Key punting pointers for Newcastle’s breakthrough card on Monday

Newcastle racecourse is in the proud position of playing host to the planned resumption of British racing on June 1. Trainers certainly can’t wait, and on Tuesday made no fewer than 369 entries for the eight races on offer.

Here a few punting pointers to help you on your way.

Top jockey

Ben Curtis is the king of the Tapeta in the north east. Since the turf track was ripped out in favour of the all-weather surface in 2016 he has won 77 races.

He’s the punters’ pal, too, as those wins have returned a level-stakes profit of £21.22 to a £1 stake.

Top trainer

With 69 wins since 2016, Richard Fahey is by some way the most successful trainer on the all-weather at Newcastle. Jim Goldie is his closest rival with 44 wins. Fahey has made multiple entries for Monday’s fixture and is raring to make a quick start.

Strike-rate wizard

When John Gosden sends runners from Newmarket to Newcastle they must be taken seriously. Gosden’s strike rate since 2016 is an eye-catching 36 per cent, with 43 wins from 118 runs. Backing all his runners in that period would have returned a small level-stakes profit.

Profit provider

Ben Haslam, who trains in Middleham, boasts some amazing stats at Gosforth Park. He sits in the top five trainers by number of wins but is miles out in front on level-stakes profit. Backing all of his 246 runners since 2016 would have yielded a wallet-boosting windfall of £59.45 to a £1 level stake.

Course specialist

One of those 369 entries for Monday’s breakthrough card is the Anthony Brittain-trained Tathmeen, a true course specialist who catches the eye.

Of seven career wins Tathmeen has recorded five of those at Newcastle, and placed on a further three occasions at the track.

Last seen going down by just a half a length at Wolverhampton in March, Tathmeen will be racing off a career high mark of 85 if he gets a run on Monday. He is one of 39 entries in the 6f Woolsington Handicap at 2.30pm.

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