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Good Friday Preview

Hi all,

Inside today’s main piece I’m looking at the best of the action on All-Weather Finals Day at Newcastle.

As I child Good Friday's always seemed to be sunny. Well Good Friday this year has arrived and its beautifully sunny with wall to wall blue sky.

There’s a million pound in guaranteed prize money on the Newcastle card. Despite the fantastic levels of prize money on offer the seven races have attracted just 60 runners. With three of the races failing to attract 8 runners. Good Friday isn’t the day to revisit the issue of a lack of horses for these types of races, but a light is firmly shone on the problem this afternoon.

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I can’t say that All-Weather Finals Day is my thing but ITV4 are broadcasting nine races live from Newcastle and Lingfield. Which means it’s worth having a good look.

All the Newcastle races are conditions races. Whilst the Lingfield races are all handicaps.

Newcastle

The first race at Newcastle is the Listed race Burradon Stakes (1:15) for 3-year-old’s over a mile. It isn’t on ITV but Its arguably one of the most competitive of races on the card.  There are plenty of potentially progressive types among the 11 runners.  None more so than the twice raced Arabian Storm. The colt who won here last month over 7f holds a 2,000 Guineas entry and is open to improvement for the step up to a mile. Benacre is a bit more exposed, winning three of his two starts as a juvenile including the last two, but he’s got the scope to do even better at three. Yes, he’s unproven on the tapeta but that’s reflected in some generous odds.

Both Shaquille (1:50) and Berkshire Rocco (2:25) have solid claims in their respective races. However, the bookies have them right.

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Forest Of Dean (3:00) is likely to be popular with punters. The 7-year-old won a qualifier over C&D in January so is proven on the surface. However, he’s 5lb below Freescape on Official Ratings (OR). The Irish challenger not for the first time ran below form on the turf in Group company Meydan. He’s a better performer on the synthetics being six time winner at Dundalk and looks the value play down in class today.

Plenty to be Positive with Harry

Positive has come back to his juvenile best in winning his last two starts at Wolverhampton and Kempton and looks sure to go close. He’s not the bookies early bird favourite though. The overnight favourite is Berkshire Shadow made a winning seasonal return/all-weather debut in the Listed Lady Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton last month. Looks a worthy market leader and she be capable of winning over a mile although he’s 0-5 1 place over the distance.  Irish challenger San Andreas can’t be dismissed at the weights although he has a bit to find with Berkshire Shadow on OR’s.  He comes into the race in winning form having won at Dundalk last month. In the mix for a yard among the winners.

Manaafith (4:00) made it 6-6 on the all-weather when winning a Listed race at Lingfield last time.  The drop back to stiff 7f won’t inconvenience the filly and she’s already won twice on the tapeta. Will be hard to beat here.

Annaf (4:45), twice a winner here including C&D, has been a notable improver over the winter. The 4-year-old has won his last three starts including a Listed race at Lingfield last time.  A neck behind at Lingfield was Diligent Harry who was having his first start for five months that day. He’s since gone on to win a C&D handicap and is best forgiven his 9th of 10 at Chantilly last month when his saddle slipped.

Good Friday Selection:

Benacre has each way claims in the first. Freescape, Positive & Diligent Harry are three of interest and it’s the latter that carries the extra weight of my selection.

4:45 – Diligent Harry – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.

Good luck with your Friday bets.

John

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