Doomben Racing Tips 23 May 2026 — can Waller own the juveniles?
Newcastle Racing Tips 23 May 2026 — can Canjustify do it again here?
Newcastle Racing Tips 23 May 2026 — can Canjustify do it again here?
Some meetings hand you a clean anchor; this Newcastle card hands you a proper decision. Canjustify has already proven he can handle the place, and the stable behind him flat-out does well here, but the race he’s in isn’t a gift. You’ve got improving three-year-olds with lighter weights, a couple of older horses who’ve been around long enough to find a peak run, and barriers that force riders to make early calls.
That’s why these Newcastle racing tips are less about listing picks and more about solving the two races we’ve got in front of us today: a staying Class 1 where the right ride matters, and a sharp 2yo maiden where you’re buying potential and intent. Two races, Turf track, and plenty of ways to get paid if you keep it simple and bet with a plan.
Newcastle — the setup
We don’t have a published going in the racecard, so I’m treating this as a standard Newcastle Turf read: fair enough if you’re in the right spot, unforgiving if you get strung up or give away cheap lengths.
Course form is thin for most of today’s runners, so I’m not turning it into a “track specialists” article. The one exception that actually matters is Canjustify, who has placed in both visits here and won one of them. That’s still only two runs, so it’s a pointer, not a life story, but it’s a pointer you can use.
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On the rider side, there’s enough volume to take Newcastle jockey records seriously for a few names. Mitchell Bell hits the frame more than half the time at this track from a proper sample, and A Bullock also wins often enough here to respect him when he’s on something that can settle and sprint.
| Jockey | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Bell | 27 | 5 | 15 | 18.52 | 55.56 |
| K S Latham | 41 | 6 | 19 | 14.63 | 46.34 |
| A Bullock | 20 | 5 | 7 | 25.00 | 35.00 |
| William Stanley | 41 | 7 | 14 | 17.07 | 34.15 |
| Shannen Llewellyn | 28 | 2 | 9 | 7.14 | 32.14 |
Trainer-wise, one stat jumps off the page because it’s backed by real volume: Richard Litt wins 40% of his Newcastle runners and places two-thirds of them (15 runners, 6 winners, 10 placings). That’s exactly the kind of course angle you can lean on without kidding yourself.
| Trainer | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Litt | 15 | 6 | 10 | 40.00 | 66.67 |
| K A Lees | 39 | 6 | 16 | 15.38 | 41.03 |
| J G Sargent | 10 | 2 | 5 | 20.00 | 50.00 |
| Matthew Smith | 33 | 2 | 11 | 6.06 | 33.33 |
| P M Perry | 59 | 5 | 19 | 8.47 | 32.20 |
Race-by-race tips
Race 1: Newcastle Skin Check Plate (C1) — 11:50, 2406m
Canjustify is the bet I want to make, because he ticks the two boxes you can actually trust in a Class 1 at this trip: he’s arriving in form (his recent line reads 753721) and he’s already handled Newcastle, winning once and placing on his other start here. The other thing I can’t ignore is the stable angle. Richard Litt has brought 15 runners to this track and won with 6 of them, placing 10, so when he turns up with a progressive three-year-old, I listen.
The map is the only real niggle. He’s drawn 8, which means Penza has a decision to make early: snag right back and hope the race shapes for a closer, or slide into a spot without spending too much petrol. Over 2406m I’d rather see him find cover and build, because the horses that get keen and do work at this trip usually wave the white flag at the 150m.
The main danger for me is Siccius. Lees trains him, and William Stanley is a Newcastle rider you have to respect from a serious sample. Siccius brings a sharp formline too (721), and if he can land in a comfortable rhythm from gate 11, he’s the one who can go past your pick if Canjustify is forced to make a long, wide move.
Two others worth mentioning depending on how you play it. Knight Of Rhodes has been honest in his recent form (1-6933) and draws 1, so Bullock can give him every chance. I’m less taken with the track record though, because his only Newcastle run was well beaten. Spacetime Legend sits in the “always there” bracket (49-822) and has the right sort of profile for a place, even if I’m not convinced he has the killer punch to win if the favourite gets a soft run.
Staking: Win bet Canjustify. If you’re a more conservative player, take a win and place split and save on Siccius as the only savers I’d bother with.
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Race 2: Coastal Advisory Australia Midway Mdn Plate — 12:30, 984m
This is the kind of 2yo maiden where you can burn money by pretending it’s a form race. Half the field has no published form, a couple have had one look, and the rest are learning on the job. So I’m going to start with what I can trust: stable intent and rider bookings.
I want to be with Dubious Express first-up for the Freedmans with K S Latham booked. Latham is a proper Newcastle rider: 41 rides here for 6 wins and 19 placings, which is the profile of someone who consistently puts young horses in the right lanes. Gate 7 isn’t perfect over 984m, but it’s workable if the horse has any early speed and Latham can slot in rather than be forced to chase.
The danger I keep coming back to is Rainbow Charlie, purely because the setup screams “nice ride”. Leeshelle Small is strong enough at this track from 10 rides to respect, and barrier 2 gives her options: hold a spot, take the trail, or even lead if nothing else wants it. In a 984m dash with babies, that’s a genuine edge.
For the wider players, Pacific Diamond is another Freedman runner and gets L Magorrian. Magorrian’s Newcastle strike rate isn’t flash, but he rides enough here to know the patterns. Final Gift has more exposed form than most of these (7-85356) and that can be a blessing or a warning. I’ll treat him as the one to include in trifectas rather than trust to win.
Staking: Small win bet Dubious Express. If the market overreacts and makes him a short one, I’d rather go each-way Rainbow Charlie off the soft draw and call it a day.
Where the money goes
The card is short, so the play is discipline. My Newcastle best bets list has one proper anchor and one speculative lean.
NAP: Canjustify (Race 1, 11:50). He’s already won at Newcastle and his trainer Richard Litt wins 40% of his runners here from a meaningful sample. That’s the meeting’s clearest combination of “can do it” and “placed to do it”.
Value: Rainbow Charlie (Race 2, 12:30) if the market lets you. Barrier 2 and a jockey who places 40% of the time at this track is exactly what you want in a messy juvenile sprint.
Banker for multis: Canjustify in the top 2 or top 3 (depending on your product). Two course runs for a win and a place is enough to treat Newcastle as a plus, not an unknown.
Each-way angle: Siccius (Race 1). The 721 formline says he’s going the right way, and the Lees stable places plenty of runners here over time.
Course angle to remember: When Richard Litt brings them to Newcastle, it’s rarely for a day out. If he keeps firing at 40% winners from this sort of volume, he stays on the shortlist every time.
FAQ
What time does racing start at Newcastle today?
Newcastle gets underway at 11:50 with the Newcastle Skin Check Plate (C1) over 2406m.
Who are the top trainers and jockeys at Newcastle on today’s numbers?
From meaningful Newcastle samples, Richard Litt is the standout trainer: 6 wins from 15 runners at this track and 10 placings. In the saddle, Mitchell Bell has a deep record here with 27 rides and he hits the frame 15 times, while K S Latham has 19 placings from 41 rides and regularly gives his mounts every chance.
What are the best bets at Newcastle today?
The cleanest play is Canjustify in Race 1 (11:50). He’s won at Newcastle and comes off a last-start win (753721 formline), backed by a stable that has a strong strike rate here.
Where can I find the best Newcastle odds?
Prices move fast, especially in the 2yo maiden at 12:30 where most runners have limited exposed form. The best approach is to compare a few books close to jump, then commit. For more, see Newcastle odds and the linked bookmaker panels on RacingBase.
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