Race 5 from Newcastle on Monday, the big return of British racing on the flat, is a Class 4 handicap. This one is open to 4 year olds plus and it will be at a distance of 6f.
Newcastle is an all-weather track of Tapeta so the going is standard to slow. There are 12 declared for this contest.
Newcastle Monday 15:20 Winner Odds*
Tathmeen 7/2
Heath Charnock 4/1
Brian The Snail 13/2
Ticky Dicky 7/1
Tenax 8/1
Yousini 8/1
Wild Edric 12/1
Lincoln Park 14/1
Dalton 14/1
Northgate Lad 20/1
True Blue Moon 33/1
I Am A Dreamer 33/1
* (betting odds taken from Bet365 on Sunday, June 31st 2020 at 14:37 GMT)
Horse Racing Betting at Bet365
Table of Contents
Tathmeen heads the handicap field
Heading towards the start as the favourite is TATHMEEN at 7/2* (betting odds taken from Bet365 on Sunday, June 31st 2020 at 14:37 GMT). It will be a justified favourite tag as well given his form on the all-weather this year.
He has won three of his last four runs at Newcastle. So that puts him on solid footing. So too his second-placed effort in a Class 3 handicap at Wolverhampton (also Tapeta), so he clearly warrants some major respect here.
Heath Charnock to pose a threat to the favourite
Worth a look as the key challenger to the favourite is easily HEATH CHARNOCK. He is lining up as the 4/1 second favourite currently* (betting odds taken from Bet365 on Sunday, June 31st 2020 at 14:37 GMT).
His last four runs by the 4 year old colt have all been at Newcastle. He comes back up to a 6f trip which is where he looks better so warrants respect.
On a 5f trip for his last run, he finished very well to take third place back in February at Gosforth Park. Wouldn’t be winning out of turn if he upsets the favourite.
Tricky Dicky can push for a place
Bringing some heat with form is the experienced 7 year old gelding TRICKY DICKY who goes from 7/1* (betting odds taken from Bet365 on Sunday, June 31st 2020 at 14:37 GMT).
He scored on his last run which was a Class 4 handicap at York. Tricky Dicky had been the favourite for that contest. Plus he has scored in three of his last five runs, taking a second place finish in the other two in that sequence.
All of those wins were over a 6f trip. In total, he picked up four wins for trainer Roger Fell last season after a stable switch. Can haul himself into contention for a money finish.
Progressive Yousini to challenge
The last time that YOUSINI came back from such a long break, he battled to a very good second-place finish in a Class 2 handicap at Newmarket.
Yousini comes in as an 8/1 contender for this effort* (betting odds taken from Bet365 on Sunday, June 31st 2020 at 14:37 GMT).
He is used to higher class competition than this, so he has a chance at getting in the frame here if he can get back to his November form where he seemed to really get his step together.
That was a fifth place finish that he had taken in a 5f trip at Southwell. The form at 6f isn’t the greatest, however, much of it has been in much tougher races than this.
Does Tenax have enough to get in the frame?
Up there as an 8/1 shot is TENAX* (betting odds taken from Bet365 on Sunday, June 31st 2020 at 14:37 GMT). The 4 year old gelding will be making his all-weather bow in this contest.
On the turf, he has scored in 2 of 17 starts. The last run that he had was in early September at Thirsk where he took 5th of 7 over a shorter distance.
Tenax was a beaten favourite in that. But the 6f distance seems to be in his wheelhouse, having taken a win and two runners-up spots in his last four at the distance. He has that distance win behind him which brings claims.
Predictions & Tips
Coming back down in class, TATHMEEN is really the star of the show in this one, or at least, he should be for Antony Brittain. We are having a hard time seeing enough anywhere else to bring him down.
So we are going to assume that the big battle is going to be for the places.
For that, TRICKY DICKY can’t be far away from an effort at all having previously placed at course and distance. The other that piques some interest is YOUSINI who could improve to challenge.
