Murray Bridge Preview & Best Bets - Saturday, March 4
Newcastle Preview & Best Bets – Friday March 3
Newcastle Tips 03/03/2023
Our form expert provides Newcastle tips for today’s horse racing at Newcastle Racecourse and gives his best bets.
BEST BET 🏆
Race 1: No.2 DON QUIXOTE ($2.15 with BlueBet)
The Mark Newnham-trained DON QUIXOTE boasts strong claims here with four podium finishes from his five starts this preparation and with conditions to suit, he looks the one to beat in this contest. Last start, the Pierro gelding faced his toughest challenge to date when he took on city class gallopers in a BM64 Hcp over Canterbury’s 1900m trip. With Tyler Schiller aboard, he settled last, spotted them 10 lengths and finished strongly to grab third prize on the line. Back to provincial class today, he steps up in distance again with Schiller remaining aboard for this contest. On a seven-day back-up here, he will be at his peak after five runs this time in and will be doing his best work late.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 7: No.3 CROSS TALK ($2.10 with Ladbrokes)
The Waterhouse & Bott-trained CROSS TALK is second-up here and should prove hard to run down in this contest. Last start, the Keano gelding was fresh off a 20-week absence and after winning both trials he contested, he lined-up in the James Ruse Hcp at Rosehill where he beat all but one home in the 1400m event. With regular rider Tim Clark aboard, he was sent out a white-hot favourite ($1.90) and set a solid pace before his condition gave out in the final 100m and had to settle for second prize that day. Clark remains in the saddle today and fitter for that first-up run, the five-year-old looks set to give this field something to chase.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 6: No.10 THE CARPET BAGGER ($18 with TAB)
Kembla Grange galloper THE CARPET BAGGER has won two of his four starts this campaign and looks worthy of an each-way ticket in this contest. Last start, the Rock ‘n’ Pop gelding came off an unplaced effort in city class company at Rosehill when after a four-week let-up he returned to country competition and beat all but one home in a BM58 Hcp over 1400m at Goulburn. He led on settling and looked home at the 200m mark, but was unable to hold off the race favourite (Beer Palace) who finished too strong for him that day. Jeff Penza returns here for his second ride on the five-year-old and with plenty of early pace in the race, may look to take a sit from gate six. He is up in grade today but does look well placed and after four runs back, should be rock-hard fit for this challenge. He is a fighter and could surprise today at big odds.
