Newcastle Evening Preview
Newcastle takes over this evening with its long straight placing the emphasis firmly on stamina and timing rather than sharp turns and luck in running. It’s a track where things can look comfortable one moment and very different a furlong later, particularly when those who thought they’d got first run suddenly realise they’ve only just started the race.
17:25 Newcastle – Dingwall
The opener could go the way of Dingwall, who lines up carrying around 9st 6lb, very similar to his latest outing, so there’s no extra burden to complicate matters.
Trained by Iain Jardine and likely ridden by Andrew Mullen, he’s been shaping as though this sort of test suits. Newcastle’s straight track should allow him to find a rhythm rather than being forced into something he doesn’t want to do.
If he’s still travelling comfortably inside the final two furlongs, he could be one of those gradually passing horses who went a stride too soon — which happens here more often than connections would like to admit.
18:30 Newcastle – Heavenly Heather
Heavenly Heather looks interesting here, carrying around 9st 2lb, which puts her a couple of pounds better off than she was earlier in the winter.
From the Jim Goldie yard, with Paul Mulrennan likely to take the ride, she’s the type who benefits from being allowed to settle before being asked to go about things late. If the race is run at a steady tempo early, she should be in the right place to pick up the pieces.
Not one to make much fuss mid-race, but often the quiet ones are the ones you notice most late on.
19:30 Newcastle – Blue Dakota
Blue Dakota looks one of the more solid contenders. He carries around 9st 7lb, which is a couple of pounds higher than his last win, but not enough to suggest he’s been overburdened.
With a yard that knows how to place these types and a jockey who rides this track particularly well, he should be positioned just off the pace. That’s usually where you want to be at Newcastle — close enough to strike, but not so close that you’ve already done too much.
If he travels as smoothly as he did last time, he may simply be better than these — provided he’s asked at the right moment, which is always the small detail that decides everything.
20:00 Newcastle – Woodraff
Woodraff returns under very similar conditions, carrying around 9st 5lb again, so the handicapper has left him alone after his latest effort.
Marco Botti’s runner, with a capable all-weather jockey likely booked, is the type who should enjoy this long straight if delivered late. If the pace holds up, he could be one of those moving through the field without ever looking in a hurry — until suddenly he is.
The danger is always getting there a stride too late, which Newcastle can specialise in, but if timed right he looks a major player.
20:30 Newcastle – Trucial Pearl
The closing race could go the way of Trucial Pearl, who carries around 9st 3lb, slightly lower than a couple of recent starts, which brings him closer to some of the principals.
From a yard that tends to do well with these types, and with a jockey who won’t panic if things don’t go perfectly early, he should be ridden with a bit of patience.
If the race turns into a proper test late on, he could be one of those still finding when others have already given their best. And at that point, it usually doesn’t matter how impressive they looked two furlongs out.
Selections
17:25 Newcastle – Dingwall – 1 pt win
18:30 Newcastle – Heavenly Heather – 1 pt each way
19:30 Newcastle – Blue Dakota – 1 pt win
20:00 Newcastle – Woodraff – 1 pt win
20:30 Newcastle – Trucial Pearl – 1 pt win
