Newcastle Preview & Best Bets – 09/05/2024

Newcastle Tips for Thursday, May 9

Our form expert provides Newcastle tips for today’s horse racing at Newcastle Racecourse and gives his best bets.

BEST BET 🏆

Race 8:  No.3  THE ESCAPE

Locally-trained by Paul Perry, THE ESCAPE resumes today off a lengthy 31-week absence but after two successful trials, looks ready to pounce on fresh legs. His last preparation saw him finish runner-up in all three starts, ending with a second-place prize over 900m, here in BM64 company. He won his first trial back, here over 800m, then placed third in a Wyong trial over 845m on a Heavy 8 track that day. He has been gelded and Perry fits the tongue tie for the first time here. The Shalaa gelding hasn’t missed a podium finish in his five career-starts to date and that doesn’t look like changing here.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 5:  No.2  VADAMOS QUEEN

Annabel Neasham saddles-up VADAMOS QUEEN here who is in great touch this time in and after three straight minor-money finishes, looks ready to win today. Last start, the Vadamos mare beat all but one home in a BM68 over 2000m at Kembla Grange. With Angus Villiers in the saddle, she box-seated to the turn, then came off the leader’s heels but soon after, bumped the same horse and had to be steadied, which in the end, probably cost her victory that day, beaten half a length on the line. Villiers gets a second chance today as the mare draws gate six and maps to settle in the first half-dozen. Fitter for three runs back, she should be at her peak for this and with a trouble-free run today, can get the job done here.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 4:  No.6  BELLASCENT

The Kris Lees-trained BELLASCENT is third-up today and with conditions to suit here, looks every chance of breaking through in this contest. Last start, the Invader filly was second-up when she tackled a 1605m Maiden at Tuncurry and looked the winner with 50m to go but was worn down on the line, leaving her with the bridesmaid’s prize in the race. She handled the heavy conditions well that day which puts her in good steed here with the forecast Heavy 8 today. Dylan Gibbons is the new pilot as the three-year-old drops in weight for this assignment. She has the outside gate today but the small field should negate that issue here. Fitter for two runs back, she can figure here at odds today.