It’s the penultimate night of the Racing League on Thursday night and the ITV Racing cameras head to the north east for this week’s action. Our top value tipster Matty Sutcliffe is back again with his best bets and he has three selections for Newcastle’s hugely competitive card.
Published: 8.45am Wednesday, 21st August (Odds correct at time of writing)
5:45 Newcastle tote.co.uk Wey Aye The Placepot Racing League R29 Handicap (Trainers Registered To Racing League) (Class 4) (3yo+ 0-78) – Road To Wembley 7/1 1pt WIN
Richard Hughes’ string are in fettle after hitting a flat spot in the middle part of the season, and ROAD TO WEMBLEY can continue the yards good form with a promising effort upped to two miles for the first time at Newbury last month.
The son of Australia was allotted a lowly mark of 58 after finishing down the field in four maidens/novice over seven furlongs, but proved a different proposition altogether when upped to 1m4f at Wolverhampton on handicap debut in March, pulling seven lengths clear with the runner up who’s since boosted that form with three subsequent wins (and a further four places), climbing 22lbs in the process.
Given how well he stayed on over 1m4f, it was pleasing to see him back that up over 1m2f when a seven length winner at Lingfield, though he shaped as if 1m3f was on the sharp side when beaten two lengths at Southwell next time for all he was giving 4lbs to the winner who’s now rated 13lbs higher after taking a 26k contest at Newbury.
Road To Wembley was somewhat of an unlucky loser in his first time in open company in a 0-85 contest at Chelmsford, and he prove his stamina for two miles when a staying on second to Warmonger (gave 9lbs), whose now rated 15lbs higher after bolting up at Kempton on his next start.
A reproduction of that Newbury effort should see him go close here as on collateral form, a mark of 77 still underestimates him and his half brother Spirit Dancer progressed with racing, now rated 119.
7:15 Newcastle tote.co.uk Howay The Lads Racing League R32 Handicap (Trainers Registered To Racing League) (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-88) Kamboo 7/2 – 1pt WIN
In hindsight, KAMBOO was a poor selection for the column in the Derby but there was method in the madness, and I can’t leave him in this class three contest on the back of my earlier confidence. The son of Awtaad wasn’t seen to best effect in that group one contest, nor was he last time out at Ascot in the King George V Stakes when beaten thirteen lengths having weekend after being hampered in the final furlong despite initially faring well from the front in a race that paid to be help up/race in midfield.
Prior to that, he bolted up at Kempton in December finishing three lengths ahead of Sardinian Warrior who recorded an RPR of 93 when winning by four lengths next time out, suggesting a mark of 87 certainly isn’t beyond Kamboo particularly back on the all-weather.
From the family of Sir Erec, it’ll be no surprise should this previously promising sort fare much better here in calmer waters receiving a handy 9lbs weight for age allowance to rack up a Hughes double for the column.
7:45 Newcastle tote.co.uk Howay The Lasses Racing League R33 Handicap (Trainers Registered To Racing League) (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-90) Eldrickjones 11/1 – 1pt WIN
ELDRICKJONES has been rejuvenated since his wind operation last September, having dropped 27lbs in the weight since entering handicaps in May 2022. His course record reads 121515 since that wind op, including a cosy success over course and distance in November. He bolted up by three lengths in a 14k contest here in May in this class, and is effectively 3lbs lower factoring in Brandon Wilkie’s claim this time around.
Though winless since, he’s shaped with promise in recent efforts such as when beaten four lengths in the Thirsk Summer Cup when caught on heels late on. That run signalled a return to form, and he wouldn’t need to improve much on his four lengths 5th here three starts back to take this with a forecast good gallop to suit.
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