UK Horse Racing Tips: Newcastle

It's possible this trip will stretch a few of these and, with that in mind, the proven staying power of previous course winner LA PULGA could be a major asset if he is allowed to set the fractions on the front end. Marhaba The Champ is a possible improver to consider on the back of a respectable fourth over an inadequate 1m2f at Ayr last month. King Lear should also be noted with first-time blinkers added.
Prediction : 1st La Pulga 2nd Marhaba The Champ 3rd King Lear

MARAMA impressed with a seven-length victory in a similar race at Chester last month and is taken to brush aside the penalty. Although beaten by four and a half lengths at Southwell most recently, Sword was second to an upwardly mobile rival and must have a good chance being of thereabouts in this company. Krissy, King Of Lightning and Warm Response all need to improve, so perhaps Cadarn could be the pick of the rest.
Prediction : 1st Marama 2nd Sword 3rd Cadarn

An easy winner on his racecourse bow at Wolverhampton last month, SAPPHIRE VALLEY sets the standard and can atone for fading into fourth when he possibly went off too quickly at Chelmsford subsequently. A third run in quick succession suggests all is well with this potentially progressive son of Blue Point and he is worth persevering with here. Fellow penalised runner Everyoneknowsadave is feared most, although Velvet Whisper is taken seriously after a promising introduction at Southwell.
Prediction : 1st Sapphire Valley 2nd Everyoneknowsadave 3rd Velvet Whisper

JENEVER may be suited by dropping back to the minimum trip, having shown up well when fourth in the Ayr Silver Cup last month. Jessica Macey's charge has won over C&D before, and he gets the vote ahead of the well-handicapped Badri and Lucky Man, who has strong claims on his success at Windsor in August. Completing the shortlist are Cover Point, Harvanna and Londoner.
Prediction : 1st Jenever 2nd Lucky Man 3rd Badri

Turned out again quickly under a 5lb penalty after a comfortable success at Musselburgh last week, SIXCOR may not be the most consistent but he looks more than capable of following up at this level. The unexposed Northerner was a promising fourth over C&D last time out and is likely to be thereabouts, along with the veteran Stallone and Cuban Rock.
Prediction : 1st Sixcor 2nd Northerner 3rd Stallone

Fresh off a victory in the Champion Stakes on Saturday, Owen Burrows can continue that form with the unexposed PURSUIT OF TRUTH, who ran a career-best when second on handicap debut at Kempton last time out. A mere 1lb rise could prove lenient, and he may have too much for the recent narrow Ayr runner-up Alpine Sierra, as well as Sir Maxi, who looked to be finding his way for new connections when a promising third over 7f here last month.
Prediction : 1st Pursuit Of Truth 2nd Alpine Sierra 3rd Sir Maxi

Barnaby struck in convincing style over C&D last month and he is likely to have his supporters off only 5lb higher. However, a chance can be taken on NO SAINT, who produced a much better effort when beaten two lengths into second over track and trip last time. Sam England's four-year-old was possibly unsuited by the slowly run race on that occasion and might get more of a pace to aim at this time around. Mr Stanley is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st No Saint 2nd Barnaby 3rd Mr Stanley

RETIREMENT BECKONS wasn't beaten far into fourth over a mile here on his penultimate start and he backed up effort up when filling the same position at Hamilton last time. Linda Perratt's nine-year-old is a previous course winner and can cope with the drop in trip to score. Dash Power made the frame at Kempton in May and it would be no surprise to see him get involved off an unchanged mark. Space Ninja isn't ruled out either.
Prediction : 1st Retirement Beckons 2nd Dash Power 3rd Space Ninja

FIRCOMBE HALL was closing all the way to the line when denied by a neck into second over track and trip last month and he competes off only 1lb higher. The six-year-old remains on a workable mark and might be able to record his seventh course-and-distance success. My Boy Jack has taken the silver medal home on each of his last two outings and should remain competitive, while The Gay Blade is another to keep an eye on.
Prediction : 1st Fircombe Hall 2nd My Boy Jack 3rd The Gay Blade