8:15 Newcastle Racing Tips (16th February)

1m (1m5y) 32Redsport.com Fillies' Novice Stakes (Plus 10 Race) (Class 5) (3yo)

Six runners on Standard going. 

Velvet Vision is unlikely to disrupt the major contenders. Mark Tompkin's debutantes can spring a surprise but rarely. 

Hugo Palmer is a top-class trainer for a reason and someone to respect with three-year-olds on their second start. Evince is a daughter of New Approach, a home bred in the ownership of Prince K Abdullah. She ran here on debut but inexperience and insufficient trip caused problems after a slow start. Better should be expect.  

Chloris has shown creditable form, especially last time out when third. 

The familiar silks of Qatar Racing Limited catch the eye for debutante Imperial Act. Interesting to see why the hood is applied for this racecourse bow. It may be a slight negative suggesting a horse that needs calming or lacks focus. The trainer knows best and the betting is the best assessor. This daughter of Frankel was sent to the sales earlier this month but withdrawn. Difficult to know if this is a negative. It does bring concerns. The dam won twice and achieved an official rating of 100. Potentially a smart type but there are questions to answer. If seriously backed it would instill more confidence. 

Another owner who has done well last season was John Dance. He is particularly potent when partnering Karl Burke. For that reason, Lumi is worthy of note. This bay daughter of Canford Cliffs cost 80,000 euros at the yearling sales. She wasn't strongly fancied on debut at Newcastle over 7f but ran well, staying on at the finishing, gaining on the lead. This extra furlong should be ideal and I'd expect a bold show. Looks a decent type to put in an each-way double or single if drifting a touch in the betting.

David Simcock fields Skirrid Hill who looks to be second string to Imperial Act.

Conclusion: An interesting race in ways. By all accounts a four-horse race. I'm interested in Lumi but I really wouldn't bet in this competitive heat with just two places for each-way backers. Fascinating to see how Imperial Act fares in the betting with a few ifs and buts flying around. 

2:10 Carlisle - Speculative Bet (26th July)

A Maiden Auction Stakes over 5f 193y on good to form going. Eleven two-year-olds, the majority fillies. Not the strongest of fields. 

Karl Burke has been in decent form with his juveniles and has plenty to assess their pecking order. He has been very successful at Carlisle, especially this year. 

You N Me is priced at odds of 14/1 for this contest which seems big. 

This bay filly, a daughter of Footstepsinthesand out of a winning but poor mare, cost 45,000GNS as a foal but 24,000GNS at the yearling sales when purchased by the trainer for Hassan Al Abdulmalik. 

Perhaps she turned into an ugly duckling. 

This February foal has been given a Lowther Stakes (Group 2) entry which is only one of three made by Spigot Lodge. 

You N Me wouldn't need to be a super star to hold some hope and although a wide draw is far from ideal ability often prevails in these contests. 

The stable have fair win and place claims when their juveniles are priced 10/1 & less so if backed a touch would bring more confidence. Considering Burke has such a good strike rate here and the interest for the Group entry I would be surprised if she wasn't back to much shorter odds that detailed. I'd bet at 14/1 with a view of laying the bet at shorter odds if not keeping it if starting 10/1 & less SP. 

You N Me 14/1 4th