ITV Racing Tips: Friday Double for All Weather Finals Day at Newcastle

The All-Weather Easter Classic Middle Distance Handicap could be the race of the day, and I’m confident about the chances of this four-year-old, who is a group horse in the making based on the evidence shown to date. 

I am quite surprised (best price 5/1) isn’t pushing favouritism. He has won two of his three starts, and after an impressive winning debut at Dundalk, he stepped up in grade to tackle the Listed Wild Flower Stakes and caught the eye to finish a staying-on second. 

He didn’t get the smoothest of trips, but he picked up strongly once in the clear to only find the 120-rated Rebel’s Romance and was beaten by two lengths. That is a serious piece of form in the context of this race, and with more to come on his handicap debut, he is a confident each-way bet. 

Later on, in the All-Weather Championships Mile, SYMBOL OF LIGHT (best price 11/2) has a huge chance of taking the spoils for the Julie Camacho team. 

This five-year-old has an excellent record on the all-weather, which reads 1114322, and he has been desperately unlucky in a few of the races that he has not won, hence why his mark hasn’t altered. 

He was behind Dear My Friend in his penultimate start, but with a clear passage, he would have gone close. It was only last month that he was beaten a short head at Kempton. 

Despite being inconvenienced by the sedate pace, he once again finished his race strongly, and the handicapper has given him a serious chance by leaving him on the same mark of 98.

I think this horse has a massive performance in him, and this mark is well within his compass, so if the gaps appear when needed, I can envisage Julie Camacho’s charge taking the finale. 

Four places are widely available and advised. 

Extra ITV Racing Tips

Ralph Smith’s PALACE BOY (best price 5/1) couldn’t get to grips with Spartan Army when second at Southwell last time out, but the seven-year-old lost little in defeat and is weighted to reverse the form this time around in the All-Weather Championships Marathon. 

His two previous starts on the flat resulted in a pair of easy wins at Wolverhampton, and despite this being a tougher race, he is open to a lot more improvement. He is on a low weight and has only gone up a couple of pounds, so he makes plenty of appeal. 

I really like the chances of DUKE OF OXFORD (best price 14/1), who won four times last year and warmed up for this race with an excellent third over course and distance last time out. 
Michael Bell’s four-year-old won back-to-back races towards the end of last year, with the December win at Kempton working out very well, given that the runner-up, Enemy, has subsequently won a decent-condition race. 

His form over this trip reads two wins and a third from three starts, and the handicapper has given him a fair chance by leaving him on an unchanged mark. Four places are widely available and advised. 

This is very competitive, but the Irish raider TARSUS (best price 20/1) could play a major role in the outcome of the All-Weather 3 Year Old Championships Handicap, with some of the strongest form on offer. 

An opening mark of 92 is seemingly lenient on the basis of his defeat of the 100-rated Harry’s Bar when last spotted. The form of his penultimate fourth has also worked out well, with the third and fifth winning since then. 
This race should be run to suit him, and he is Slattery’s only runner on the card. A few of his rivals have leading claims, but he won very impressively last time out and is worth an interest with four places widely available. 

Nine Tenths has a good record on the all-weather, but she is up against some very capable opponents, and the one who is overpriced in the Fillies' And Mares' Championships Handicap is HODD’S GIRL (best price 14/1). 

This seven-year-old mare will get the strong pace she desires and ran very well over course and distance in her only previous trip to this venue. This initial mark of 95 isn’t prohibitive based on last year’s form, and she should again run well. 

If there’s any horse on the card who deserves a change of fortune, it’s ARAMIS GREY (best price 15/2). She has continuously knocked on the door and was a good second over course and distance at this meeting last year, despite being on the unfavourable part of the track. 

Her recent second behind Shades Of Summer was a perfectly respectable effort, given that she was conceding 11Ib to the winner. This time, though, she is 4Ib better off, so there’s optimism for potentially turning the tables. Danny Tudhope is an excellent jockey, and I can see his mount running another good race. 

Perhaps the most competitive race on the card is the All-Weather Sprint Handicap, in which a case can be made for several of these. However, I’ll take a swing at the veteran, SUMMERGHAND (best price 18/1), who is likely to be hitting the line strongly, provided he gets a clear passage. 

The 10-year-old recently finished a half-length second of 12 to Chipstead at Lingfield, and although Danny Tudhope has opted for Aberama Gold, his desertion has not put me off this capable sprinter. He is 6Ib below his last winning mark, and a repeat of his latest second should see him heavily involved. 
Four places are widely available and advised. 

MISTY GREY (best price 12/1) made a really good start for David O’Meara when he finished second at Wolverhampton last time out. The seven-year-old has held his form well throughout his career and was rated in the 100s for a long time prior to this year. 

He’s subsequently slipped to a mark of 96, which is well within him, and Rossa Ryan has been booked to ride. The drop-back in trip to six furlongs won’t inconvenience him, and I can see him making a bold bid with four places widely available.

BLANCHLAND (best price 16/1) is unbeaten in two starts at this course and has run very well in his last couple of starts, including when he finished third in the Listed Quebec Stakes last time out. 

He is ideally suited to a longer trip, but Rossa Ryan is booked to ride, who is a very classy jockey, especially on the all-weather. This four-year-old has the capability to make a serious impact in his bid to defend his unbeaten record at the course. 

With four places generally available and advised, he has a much stronger chance than his odds imply and is played as cover to Elegant Man.