All-weather championships day has ensured some terrific cards at Newcastle, plus the reserve races at Lingfield. 11 races are live on ITV on the day, and Joe Napier gives you five best bets across the meetings.
2.40 Lingfield – BetMGM All Weather Vase Mile Handicap
Starting with one of the reserve contests at Lingfield, the eight-year-old LEGAL REFORM has arguably never been in better form and may still have enough left in the tank to claim this. His recent efforts have all been at Southwell, but he is also two from two at Lingfield.
Those Lingfield successes were both over 7f, as all his career victories have been, but he was strong through the finish for both of those. Although his career history dictates that 1m might be beyond him, a quiet ride at this stage of his racing life may well see him get the distance, as he has always shaped to.
With three wins and two seconds from his last five starts, as well as his 100% strike rate at this venue, he is in form too strong to ignore. Michael Herrington has been sending out all-weather winners this year at a much higher percentage rate than his career average too.
3.00 Newcastle – BetMGM All-Weather Championships Mile Handicap
Having taken a leap and stepped VALIANT FORCE up to 1m, Adrian Murray was rewarded with a power-packed display at Dundalk in which his four-year-old stayed the trip thoroughly. The former Royal Ascot winner was also a runner-up at the Breeders Cup as a juvenile.
Last season’s form was generally below par over sprint trips, though it improved on the all-weather towards the end of the campaign. He has since returned in 2025 with two wins at Dundalk, the first over 6f, and the latter upped to 1m, either side of a staying-on third over 5f in LIsted company at Southwell.
Those efforts would put him towards the top of this field on form even taking into account he is the top-weight here, but the fact he now shapes like a horse who will be even better over 1m, it is worth backing him to give that weight away.
3.15 Lingfield – BetUK All-Weather Vase Sprint Handicap
This is an each-way play if ever there was one, because SILKY WLKIE is far from a prolific winner. However, his all-weather record, especially at Lingfield, dictates that he is regularly hovering around the places and should be weighted to go close here.
The six-year-old’s course and distance record reads 22292, with defeats by a nose and a short-head within that time. The ninth came when running off a mark of 99, significantly higher than his other ratings over track and trip (91, 92, 92, 90), while he runs off a mark of just 89 here.
His most recent Lingfield second came two starts ago, easily his best performance of 2025 so far. He is also now 10lb lower than when second in the Ayr Gold Cup as recently as September, so he is more than capable of a big run, which could see him finally get his head in front.
3.35 Newcastle – BetUK All-Weather Sprint Handicap
Six runs on the all-weather have produced six top three finishes for RUN BOY RUN, and Richard Spencer’s gelding might be the surprise package in this contest, which is potentially the highest quality on the card.
A son of Spencer’s Royal Ascot winner Rajasinghe, the selection got off the mark over course and distance last season before twice winning at Newmarket’s July Course in the summer. Since his return to the all-weather though, he has improved further, winning at Southwell, finishing third at Wolverhampton, and most recently pushing Marshman all the way over track and trip.
The winner runs off 8lb higher here, while Run Boy Run is just 2lb higher, yet twice the price in early markets. That feels like a mis-step from the bookmakers, with his profile strongly suggesting he can go close.
4.07 Newcastle – BetUK All-Weather Easter Classic Middle Distance Handicap
Runner-up in this last year behind an impressive winner, PENZANCE could well make amends 12 months on, as he bounced back to form with a victory last time out at Chelmsford.
The five-year-old was runner-up in this last year after having won on his previous start, but couldn’t maintain his form on the turf. As a result, he slipped down the handicap quite substantially, but was building back to form before his victory last time out.
He is still 1lb below the mark he was second off last season, and it seems likely that there will be no horse as impressive as 2024 winner Elegant Man. As a result, Penznace could go one better.
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