADY CRISTAL – Yet to get her head in front in seven career starts but the pick of her runs came over this C&D. She has raced too freely over six furlongs since so the step back down to the minimum looks the right move. She hasn’t been seen on a track since September though so may find a couple of these who have been on the go too sharp.

4 MAJOR JUMBO – Just the one run on the all weather so far, when runner up to Gracious Tom at Southwell. On a line through that horse he should have the beating of Imdancinwithurwife at these weights despite being the more exposed. That was his first start since August so he is entitled to strip fitter for the experience and may yet be capable of better.

5 POPPY PIVOT – Shaped with a little promise when runner up to Clem Fandango on her second career start but things have gone sharply downhill since, She has failed to beat a rival home in her last three starts, including when well behind Magdalene Fox last time and it’s tough to find a reason to believe she can reverse those placings.

6 BROTHER MCGONAGALL – Has run to a similar level in three starts so far in maidens, finishing sixth on each occasion. This looks like being run at a better clip than his most recent run at Wolverhampton was where they stacked them up in front for a three hundred yard dash off the home turn. Tim Easterby is always a man to be respected with his handicap debutants and a market move for his charge would have to be highly respected.

7 MAGDALENE FOX – Looked like it was a matter of ‘how far’ when turning for home at Wolverhampton last time but he was grabbed close home by the strong finishing Cappananty Con. He has shown plenty of speed winning the time before over that same 6f trip when getting home by half a length. This straight five furlongs is likely to suit him even better with simple point and shoot tactics suiting. He is officially four pounds well in on that run and can reward connections for turning him back out again quickly.