Friday 18th April 2025
1.15 Newcastle: BetMGM Burradon Stakes: We get underway on All-Weather Finals Day at Newcastle with the 1.15, which is the Listed Burradon Stakes contested over a mile. I’m going with Glittering Legend here for James Fanshawe and Daniel Muscutt. He progressed through the ranks last term and signed off his campaign with a victory in a Class 3 handicap at Doncaster. He also made a winning return to the track at Kempton back in March over a mile when beating some useful rivals, keeping on in the closing stages. He brings solid form to the table and looks a decent each-way alternative to the fancied ones at the top. Glittering Legend – 11/2 (Each-Way)
1.50 Newcastle: BetMGM All-Weather 3 Year Old Championships Handicap: The second race of the afternoon at Newcastle is the 1.50, and this is the three-year-old Class 2 handicap over six furlongs. I’m taking a chance on Good Banter here for the team of Clive Cox and Rossa Ryan. He won a couple of novice events at Wolverhampton back in the autumn and has since returned to run respectably with handicap company at Lingfield and Southwell. Most recently, he was fourth of six over seven furlongs but just a length behind the winner. The drop back to six should suit here, and he can go well off at a nice price off a pound lower mark. Good Banter – 10/1 (Each-Way) (4 places – Several firms)
2.05 Lingfield: BetUK All-Weather Vase Middle Distance Handicap: We move over to Lingfield at 2.05 for the All-Weather Vase, which is a Class 3 handicap over a mile and two furlongs. I like Son Of Man here for Jim Boyle and Paddy Bradley. I put him on his last outing, which came at Wolverhampton where he stayed on over a mile and half of a furlong behind Mr Baloo whom he’ll reoppose here. I think he’s got every chance of reversing that form here off just a pound higher mark and up slightly in trip. He still looks attractively handicapped, and at his current price of 9/1, he looks like a solid each-way play. Son Of Man – 9/1 (Each-Way) (4 places – Several firms)
2.25 Newcastle: BetMGM Fillies’ And Mares’ Championships Handicap: Next up it’s the 2.25, which is a Class 2 handicap for the mares over seven furlongs. I’m taking on the hot favourite Cloud Cover here as I’ve gone with Aramis Grey for Jack Jones and Rossa Ryan. She’s run well in each of her three starts to date since joining this yard, all three of which have come within competitive handicap with the most recent effort coming from Doncaster last month, where she finished sixth of nineteen and just two and a half lengths behind the eventual winner Dark Thirty. She’ll contest this off a pound lower, which is the same as her last winning mark, with that success also coming over today’s trip. Aramis Grey – 7/1 (Each-Way) (4 places – Several firms)
2.40 Lingfield: BetMGM All Weather Vase Mile Handicap: The 2.40 at Lingfield is the All-Weather Vase Mile, and this is more Class 3 handicap action and over a mile. I like Dragon Icon here for Roger Varian and Silvestre De Sousa. He probably didn’t stay over ten furlongs last time out here, however, he finished a neck second at Newcastle in December over a mile, with that run also coming within Class 3 company. That run also came off the same mark as today, and if he turns up in similar form he should go well. Dragon Icon – 5/1 (Each-Way) (4 places – Several forms)
3.00 Newcastle: BetMGM All-Weather Championships Mile Handicap: It’s the 3.00 up next, and this is the mile race and another Class 2 handicap event. I’m taking a chance on Kingdom Come in this who’s another for Clive Cox and Rossa Ryan. He was second in this race last year off the same mark and posted an encouraging effort on his latest outing at Wolverhampton last month in the Lincoln Trial when finishing third of twelve and just a length behind the winner. He’s one of the more exposed ones in the lineup, however, he’s proven on the track, in this race, and off his current mark. Kingdom Come – 10/1 (Each-Way) (4 places – Several firms)
3.15 Lingfield: BetUK All-Weather Vase Sprint Handicap: It’s back over to Lingfield now for the 3.15, which is the All-Weather Vase Sprint over six furlongs. I’m taking a chance on Sommelier here at a big price for Marco Botti and Marco Ghiani. He was promising as a two-year-old, and whilst he hasn’t quite lived up to said promise, he drops into Class 3 company here for the first time within handicap company. He’s also on an all-time low mark, and he should have enough ability to be competitive at the least within this grade. Sommelier – 12/1 (Each-Way) (4 places – Several firms)
3.35 Newcastle: BetUK All-Weather Sprint Handicap: Race number five at Newcastle is the All-Weather Sprint Handicap, which is contested over six furlongs. This is more extremely competitive action, however, I’m with Diligent Harry here, who’s one more for Clive Cox and Rossa Ryan. He’s a course and distance winner who has form at the highest level and has been running well as of late, most recently, he finished third of eleven at Southwell earlier this month within a Class 2 handicap and just a length and a half behind the winner. He remains on the same mark here, which is the same as his last winning one, and I think he can go close again. Diligent Harry – 7/1 (Each-Way) (4 places – Several firms)
3.50 Lingfield: BetMGM All-Weather Vase Fillies’ Handicap: My final selection from Lingfield comes within the 3.50, which is a Class 4 handicap over seven furlongs. I’m chancing Get Jiggy With It here for George Boughey and Jack Callen who takes off seven pounds. He’s only got a sole maiden win to his name, with that run also coming over seven furlongs. He ran well last time out at this track over six furlongs and stayed on in the closing stages. He’ll contest this off a pound lower mark, and the step back up to seven looks the right move. Get Jiggy With Me – 11/1 (Each-Way) (4 places – Several firms)
4.07 Newcastle: BetUK All-Weather Easter Classic Middle Distance Handicap: The penultimate race of the day at Newcastle is the 4.07, and this is the Easter Classic Middle Distance Handicap over a mile and two furlongs. I’m taking a chance on one at a huge price here and that’s Claymore for Jane Chapple-Hyam and Hollie Doyle, who’s currently trading at a best price of 25/1. He’s got plenty of very solid form at a high level, and whilst it’s tough to catch him on a going day, he did run well over course and distance back in December when finishing third of ten in a Class 2 handicap behind Savvy Victory. That particular effort was off a seven-pound higher mark, and if he turns up in that form, he could go well at a monster price. Claymore – 25/1 (Each-Way) (4 places – Several firms)
4.42 Newcastle: BetUK All-Weather Championships Marathon Handicap: Signing us off from Newcastle will be the 4.42, and this is the Marathon Handicap that’s contested over two miles and half of a furlong. Roaring Legend and Wonder Legend will both be warm orders here, however, at the prices, I’m taking them both on with Duke Of Oxford for Michael Bell and Hector Crouch. He comes into the race having won both of his last two outings in the winter at Kempton, with both of those victories coming over two miles. He’s also got very solid form course form to his name, having been third in the Northumberland Plate here back in June, proving that he shouldn’t have any issue with the trip. I think he’s a solid each-way alternative. Duke Of Oxford – 6/1 (Each-Way) (4 places – Several firms)
