The first edition of the Friday Night Live programme of racing belatedly gets underway at Newcastle this week. The initiative seeks to bring a younger crowd to race meetings in 2026.
With the action live on ITV Racing on Friday evening, Matty Sutcliffe has three best bets for you to follow while watching along.
Newcastle Racing Tips (Friday 6 February)
5:30 Newcastle – Betting Without The Bull Handicap (Div II) (Class 5) (4yo+ 0-70) – Lerwick 4/1 1pt WIN
Sea Legend will be of major interest if lining up tomorrow given he escapes a penalty for his comfortable success here yesterday, but he’s not certain to back up that first win in two years nor does it look like he’ll have a good pace to aim at as the sole confirmed prominent racer here is Lerwick, who could easily have a soft enough lead to make all.
The Awtaad gelding is winless since 2024 himself, but having struggled off marks in the 80s/high 70s he’s caught the eye of late and now looks attractively handicapped off a mark of 69. He made the running at Kempton last time out weakening late on to be beaten four lengths, but the winner bolted up yesterday and the second is now 5lbs higher after her half a length success at Lingfield next time out.
That came off the back of a length third at Kempton when faring best of the prominent racers, and that form’s been franked nicely by the second who’s now rated 8lbs higher, and the sixth who’s now rated 10lbs higher after winning three lengths in each of his last two starts.
While his winning record is a concern, he’s 12lbs lower than his C&D 2nd this time last year and this looks a solid opportunity for him to return to winning ways now back up North with Luke Morris taking the ride for the first time.
6:00 Newcastle – Dont Settle For Less Handicap (Div I) (Class 5) (4yo+ 0-70) – La Rochette 12/1 1pt EW 3 places
Tornibush mare La Rochette has struggled since arriving from France on a mark of 86, but she’s now 29lbs lower and she looked a winner in waiting when only beaten a length over C&D earlier last month.
It paid to be drawn low and race toward the far-side rail for the majority of the card there so she mightn’t have been favoured by being held up and coming down the middle, but the form has worked out well with the winner just touched off by a neck next time out now rated 9lbs higher, the second won half a length next time out now rated 3lbs higher, the third won by a head next time out as did the fifth.
The form of her two length third here on her penultimate effort has also thrown up subsequent winners so while she is back up to 0-70 company, she appears finally be finding some form for her new connections and if backing up that latest effort, she’s entitled to be on the premises late on given how well handicapped she is on previous form.
7:00 Newcastle – No Casino Just Sports Handicap (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-95) – Paddy’s Day 15/2 1pt WIN
Paddy’s Day took his C&D record to 14711111613 (7-11) when a two length third to Germanic here last month with the winner looking well handicapped in posting a career best, finishing only a head behind the classy 11 rated Quinault and clear of the rest.
He’s now 0-5 when on a mark of 90 or higher, but he posted a career best effort over C&D three starts ago from 2lbs lower when comfortably on top at the line in a race that’s thrown up winners, and a similar performance could be enough to take this.
He was 2/2 here last February which bodes well and while there is pace drawn around him, he proved when winning the Gosforth Park Cup Handicap here by a nose in June that he’s capable of rallying once headed, and he’s only 2lbs below that which had three of these rivals well in behind.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Best Bets
5:30 Newcastle – Betting Without The Bull Handicap (Div II) (Class 5) (4yo+ 0-70) – Lerwick 4/1 1pt WIN
6:00 Newcastle – Dont Settle For Less Handicap (Div I) (Class 5) (4yo+ 0-70) – La Rochette 12/1 1pt EW 3 places
7:00 Newcastle – No Casino Just Sports Handicap (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-95) – Paddy’s Day 15/2 1pt WIN
Matty Sutcliffe’s Friday Night Live Tips – Friday 6 February
FAQs
What are today’s racing tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets for the Friday Night Live meeting at Newcastle on Friday 6 February.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s Friday Night Live tips were published at 1.25pm on Thursday 5 February.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival. Follow him on X: @MattySutcliffe
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