UK Horse Racing Tips: Newcastle

CENTRAL CITY put a disappointing Southwell effort over 1m behind when finishing a close second over this trip at Wolverhampton 11 days ago. That effort gives hope he'll handle this track and, off just 1lb higher, the son of Kodiac is expected to take some stopping. Tigray is penalised for scoring at Southwell last week but is respected, while Sweet Marmalade could reward each-way support.
Prediction : 1st Central City 2nd Tigray 3rd Sweet Marmalade

VENTURA BOUNTY disappointed favourite backers when only third of five at Ffos Las in August last year, but he had previously finished a good second on debut at Nottingham so that was surely not his running. Entitled to have improved plenty since and now debuting on a synthetic surface, Richard Hannon's colt has been found a good opening and the booking of Silvestre De Sousa suggests connections are confident. Arju is the main danger having finished second on her introduction at Kempton and gets weight, while Productive is the most interesting newcomer going to post.
Prediction : 1st Ventura Bounty 2nd Arju 3rd Productive

ALJARI missed the break and was doing his best work in the closing stages when runner-up over C&D in December. The four-year-old remains open to further improvement in handicaps and the addition of blinkers won't do him any harm with his rider Andrea Atzeni currently in excellent form. Keyser Soze won this contest 12 months ago and appeals with Angus Villiers taking a handy 5lb off, while Rathbone could reverse the form of his second here behind Glen Shiel being unexposed over this distance.
Prediction : 1st Aljari 2nd Keyser Soze 3rd Rathbone

LORD OF THE LODGE ended his juvenile campaign with a fine second in the Gimcrack at York and it would be disappointing if Karl Burke's colt couldn't prove to be a cut above the opposition on his all-weather debut. Oh Purple Reign was kept busy last season, placing in Group 3 company at Kempton, and can enter the reckoning with Desert Safari, who remains open to progression on his fifth career start.
Prediction : 1st Lord Of The Lodge 2nd Oh Purple Reign 3rd Desert Safari

HUMBERT is growing into a consistent type for David O'Meara and could carry top weight to victory. The switch to this straight mile could suit the six-year-old C&D winner, and he is preferred to Merchant Of Venice, who probably doesn't strike as often as he should for James Fanshawe despite his obvious talent. Paparazzi and First Response are closely matched on form and can fight it out for third spot.
Prediction : 1st Humbert 2nd Merchant Of Venice 3rd Paparazzi

ALSVINDER is yet to score in eight starts for Phil Kirby, but he showed greater signs of encouragement when a 40-1 third at Chelmsford on his most recent outing and would prove tough to stop if running to that sort of level once more. Tathmeen loves it here but a mark of 75 looks harsh enough for Antony Brittain's charge, while Canford Bay was a little disappointing at Wolverhampton recently but should appreciate these calmer waters.
Prediction : 1st Alsvinder 2nd Tathmeen 3rd Canford Bay

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