Today's Tote Placepot Tips for Newcastle

Leg 1 Selections: Arabian Storm, Oviedo, Dear My Friend 

Good Friday starts with the Listed Burradon Stakes and I quite like the claims of the Andrew Balding-trained ARABIAN QUEEN, who won impressively at this course last time. 

He came within a neck of winning on debut but improved to score next time and has the potential to make his mark at this level with plenty more to come. 

OVIEDO disappointed on his final start last season but impressed on his debut at Doncaster and was a good third in a Group 3 next time at York. 

He appeals as the type to really take to this surface and if the break has done him good, there is no reason why he can’t have a say in the outcome.

DEAR MY FRIEND won his first couple of starts and was last seen finishing third in the Group 3 at Newmarket after also placing in a Listed event in France. 

Held in high regard, with a lot more to come, Charlie Johnston’s youngster should be able to go close in this before tackling bigger assignments later into the campaign. 

Leg 2 Selections: Shaquille, Hello Queen, Perdika

The 3 Year Old Championship Stakes looks looks difficult but SHAQUILLE has won three of his four starts and made a successful transition to the all-weather last time.

He travelled well and asserted in the closing stages under a monster weight and, with his ceiling yet reached, he should go very well. 

Kevin Ryan’s HELLO QUEEN has won her last two starts, including over course-and-distance and while she is down the pecking order on ratings, she could easily run into a place at large odds. 

George Boughey has a good record here and PERKIDA is the one to beat at the weights, as she is the highest rated in the field but is in receipt of weight from the remainder. 

She won a Listed race in France last time and has won four of her five starts on the all-weather in the UK. She’s a serious danger to all in this field. 

Leg 3 Selections: Earlofthecotswolds, Fleurman

The Marathon Championship Stakes is leg 3 and EARLOFTHECOTSWOLDS could make a bold bid to supplement his Wolverhampton success.

The nine-year-old has been enjoying a great time of things on the Flat over the last year, in which his record on the all-weather, over this trip, reads 231113421. 

He was given a perfectly-judged ride from the front last time and, if his rider can get him into a nice rhythm from the front here, it is hard to see him out of the frame. 

FLEURMAN has two wins and a second from three starts on the all-weather over two miles and was only a head behind the former last time at Wolverhampton. 

There was nothing wrong with that defeat and he is open to further improvement in this sphere, so Olly Murphy’s charge has to be recognised as one of the leading contenders. 

Leg 4 Selections: Harrovian, Freescape 

Forest Of Dean beat stablemate HARROVIAN over track and trip on his penultimate start but the latter is fancied to gain revenge in the Classic Middle Distance Championships in leg 5. 

The latter was sent off favourite that day but I don’t think he was seen to best effect under positive tactics despite running well and will do better here if he’s able to get a lead into the race. 

He was only beaten half-a-length by Pyledriver into second over this trip at Lingfield in 2021 and his last three runs have been solid, including his latest fourth behind Lord North. That is a solid piece of form. 

The third, Foxes Tales, took the Magnolia Listed Stakes over the weekend to advertise the form and, with the in-form Rab Havlin in the saddle, he must have an excellent chance. 

FREESCAPE could only finish seventh on this card last year behind My Oberon over a mile but there’s a chance he will improve for the longer trip back at this course. 

He is actually the clear highest-rated in the field at 109 and whilst that is probably a bit too high based on what he has achieved, he has been consistent. 

His three runs this year have all been in Dubai, so this is likely to have been a plan for some time and, if he can keep himself within touching distance, he could get involved. 

Leg 5 Selections: Berkshire Shadow, San Andreas

In race 5, former Royal Ascot winner BERKSHIRE SHADOW should take some stopping in the All-Weather Mile Championship under Oisin Murphy, in stall three. 

Andrew Balding’s strike-rate at this course is fantastic and this four-year-old comfortably beat Angel Bleu on his return at Wolverhampton over this distance. 

That form has even further substance as the sixth, Vadream, bolted up in a Listed race last weekend. With more to come on the all-weather, he should be hard to beat. 

Irish raider SAN ANDREAS came within a nose of winning this race last year when second to the 112-rated My Oberon and is back to try and go one better. 

Joseph O’Brien’s seven-year-old has a record of 21201 over a mile on this sort of surface and his close-up second in this last year was his first visit to the track. 

He resumed winning ways in good style at Dundalk last-time-out, the same race he won the year before, and James Doyle has been booked to ride. 

This is probably just as strong a renewal in comparison to last year but he has the best course form and is undeniably the biggest threat to the favourite. 

Leg 6 Selections: Manaafith

The Fillies' And mares' Championship Stakes is an good race on paper for leg 6, where trainer William Haggas and Roger Varian go head-to-head. 

Queen Aminatu has been impressive the last two times but her rating seems inflated, as the form of what MANAAFITH has achieved is far superior. 

Roger Varian’s charge is unbeaten on the all-weather (four-from-four) and beat Group Two winner Sir Busker comfortably last time. 

This is another step up the ladder but she continues to win and, from a nice draw in stall two, she could be the answer to this contest. This has been her target. 

Furthermore, Jim Crowley has an impressive 31% strike-rate at this course and his mount is his only ride on the card as well.