Newcastle Racing Tips & Predictions – Tuesday 31st March 2026

Seven races at Newcastle today and it’s a proper jumps card where a couple look short-price solid, while one or two handicaps are the kind you either play each-way or you leave alone. We don’t have the going or distances listed in the race feed, so treat this as a form-and-ratings job — and on that front, our data analysis throws up some strong course angles worth leaning on. If you’re here for Newcastle racing tips, you’re in the right place.

The headline course horse is Fingal’s Hill — 7 runs here, 3 wins and a chunky 71.43% place rate. That’s not a coincidence; that’s a specialist. Elsewhere, Glory Hights is the ultimate “honest sort” at this track (9 runs, 88.89% place rate without winning), while Natzor has a big sample size too (11 runs, 45.45% placed). On the people side, Tristan Durrell has been riding Newcastle particularly well (42.86% wins), and trainers like Dan Skelton (25% wins, 60% places here) are always worth respecting when they send one north.

Tipster Performance at Newcastle

Worth noting for today’s card: we actually have picks from The North, Newsboy, Jason Heavey and Rob Wright — all with respectable Newcastle records in the last two years from reputable data sources.

14:30 – Equine Products NH Trainers League Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Race Details: Distance | Class 4 | Going | Prize Money | Race Type jumps

This is a tidy little 8-runner novices’ handicap hurdle and it revolves around the progressive types rather than the exposed ones. On raw numbers, Jehol De Thaix has the best topspeed in the field (108) and shares the joint-highest rating (118) with Milan Park. Chemoulin is the “could be anything” horse on just three hurdle runs (541) and he’s already hit a topspeed of 105, which is serious for this grade. At bigger prices, Tamarind Bay is knocking on the door (3P4232) but doesn’t scream “winner waiting to happen”, while Dramatic License looks completely off the pace on the market and the inconsistency backs that up.

Top Selections

WIN – Jehol De Thaix
Jockey: Danny McMenamin | Trainer: Nicky Richards
Form: 354-62 | Rating: 118 | Draw: | Weight: 156

He’s the percentage call. Jehol De Thaix brings the best blend of ceiling and solidity: joint-top rating (118) and a field-leading topspeed (108). Danny McMenamin is a proper Newcastle regular in our data (179 rides here, 49.16% placed), and Nicky Richards’ runners at the track hold up well too (44.55% place rate). The 9/4 looks fair rather than flashy, but in an 8-runner race you don’t need to get cute — the market has latched onto the right one. If he runs to that 108 figure again, most of these are playing for second.

EACH-WAY – Chemoulin
Jockey: David Bass | Trainer: Charlie Longsdon
Form: 541 | Rating: 113 | Draw: | Weight: 162

I like the profile. He’s 541 in hurdles, has already posted a 105 topspeed, and Charlie Longsdon does well at Newcastle in our numbers (16 runners, 25% wins, 50% places). The market has him around 7/2 (best with Betfair), which is short enough to say he’s fancied, but not so short that you can’t make a case for each-way given there are three places on offer. With Bass up, you’re buying competent execution too. He might still be learning, but if he jumps soundly he’s bang there.

Live Odds Comparison

Betting Strategy

Keep it simple. Jehol De Thaix is the win play at 9/4 — he tops the ratings and topspeeds in our data analysis and is hard to oppose in this size of field. Chemoulin is the each-way saver at 7/2 (three places) because he’s still improving and the Longsdon Newcastle numbers are strong. Milan Park is respected but priced about right.

Tipster Selections

15:00 – Virgin Bet A Good Bet Mares’ Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Race Details: Distance | Class 4 | Going | Prize Money | Race Type jumps

It’s a 9-runner mares’ maiden and the market is screaming that it’s a mismatch. I C U In My Dreams is 242, has the best rating in the field (101) and the favourite is odds-on across the board. That tells you plenty. After her, the numbers thin out quickly: Lipstick Traces at least has a workable topspeed (72) and some placed form, while Valette has shown a bit (topspeed 69) but comes here with a 4P profile. A couple don’t have ratings/topspeeds in the feed and one is a declared non-runner, so this looks like a race where you either bank the jolly or you take a cautious each-way swing at a price.

Top Selections

WIN – I C U In My Dreams
Jockey: Theo Gillard | Trainer: Donald McCain
Form: 242 | Rating: 101 | Draw: | Weight: 159

This is the banker on the card, and I’m not going to pretend otherwise. She’s the only one bringing a triple-digit rating (101) and she’s already proven she can run to a level the others simply haven’t. Donald McCain is a regular Newcastle operator (146 runners, 15.75% wins) and he won’t be wasting bullets in a mares’ maiden with an odds-on chance unless she’s ready. Best price is 4/9 with bet365 — short, yes, but it looks nailed on given what our data analysis says about the opposition.

EACH-WAY – Lipstick Traces
Jockey: Callum Bewley | Trainer: Justin Landy
Form: -32455 | Rating: 93 | Draw: | Weight: 159

If you want an each-way alternative (three places), she’s the one I’d rather be with than taking a wild guess at a 33/1 rag. She’s got the second-best topspeed in the field (72) and at least her profile says she can get involved without everything going perfectly. The market gives you 3/1 with Paddy Power, which is fair: you’re basically betting she turns up and runs her race, not that she’s a superstar. In a race where plenty look booked for minor roles, that counts.

Live Odds Comparison

Betting Strategy

On most cards I’d swerve 4/9, but this looks a genuine class edge. I C U In My Dreams is the straightforward win bet. If you want a bet at a bigger price, Lipstick Traces each-way at 3/1 is the sensible “place play”. Valette is the one for outsiders’ multiples at 16/1, but she’s risky off 4P.

Tipster Selections

15:30 – Cinch Self Storage cinchstorage.co.uk Novices’ Handicap Chase

Race Details: Distance | Class 5 | Going | Prize Money | Race Type jumps

Seven runners, novice chasers, and it’s not the spot to be taking wild prices — these races can swing on one mistake. The market has drawn a clear line under the top three: Cahier’s Den and Sir Carnegie head it at 5/2, with Florita close behind. On ratings, Cahier’s Den (105) and Sir Carnegie (106) are right there, but the bigger tell is recent profile: Sir Carnegie’s 542114 suggests he knows how to win. Florita has wins in the sequence too but also a P last time which is never what you want around fences. Aill Dubh is the dark one: 99-rated, but he arrives off a 3 and is a massive 7/1 with Sky Bet — that’s the one price that makes you look twice.

Top Selections

WIN – Sir Carnegie
Jockey: Shane Fenelon | Trainer: Mickey Bowen
Form: 542114 | Rating: 106 | Draw: | Weight: 164

I’m siding with the lad who’s been getting the job done. Sir Carnegie comes in off 542114 and that’s not flattered by our numbers either — he’s on a 106 rating with a 95 topspeed, and in a Class 5 novice handicap chase that usually puts you right on the premises. Mickey Bowen is a small-sample Newcastle operator in our data (4 runners, 25% wins, 50% places), and he’s not afraid of sending one that’s ready to scrap. At 5/2 you’re not stealing anything, but he’s the most reliable option in a race where others have question marks.

EACH-WAY – Aill Dubh
Jockey: Danny McMenamin | Trainer: Micky Hammond
Form: 0-UPP3 | Rating: 99 | Draw: | Weight: 142

The case is price-led, but not blind. You’re getting 7/1 with Sky Bet in a 7-runner race (three places), for a horse who at least hinted at life when third last time. He’s got McMenamin up — and at Newcastle that’s never a negative given his 49.16% place rate in our course data. The rating (99) says he needs to find a bit, but he’s down at 142lb and doesn’t have to be a world-beater to hit the frame. If the front end overcooks it or one of the jollies fluffs a fence, he’s the one who can sneak in.

Live Odds Comparison

Betting Strategy

Sir Carnegie is the win bet for me — the most convincing recent winning profile. If you want value, Aill Dubh each-way is the standout purely because Sky Bet’s 7/1 is clear top price and you’re paid three places. Florita is respected, but that recent P keeps her as a “watch your stake” type.

Tipster Selections

No tipster selections provided for this race.

16:00 – Border Minstrel New Menu Handicap Hurdle

Race Details: Distance | Class 3 | Going | Prize Money | Race Type jumps

Class 3 handicap hurdle, seven runners, and we’ve got a proper Newcastle specialist at the head of the market. Fingal’s Hill isn’t just in form (11252) — he’s got that course record: 3 wins from 7 here and a 71.43% place rate. That’s gold dust. The obvious danger on figures is Smokeringinthedark, a 6yo with a strong 115 topspeed and a 132 rating. Haarar has a big topspeed too (123) and is priced as a lively outsider. Great Pepper is flagged as NR in the odds, which simplifies things further. This isn’t a lottery; it’s a small-field quality handicap where the top two on the market look like the right two.

Top Selections

WIN – Fingal’s Hill
Jockey: Callum Bewley | Trainer: Peter Atkinson
Form: -11252 | Rating: 133 | Draw: | Weight: 168

He rates the clear pick. We’ve got the best recent profile in the race, a joint-top rating (133), the best topspeed (124), and that course specialist data screaming at you: 42.86% win rate at Newcastle across seven runs. Peter Atkinson does fine at this track too (24 runners, 20.83% wins), so this isn’t “local hope” fluff — it’s substance. You can still grab 9/4 with bet365 and I’d be happy taking it. In a 7-runner race, I want the horse most likely to run to its mark, and Fingal’s Hill is exactly that.

EACH-WAY – Haarar
Jockey: Jonathan England | Trainer: Sam England
Form: 231140 | Rating: 131 | Draw: | Weight: 156

This is the value angle. Haarar’s topspeed is 123 — basically right on Fingal’s Hill — yet he’s a 6/1 poke with bet365. Yes, he’s coming off a 0 last time, but his overall profile (231140) says he’s capable of running a big number when things fall right. Off 156lb he’s not giving away chunks of weight to the favourite either. In a small field with three places, 6/1 each-way makes plenty of sense as cover against the obvious danger Smokeringinthedark. If he bounces back, he’s absolutely in the places at a nice price.

Live Odds Comparison

Betting Strategy

This is the day’s most straightforward “proper bet” on the jumps card. Fingal’s Hill is a win-only play for me at 9/4 given his course record and top figures. Haarar is the each-way value at 6/1 with three places, mainly because his topspeed puts him right in the mix if he’s anywhere near his best. Smokeringinthedark is the main danger to the favourite.

Tipster Selections

16:30 – Border Minstrel Sunday Lunch Handicap Chase

Race Details: Distance | Class 5 | Going | Prize Money | Race Type jumps

Eleven runners over fences in Class 5 is where punters’ money goes to die if you don’t have a plan. The market has latched onto Didntgotwenty (best 5/2) and Ceolwulf (10/3), and that makes sense: both arrive in form, and Ceolwulf has a 103 rating. But there’s a chunk of each-way juice sitting with Passengerontheship at 15/2 best, and El Muchacho is a bigger price than his profile suggests given he’s 151F32 and has a recent second and third in there. Course specialist angle: Cave Hill has run here six times with a win, while Sputnik is 0-4 but placed twice — though both are priced accordingly. This one screams “win bet small, each-way bigger.”

Top Selections

WIN – Ceolwulf
Jockey: James Bowen | Trainer: Fionn McSharry
Form: 215-22 | Rating: 103 | Draw: | Weight: 164

Ceolwulf is hard to crab: 215-22 tells you he’s thriving, and he’s got the joint-best rating in the field among those with a figure (103). At 10/3 with bet365, you’re buying consistency in a race where lots can go wrong. I also like the booking — James Bowen is a strong jockey in general terms and this sort of steady handicap chase is exactly where good decision-making matters. He’s not priced like a certainty (and he isn’t), but of the principals he’s the one I trust to show up, jump, and fight.

EACH-WAY – Passengerontheship
Jockey: Jonathan England | Trainer: Sam England
Form: 4222-8 | Rating: | Draw: | Weight: 160

This is the value nibble at the prices. He’s best at 15/2 with Paddy Power and that’s bigger than you’d expect for a horse whose profile screams “runner-up merchant” (4222-8). Yes, he was only eighth last time, but the run of seconds before that suggests he’s got a level and usually holds it. In an 11-runner race with three places, you don’t need him to be a killer — you just need him to be his usual honest self. If he gets back to that consistent run style, he’s very much in the each-way conversation.

Danger: El Muchacho is 11/2 with bet365 and has plenty of recent form (151F32) to outrun that if things fall right.

Live Odds Comparison

Betting Strategy

This is not the race to go mad on. I’d play Ceolwulf win at 10/3 as the “most solid” option, then go each-way Passengerontheship at 15/2 for a price-based place angle. Keep stakes sensible because it’s a Class 5 chase with 11 runners — mistakes and mayhem are always on the menu.

Tipster Selections

17:00 – Follow @attheraces On X Handicap Hurdle

Race Details: Distance | Class 5 | Going | Prize Money | Race Type jumps

Ten-runner Class 5 handicap hurdle — the kind of race where you can find a bet, but you want to be disciplined. The market has Tyson at the head of affairs (11/4), with Joto next (best 7/2). Our data analysis says Joto is rock-solid for placing on form (3-8333) and has a 98 rating, but Tyson is the more “could rebound hard” type from a bigger yard, even if his recent string isn’t pretty (4889P5). The course angles matter: Glory Hights has an eye-catching 88.89% place rate here (9 runs), and Fairly Fulling is 1-from-3 at the track. This is one where the “Newcastle specialists” can easily mug the obvious ones.

Top Selections

WIN – Joto
Jockey: Alice Stevens | Trainer: John Dawson
Form: 3-8333 | Rating: 98 | Draw: | Weight: 146

At 7/2, he’s the bet I actually want to have. Joto is an honest sort: he keeps turning up and running his race, and that 3-8333 profile says he’s been knocking hard without everything falling perfectly. He’s also right up there on the figures with a 98 rating and an 89 topspeed, and crucially he’s carrying just 146lb — not an anchor in this grade. Tyson is favourite because of connections, but on what we can see in the data, Joto looks the one most likely to hit the frame and he’s plenty capable of winning if the race sets up for him.

EACH-WAY – Glory Hights
Jockey: Danny McMenamin | Trainer: Chris Grant
Form: PP9524 | Rating: 98 | Draw: | Weight: 156

This is where the Newcastle racing tips angle gets spicy. Glory Hights hasn’t won here (0-from-9), but his place rate is outrageous at 88.89% in our course specialist data — he turns this place into his personal ATM for minor money. He also has a strong 94 topspeed (best in the field) and matches Joto’s 98 rating, so it’s not just a “track horse” narrative. Best price is 13/2 with Sky Bet, and with three places on offer, that’s exactly the kind of each-way you can live with in a 10-runner handicap.

Danger: Fairly Fulling has a win at the track (1-from-3) and is 11/2 best with Betfair, which is tempting if you think he repeats that latest 472441 win profile.

Live Odds Comparison

Betting Strategy

I’m opposing the favourite with a win bet on Joto at 7/2 — consistent, well-treated on weight, and his numbers stack up. Glory Hights each-way at 13/2 is a proper “course specialist” play given his 88.89% Newcastle place rate in our data. Tyson is the obvious threat if Dan Skelton-style improvement appears (even though he’s trained by Dan Skelton, he does have strong Newcastle stats as a trainer in our data overall).

Tipster Selections

17:35 – Virgin Bet Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

Race Details: Distance | Class 5 | Going | Prize Money | Race Type jumps

Fourteen runners, conditionals’ handicap hurdle — translation: chaos is always possible, and the market is usually only half-right. We do at least have some solid numeric anchors. Book Of Secrets brings the best topspeed (103) and a 104 rating, Newport has a workable profile (0313P3) and a 101 rating, and Junkyard Dog stands out among the 4yos with a 101 topspeed. Roarin’ Success is flagged NR in the odds. Course angle: Natzor is a proper Newcastle regular (11 runs, 45.45% placed) but he’s priced 18/1, which tells you the yard thinks he’s more “place squeak” than win machine today.

Top Selections

WIN – Book Of Secrets
Jockey: Leah Noreci | Trainer: James Moffatt
Form: 727877 | Rating: 104 | Draw: | Weight: 167

This won’t be everyone’s cup of tea off that form, but the figures are shouting. He’s got the best rating in the race (104) and the best topspeed (103) in our data, and in these big-field Class 5s that often matters more than people admit. The price is workable too: 4/1 with bet365. Leah Noreci is a familiar name in the card and if you’re going to trust a horse to run to a figure, you’d rather have a jockey who’ll keep it simple. He’s not bombproof, but on pure numbers he deserves to be favourite.

EACH-WAY – Junkyard Dog
Jockey: Dylan Johnston | Trainer: Iain Jardine
Form: 34506 | Rating: 103 | Draw: | Weight: 146

Adrian Wall has latched onto him, and I can see why: he’s a 4yo with a 103 rating and a very competitive 101 topspeed, yet you can get 15/2 with bet365 in a race paying four places. That’s the definition of an each-way angle. The form is patchy (34506) but it’s not a disaster for a young hurdler, and the light weight (146lb) is another tick. In a conditional jockeys’ handicap, I’d much rather back a horse with upside than a fully exposed plodder.

Danger: Newport is best priced at 9/2 with bet365 and his 0313P3 profile suggests he can hit the frame again if he behaves.

Live Odds Comparison

Betting Strategy

Big field, so don’t overthink it: one win bet, one each-way, keep stakes reasonable. Book Of Secrets is the win call on ratings/topspeed and a fair 4/1. Junkyard Dog is the each-way play at 15/2 with four places — that’s a strong setup for a lightly raced 4yo. Newport is the obvious threat if he repeats his better runs.

Tipster Selections

Course Specialists

Horses To Note

Jockeys To Note

Trainers To Note

Summary & Best Bets

Plenty of the day’s Newcastle racing tips revolve around two ideas: (1) trust the obvious class edge where it exists, and (2) in the messy handicaps, let the market guide you but demand value. I C U In My Dreams is the card’s standout “should win” runner and the 4/9 is justified on our numbers. The best betting race for me is the 16:00: Fingal’s Hill has everything you want — top figures, great current form, plus a genuine Newcastle specialist record (3 wins from 7 here). For value hunters, Haarar at 6/1 in that same race is the price that doesn’t quite match his topspeed (123), and in the 17:00, Glory Hights each-way at 13/2 makes sense on that ridiculous 88.89% course place rate.

NAP of the Day: Fingal’s Hill (16:00)
Banker: I C U In My Dreams (15:00)
Best Value Bet: Haarar each-way (16:00)
Each-Way Special: Glory Hights (17:00)

FAQ

Q: What are the best Newcastle course specialists running today?
A: Fingal’s Hill is the big one (7 runs, 3 wins, 71.43% placed at Newcastle). Glory Hights is a place machine (9 runs, 88.89% placed). Natzor has loads of course experience too (11 runs, 45.45% placed).

Q: Which race looks least competitive on paper?
A: The 15:00 mares’ maiden. I C U In My Dreams is odds-on (best 4/9) and is the only runner with a 101 rating in the data provided.

Q: Where’s the best each-way value on the card?
A: Haarar at 6/1 in the 16:00 is attractive given a 123 topspeed, and Glory Hights at 13/2 in the 17:00 is a strong course-based each-way angle (88.89% placed here).

Q: Which tipsters have strong Newcastle records?
A: From the performance table, The North (25.58% win rate), Newsboy (29.41%), and Jason Heavey (35.14%) all have solid Newcastle numbers in the last two years, based on reputable data sources.

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