Newcastle Preview & Best Bets – Saturday November 12

Newcastle Tips 12/11/2022

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 3:  No.2  SHORT SHORTS  ($2.80 with Unibet)

On a seven-day back-up here, the Brad Widdup-trained SHORT SHORTS is looking for her third win this preparation and left alone in front here, she could just pull it off. Last start, the Iffraaj mare led on settling and allowed to dictate the race, went on to a comfortable win in a BM78 over 1400m at Rosehill. Putting more than three lengths on them that day, she ran the trip out, 6.2 lengths quicker than benchmark, the best here by 3 lengths. Tom Sherry remains aboard and up against similar company over the same trip, she should prove hard to run down again.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 2:  No.5  THE DRAMATIST  ($5 with Palmerbet)

Rod Northam saddles-up THE DRAMATIST here who is second-up and is capable of going one better in this contest. Last start, the Shamus Award gelding was fresh off a lengthy 22-week break when he beat all but one home in a Hwy Class 3 Hcp over 1200m at Rosehill. Despite no racing for almost six months, he ran his last 600m, 6 lengths quicker than benchmark, the best in this field. He also recorded the fastest final 800m sectional for the race. Beaten just half a length in a field of 18 last time, he has a similar assignment here and with Reece Jones sticking with him, he can turn it around in this event.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 7:  No.2  ROBUSTO  ($6.50 with bet365)

Chris Waller has several runners engaged here with ROBUSTO standing out as the pick of the bunch. Last start, the Churchill gelding was third-up when he proved too good for them in a BM64 Hcp over 1300m at Randwick. Wide on the turn, he made up the lost ground and finished best, running his last 600m, 8.5 lengths quicker than benchmark, the best in this line-up. He also posted the fastest final 800m to 200m sectionals for the race. This will be his second crack at a Group 3 contest but he will strip even fitter for this and has James McDonald back from his Spring Carnival success in search of his second win on the three-year-old. He is a known back-marker so the wide gate shouldn’t come into play. If he can handle the step-up to the mile here, he should play major role in the outcome.