Friday 8th December
4.45 Newcastle - Abbeys Dream 7/1 (365) - Sir Maxi 5/1 (SkyBet,BFred)
Open looking race where ive sided with two against the field , first one of those is ABBEYS DREAM , apart from a blip on her penultimate start shes been holding her form well since returning to action in August - 7,2,4,1,2,11,2 .. so a decent showing would come as no surprise. Usually runs a decent race here at Newcastle with two wins and a place from her five outings here to date. Taylor Fisher in the plate on his sole start of the meeting and hes one from one on her so far , been in decent form lately with a 22.2% strike rate over the last month , and has an 18% strike rate when coming here to ride overall. Archie Watson sends just this one here today and he too has been amongst the winners with a 20% strike rate over the last two weeks , and when sending his runners here overall he has a healthy 22% strike rate. The other one im siding with is SIR MAXI who arrives in rude health having won two of his last three races , the last of which was over this afternoons CD , where he accounted for Magical Max by 3/4 length. Yet to be unplaced in his two starts over CD with a win and a place to his name. 4lb rise for that lto win but i cant see that hindering his chances too much if im being honest. Richard Fahey doing well here this term with a 13.5% strike rate , jockey Jack Garritty here for just this ride , and hes placed on his only ride to date on the horse. When the trainer and jockey have teamed up over the last three weeks they come away with a 33% strike rate.
3.10 Newcastle - Bobby Shaftoe 4/1 (365,Hills,SkyBet,BFred) - Delta Legend 14/1 (Hills,SkyBet,BFred)
Another open looking race and another one where i wanna be double handed , BOBBY SHAFTOE beat the re opposing Purple Gown last time out over CD , only won by a head but im hopeful that he can repeat that here this afternoon. That was his fourth win of the year , and made his CD record three wins from five runs , so seems to have a liking for it round here. Everything looks set for him to run another decent race , although he hasnt won from a mark this high before , but he has gone close from it , so im hoping that it wont hinder his chances too much. Jim Goldie sends just this one her from over the border , and he has his string in decent enough order with a 22% strike rate in the past 21 days , whilst talented claimer Mark Winn is in the hot seat , takes off a valuable 3lb , and was third on his only ride to date on the horse. DELTA LEGEND is my other selection , makes his handicap debut today on what looks to me to be a workable mark , and seems to be going the right way. Was a sound third over a mile here last time. Jane Chapple Hyam runs just this one here , and shes as shrewd as they come imho , has a 40% strike rate over the last three weeks , and a 40% strike rate when sending her horses here this season along with a profit of +£16.25. Cant say i know anything about the 7lb claimer who rides but i trust the trainers judgement.
5.15 Newcastle - Power Of Darkness 15/2 (Hills)
POWER OF DARKNESS stands out for me in this although theres a few others that look set to go well , sixth of eleven last time at Shuvvel , but before that run had been there or thereabouts - 1,2,3,2 .. with one of those seconds over this evenings CD. Yet to win here at Newcastle but has run well on all three starts to date being in the places every time , and i think he's over due a win here. To be honest the selection is more at home over a mile but that 7f second here in October shows hes more than capable at this distance so happy to take a chance. Looks well enough drawn to me , and he has ticks in all the right boxes for me so i think a good run could well be on the cards. Trainer Charlie Fellowes has just this one here and he has a 40% strike rate over the last couple of weeks , and a 19% strike rate when coming here overall , whilst Mikkel Mortenson is also here for just this one , and i dont think hes bad value for his 7lb claim , which will certainly help the horses chances imho. Has a win and three places from his seven rides to date on the horse.
1st 11/4