Nicky Richards has a remarkable record at Newcastle for a trainer with such longevity. You would be six points in profit had you backed all of his runners at the track during his career and he sends four to the north east on Tuesday. Their chances are previewed alongside 888sport’s sign-up offer of Bet £10 – Get £30 In Free Bets + A £10 Casino Bonus.
HOLME ABBEY (12.55pm Newcastle) 11/1
HOLME ABBEY departed as early as was possible at Musselburgh at December, falling at the very first fence.
He has not been easy to win with for Richards, but did get off the mark over fences at Hexham last May. However, due to his fall and a disappointing reappearance, he reverts to hurdles for this contest.
His only run at this trip over the smaller obstacles also produced his best performance when he finished second at Catterick. That was also off a 2lb higher mark than he is currently on in both codes.
Moreover, 10lb claimer Conor Rabbitt takes the ride, which will ease the burden even further. First-time cheekpieces could well be an astute adjustment for this horse, whose confidence may well be restored back over the smaller obstacles.
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MAROWN (2.00pm Newcastle) 3/1
This will be a belated seasonal reappearance for MAROWN who is one of Richards’ current stable stars.
He was twice a winner as a novice chaser last season, also finishing second in a Haydock Grade 2. Indeed, he had not finished outside of the first three until facing too stern a test off his highest mark at Ayr at the end of the season.
However, he had already in every month from November to March prior to his ninth-placed finish that day and may have simply paid for too much racing given he had only raced three times under rules prior to last season.
He is now back to a mark of 135, off which he was second to Galahad Quest at Haydock last season. That horse has since performed well off higher marks and Marown can now make his mark in open company.
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RIVER MEADOW (2.30pm Newcastle) 5/1
Like Marown, RIVER MEADOW carries the late Trevor Hemmings’ colours and is making his hurdles debut at Newcastle on Tuesday.
He was given what was probably an excessively quiet ride at Ayr on his bumper debut, never being able to challenge from his position out the back. However, he stayed on eyecatchingly enough, looking like a horse who was learning his trade.
It looks a sensible decision from Richards to start RIver Meadow off over 2m4½f, as that should enable him to display the stamina that looked prevalent on that Ayr run. Similarly, he employs Sean Quinlan to take the ride this time instead of a 7lb claimer.
None of his opposition have won over hurdles yet either, so he is not diving into deep waters too quickly.
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SMOKEY THE BANDIT (4.00pm Newcastle) 11/2
Blinkers will be applied to SMOKEY THE BANDIT for the first time on Tuesday on his third run for Richards.
He was initially based at Cullentra, running seven times for Gordon Elliott and Denise Foster without success. There have arguably been minor improvements for Richards, though.
He has raced in a pair of handicaps in Scotland. While he was only eighth at Ayr on his stable debut, he was not beaten too far, while he may well have bumped into two very well-handicapped horses at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day.
He has dropped 7lb for Richards already and this could well be a winnable mark for him now. If blinkers bring about any improvement, he is well in with a chance.
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