18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure

Market movers at Newcastle

NewcastleNewcastle
© Photo Healy Racing

Racing resumes in the UK today for the first time since March 17 when the action gets underway behind closed doors on the all weather track at Newcastle at 1pm.

The ten race card is limited to twelve runners per race and so far there are no non-runners to report among the 120 horses declared on Friday morning.

The opening race, a 1m handicap, has a short-priced favourite in Stone Mason at 6/4 (was as big as 5/1 when market opened on Friday evening). The Michael Appleby trained four-year-old hasn't shown much in four previous racecourse runs but has been dropped 5lbs from an initial handicap mark of 68 and the money for him looks significant.

There is also some money for top weight Al Ozzdi (8/1- 6/1) in the opener and he could represent a bit of each-way value. He is far more experienced than the favourite and is a previous course and distance winner on the Tapeta surface at Newcastle.

Mutasaamy (4/5) is the only odds-on favourite of the day and runs in the second race at 1.35pm, another 1m handicap. He represents the top trainer/jockey combination at the course, trained by Roger Varian and ridden by Jim Crowley.

There is some each-way support for two others in the race, Little Jo (10/1 - 8/1) is already a dual course and distance winner while Cote d'Aur (14/1 - 10/1) was only beaten a short-head over the course and distance last year.

Little Red Socks (4/1 - 3/1) in the third race, a 6f novice race at 2.10pm, should run well. This three year old filly won her only start at Wolverhampton (also a Tapeta surface) as recently as February 20 and is ridden by the leading jockey at the course Ben Curtis.

Tathmeen (4/1) would look an opposable favourite in the fifth race at 3.20pm. He is already a five time course winner but those wins were over the minimum trip of 5f while today's contest is over 6f. The staight course in Newcastle takes a lot of getting and on balance of form Tathmeen will struggle to get home. So far the only runner supported against him is the bottom weight Wild Edric (11/1 - 7/1) and as he is a three time winner over 6f he would look a value alternative.

Alix James (16/1 - 12/1 in a place) could be one to keep an eye on in the sixth contest at 3.55pm. He landed a punt (9/2 - 11/10) when scoring at Musselburgh in October and a significant point about that victory was that permission was given for the horse to wear a hood in the parade ring which would suggest that racing behind closed doors will suit him.

Be Proud (4/1 - 3/1) has twice won over the minimum trip of 5f at Newcastle so could well bring up the hat-trick over course and distance at 4.30pm. The one slight concern is that he is a hold up horse and drawn in the middle in stall 7 will require some luck in running.

Cracking Destiny (66/1 -25/1) is a previous Irish Point to Point winner and decent hurdler/chaser in Britain making his Flat debut in a 1m2f Maiden at 5.40pm. He is up against a couple of decent looking three year olds and a place would realistically be the best that could be hoped for.