Monday Tote Placepot Tips for Newcastle from Architect

Leg 1 Selections: Streak Lightning, Verona Star, Showtime Mahomes

STREAK LIGHTNING is very fond of this place, who is a three time course winner and dual course-and-distance winner with his latest of those wins coming off a mark of 75. His last five runs here have been in class 4 events off much higher marks and he’s run with credit in each of those as well. Alex Jary can claim 5Ib, which means his mount is now 8Ib lower than he last ran in this grade and won. He has to enter the reckoning in the opener. 

Meanwhile Archie Watson’s strike-rate here reads an impressive 23% and therefore his only runner on the card, VERONA STAR, must enter calculations. He has a good record here (a win and a third from two starts) and can be supplemented onto the shortlist along with recent Musselburgh winner, SHOWTIME MAHOMES who remains well-treated on the pick of last year’s turf form in which he won off a higher mark. 

Leg 2 Selections: Ghost Rider, Oscar Doodle, Spirit Of Ash

It would be fair to say that GHOST RIDER never fulfilled the promise he had shown as a three-year-old but this course winner has a good record at this course and has fallen to a new career-low mark. He must surely be competitive against these. 

OSCAR DOODLE is a consistent performer who was only beaten half-a-length over course-and-distance just under two weeks ago and should again be in the firing line, while the reliable SPIRIT OF ASH has two track and trip wins to her name and should be in contention. 

Leg 3 Selections: Chillhi

A sole chance is taken on Brian Ellison’s CHILLHI who can be forgiven for his latest down the field effort at York and is better judged on some of his previous efforts off higher marks. 

He wasn’t beaten far into fourth here on his penultimate start off a 4Ib higher mark and this dual course winner is in receipt of weight from the rest of the field which will count for plenty. 

I would rather rely on him than Concorde whose chances are inflated due to his latest wins but they have been at a lower level so improvement is required against better horses in this race. 

Leg 4 Selections: Consoling, Placeholder, Gregorina, Vintage Love 

CONSOLING has quite an appealing profile who opened her account at Musselburgh before running a blinder to finish third in a class 2 at Newmarket. She was ahead of a subsequent winner when second here last time and should be competitive in this much easier contest. 

PLACEHOLDER travelled well before digging deep to get the job done on debut and is feared. GREGORINA was nearest the finish when fourth on debut and should also have more to offer, while VINTAGE LOVE has made the frame in three of her four starts and should be thereabouts. 

Leg 5 Selections: Tropical Air 

TROPICAL AIR should be able to complete the hat-trick in this race. He battled well to bring up the double at Wolverhampton last time and his trainer has found him another excellent opportunity to go in again. 

All of his rivals are struggling for a decent run of form at the moment, so under an attacking ride from Jason Hart, this progressive two-year-old, who will carry top-weight and a penalty, should be difficult to beat.  

Leg 6 Selections: Dandy Dinmont, Jojo Rabbit 

DANDY DINMONT has been consistent in defeat all year and has useful course form with a win and a pair of seconds from three starts. He went close in a stronger race than this on the turf last time at Newmarket when third and this previous course-and-distance winner is majorly respected in this grade. 

JOJO RABBIT could only finish midfield at Redcar last time and while he hasn’t won in over a year, his last win did come off a 14Ib higher mark. He caught the eye when fourth on his last all-weather start at Wolverhampton, keeping on well in the closing stages from a 7Ib higher mark and should be bang there from this basement mark.