Newcastle Preview & Best Bets – 11/01/2024

Newcastle Tips for Thursday, January 11

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 4:  No.4  HANAU  ($2.70 with Palmerbet)

The James Cummings-trained HANAU has made a promising start to his racing career and today he looks well placed to break through for his first win. Last start, the Snitzel gelding was fresh off a five-month break when he beat all but one home in a 1200m Maiden at Randwick. He found the lead inside the final 200m but his condition gave out and he was grabbed by a swooper near the line and had to settle for second prize. Zac Lloyd was aboard that day and steers the ship again here. He is well-bred (out of a Lonhro mare) and fitter today, the Godolphin up-and-comer can give this a contest a real shake.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 5:  No.10  SHAKO  ($4.40 with Picklebet)

First-up today, the James Cummings trained SHAKO returns after being gelded and on fresh legs, looks a serious player in this contest. Last start, the Epaulette gelding went one better off his second-placed debut effort when he cracked it for a win in a 900m Maiden, here on a Good 4 that day. Settling mid-field, he made his move on straightening and rounded them up, surviving a protest to take home the chocolates. He has placed in trials since then as Zac Lloyd takes the reins for today’s assignment. Also out of a Lonhro mare, he has the pedigree to go on with it from here and already a winner at the track and distance, he looks right in the mix for a first-up win today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 6:  No.5  KING’S DUTY  ($6.50 with Ladbrokes)

The locally-trained KING’S DUTY is third-up today and ticks enough boxes to be a force in the outcome here. Last start, the Exosphere gelding looked just one run short of his best when finishing fourth, here on the Beaumont track, in a BM64 over 1150m. 59kgs and a Soft 7 surface certainly played a part in that unplaced effort. Jean Van Overmeire returns for the job today after steering him to second prize, two starts back where he was resuming off a 21-week break. Fitter for two runs back and already a winner when third-up, he gets a cushy run from gate two today and should be there at the finish.