Friday horse racing tips: Best bets for Newcastle

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Friday is All Weather Championships day and my Friday best bets come from Newcastle as we go in search of a boost to the Easter egg fund.

Andrew Balding has trained the winner of this race in both its previous runnings and, while that is no guarantee of further success, I think he can complete a hat-trick in the race with SILENT STRIKE.

It’s a competitive heat, with Ollie Sangster-trained Al Najashi seeking a five-timer and both Northern Empire and Three Non Blondes look strong options on betting sites as they arriving at Gosforth Park on the back of wins.

Silent Strike was a beaten favourite over C&D last time but had won with a degree of comfort at Kempton prior to that and he looks like a potential improver here. That latest effort was doubtless a reconnaissance mission for this race and with Oisin Murphy booked, I think he can go one better.

Friday tip 1: Silent Strike (Newcastle, 13.50) – 2pts win @ 4/1 (bet365)

The Balding team can complete a double on the Newcastle card with STATEIRA, who looks well treated and is very likely to go off as the favourite on betting apps for this 7f handicap for females.

She’s been prepared to win three of her seven starts to date and is progressive. Her latest success, which came against her own sex over C&D, was done with the minimum of fuss and she still looks on a very handy mark, in spite of a 10lb rise.

Carolina Jetstream looks likely to be her toughest opponent, while at a price, Ziggy’s Queen could go well but I think Oisin Murphy will be celebrating another winner at around 2.30 on Good Friday.

Friday tip 2: Stateira (Newcastle, 14.25) – 3pts win @ 7/4 (Ladbrokes)

A big prize up for grabs for this form of the game and it’s drawn a maximum, competitive field. It’s a fascinating contest, with several of them likely to be fancying their chances, including last-time winners Blue Rc, The Lost King and First Principle.

However, I’m going to side with one who was beaten last time out but still showed improved form in CHANCELLOR. John Gosden puts cheekpieces on the Kingman gelding for the first time, having seen him just held in Lingfield’s Group 3 Winter Derby last time (1m2f, Polytrack).

He’d previously had another of today’s tougher opponents, Tyrrhenian Sea a length behind him when winning a Southwell Listed event (1m, Tapeta) earlier in February, while his form when a close second behind Holloway Boy in a Kempton Listed event (1m, Polytrack) last December, also reads well in the context of this race.

He’s on a handy mark for the return to handicapping and those cheekpieces might just give him that extra edge, so he gets the vote and he can be backed each-way on horse racing betting sites.

Friday tip 3: Chancellor (Newcastle, 15.00) – 1pt each-way @ 13/2 (William Hill)

This looks like another red hot handicap and it’s an open contest on paper. Sir Les Patterson has been trading as the pre-race favourite. He’ll need to improve again to add to his last two Dundalk successes (both 6f, Polytrack) but that’s not to say he can’t.

Lakers has been a close third on his last two starts, one of those behind the reopposing Pocklington, who also has claims here. At double-figure prices, El Bodon, Valiant Force and Fivethousandtoone can’t be discounted but I think SARAB STAR can win this.

Jack Channon has his team in fine form and, aside from being out of his depth in a heavy ground Group 2 contest at Newbury, he’s won or gone close in his other five starts.

He’s still improving nicely and his free-going style over 7f will, I think, translate nicely to this stiff 6f at Gosforth Park. He’s on the right side of the handicapper for the time being and looks up to this task.

Friday tip 4: Sarab Star (Newcastle, 15.35) – 1pt each-way @ 7/1 (Ladbrokes)

A huge prize up for grabs again here and the suggestion is the Willie Mullins-trained GAUCHER, who is partnered by Billy Loughnane.

Admittedly, he’s probably not going to go off at much of a price on account of decisive wins at Dundalk, scoring by six lengths (1m4f, Polytrack) on his penultimate start and adding to that with a very comfortable five and a half length victory when dropped back to 1m2½f there last time.

He’s now 16lb higher than when the gates went back on the first of those but the form suggests that even this revised mark of 106 could still look generous at around 4.15 on Friday afternoon. The Andrew Balding-trained Regal Ulixes should prove to be his toughest opponent.

Friday tip 5: Gaucher (Newcastle, 16.10) – 1pt win @ 4/1 (William Hill)

If you’re having a bet on Friday’s racing, it’s vital to practice responsible gambling.

Betting can be addictive, and it’s important to stay in control of your gambling, whether you’re using online bookmakers, casino sites, slot sites, bingo sites or any other gambling platform.

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Gambling sites offer punters tools, like deposit limits, profit and loss trackers and self-exclusion options, to help you stay in control.

Try not to get carried away by free bets or casino bonuses, which are widely available.

But if you ever feel like you need help or advice on gambling addiction, don’t hesitate to contact one of the charities or organisations below.

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