UK Horse Racing Tips: Newcastle

NOBLE BEHEST has been hard to stop on the all-weather of late and made it three in a row when scoring comfortably at Southwell at the weekend. Ian Williams' six-year-old should take all the beating once again under a 5lb penalty. Flat To The Max is now tried in a tongue-tie following his second over 1m6f at Wolverhampton last week and requires respect, while Nataleena has run with credit on both outings since winning over this course and distance in October.
Prediction : 1st Noble Behest 2nd Flat To The Max 3rd Nataleena

CURFEWED's latest efforts have been encouraging and the return to a mile could well be a positive for Tracy Waggott's four-year-old, who is lurking on a dangerous rating. Double Martini tries a mile for the first time and has to be respected, while the versatile Bay Of Naples can't be ignored following a promising run up at 10f at Chelmsford. Course-and-distance winner Lukoutoldmakezebak and Strawberryandcream are others with each-way possibilities.
Prediction : 1st Curfewed 2nd Double Martini 3rd Bay Of Naples

HIGH FORT drew comfortably clear when scoring over course and distance last month and could have enough in hand to strike again here despite the 7lb rise. Proceeding was back in third when looking for a hat-trick on that occasion and Tracy Waggott's runner is likely to be thereabouts, while it would be foolish to discount track-and-trip winner Blazing Dreams, who was fifth in that aforementioned contest and is back down to his last winning mark.
Prediction : 1st High Fort 2nd Proceeding 3rd Blazing Dreams

BENDY SPIRIT romped home by four lengths over 7f at Lingfield last time out and rates the one to beat now turned out swiftly under a penalty. He ran creditably here on his penultimate outing over 6f but seems better suited by this longer trip. Dark Regard has been in fine order at Southwell and Wolverhampton over 6f and should put up plenty of resistance if her stamina holds out. The pick of the remainder may be Irish raider Bella Brazil, who won on her first start for this stable on a trip to Kempton in November.
Prediction : 1st Bendy Spirit 2nd Dark Regard 3rd Bella Brazil

Loulin had plenty in hand when scoring over this trip at Chelmsford last month and should give another good account, despite a 6lb rise in the ratings. Preference, however, is for C&D winner LANDING NIGHT, who has dropped 4lb lower than when scoring on turf at Catterick last summer and shaped with promise when third over 6f at Wolverhampton last time. The consistent Tathmeen is unlikely to be far away, while Indian Raj has slipped 1lb below his last winning (turf) rating and could be revived by first-time cheekpieces.
Prediction : 1st Landing Night 2nd Loulin 3rd Indian Raj

PITCHER'S POINT cost $800,000 as a yearling and warrants obvious respect making his debut for John Gosden at a venue where he traditionally does very well. The Newmarket-based maestro is 22-61 with three-year-olds here since the Tapeta track opened and can enhance that record. Stablemate Lordofthehorizon is closely related to the smart Astronomy's Choice, who won on debut as a two-year-old, while, of the remainder, 200,000gns yearling London Arch may prove best of those with experience after his Chelmsford second four weeks ago.
Prediction : 1st Pitchers Point 2nd Lordofthehorizon 3rd London Arch

CORKED has enjoyed a fine spell of things recently, winning two C&D events out of her last four starts, and the seven-year-old appears capable of further progression having gone up 3lb in the handicap for her latest victory. Just Once has been running well of late and will be suited by the step back up in distance, while others to consider include Thawry and Kodi Koh.
Prediction : 1st Corked 2nd Just Once 3rd Thawry

CLAREYBLUE sets a decent standard on the form he achieved in two starts as a juvenile, having built on his third to Visinari at Newmarket when filling the runner-up spot in a York novice stakes. Martyn Meade's colt has been found an ideal opportunity to get off the mark at the third time of asking and he can account for Yukon Mission (third) and Anna Maria (fourth), who finished a place apart when meeting at Wolverhampton 13 days ago.
Prediction : 1st Clareyblue 2nd Yukon Mission 3rd Anna Maria