1:15 – Talksport Burradon Stakes (Listed)
This looks to be a very competitive start to the All-Weather Finals card but there is no shortage of early pace in this race and so that could set it up perfectly for a closer like TENJIN. John Ryan’s charge has been busy throughout the winter on the All-Weather, but he continues to improve and his 1-length 3rd in the Road to the Kentucky Derby Race at Kempton last month was probably his best performance of the campaign. He has only managed to win 1 of his 10 starts, so that does need to be taken into consideration when backing him, but he will get a strong gallop to aim at here and that should help. He was slowly away at Kempton, but made up the ground and travelled into the race like the winner before being outstayed by 2 rivals who had been racing in a higher grade overseas. Newcastle is a track that can favour a horse who comes with a later effort and if he can break on terms, he has every chance of going close.
1:50 – Talksport All-Weather 3YO Championships Stakes
This is another race that looks likely to be run at a strong gallop, with both Michaela’s Boy and Desert Cop likely to go forwards and ensure that this becomes a proper test. As a result, SHAQUILLE should get another ideal tow into this race, as he did when winning a fast-track qualifier for this race at Wolverhampton in December. Despite tracking the fierce early pace, he was still able to quicken at the 2-furlong pole and was always holding on once he hit the front. Given that he was keen in the early stages and travelled up with the strong pace (the finishing % was just 98.8%), this was a superb effort and he remains open to further improvement on what will be just his 5th start. The application of the hood should help him to settle and may also help him to finish off his race, as he did seem to idle out in front in the closing stages last time.
3:00 – BetUK All-Weather Easter Classic Middle Distance Championships Stakes
A disappointing turnout with only 6 going to post and that is likely to make this a bit of a muddling affair. The only obvious front runner in the field is HARROVIAN and as he is highly likely to get a solo in the lead, he could defy the course trends and make all the running to win. He can hardly be considered as progressive, but he is consistent, and his 4th placed finish in the Winter Derby at Lingfield looks a lot better in hindsight than it did on the day. The winner, Lord North, has gone on to win the Dubai Turf in Meydan, whilst the 3rd placed Foxes Tales won a Listed race at Kempton last weekend. He has spent his career running against better horses than this and if he can match the level of form that he showed when 3rd in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot last June, that should be more than enough to win what looks to be a below par renewal of this race.
4:10 – Talksport All-Weather Fillies and Mares Championships Stakes
Roger Varian won this race in 2017 with Realtra and he looks likely to add a 2nd win to his CV with MANAAFITH. She is unbeaten in 6 starts on an artificial surface and arrives here having completed a hat-trick of wins over the winter, most notably when beating Sir Busker by over a length in the Listed Tandridge Stakes at Lingfield in February. That is a very solid piece of form in the context of this race and probably leaves her with a few pounds in hand over most of her rivals. She should get a decent tow into the race from the likely pacesetter Fiduciary and should prove hard to beat if she runs her usual race.
4:45 – Bet UK All-Weather Sprint Conditions Stakes
This is a difficult race to pick apart, but the obvious starting point must be VADREAM. Charlie Fellowes charge bolted up in the Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster last week and although it will be entirely different conditions on the Tapeta, if he arrives at Newcastle in the same kind of form, he should be hard to beat. Last week was his first win since 2021, but he has been racing consistently at a much higher level than this and there should be no real concern about him handling the track as he won his maiden here in 2020.
