The racing on Good Friday will be a joy to watch along with over the first hot cross bun. All-Weather Championships will be competed for at Newcastle, including Listed contests and competitive handicaps.
Our top tipster Matty Sutcliffe has three selections for the All-Weather Championships card for you to follow,
Newcastle Racing Tips (Friday 3 April)
It is All-Weather Championships day at Newcastle this Friday. At a packed and high quality meeting, Matty has three best bets for you to follow.
1:15 Newcastle – BetMGM Burradon Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (3yo) – Billecart 5/2 1pt WIN
Night of Thunder colt Billecart was seen just once last season when a three length third at Newmarket, but the form could hardly have worked out better. The winner won the Group 3 Somerville Stakes next time out prior to a two length third in the G1 Dewhurst. The second has won twice since including in G2 company, the third won a Maiden by 7 lengths and the fifth bolted up 8 lengths next time out prior to his second in the G2 Champagne Stakes.
He confirmed that promise when reappearing over course and distance to bolt up by five lengths albeit at 1/6F. He’s the sole course and distance winner in the field which bodes well, and he remains in the ‘could be anything category’ for a yard who won this in 2024.
1:50 Newcastle – BetMGM All-Weather 3 Year Old Championships Handicap (Class 2) (3yo) – Ten Carat Harry 13/2 1pt WIN
The obvious starting point here would be Silent Strike, as Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy have taken both of the last two renewals of this contest. However, he was a beaten favourite over C&D here with seemingly no excuses, and an opening mark of 90 looks fairly harsh.
Despite carrying the burden of top-weight, the progressive Ten Carat Harry is given the nod whose sole defeat on the all-weather came in listed company at Lingfield last time out, beaten a length a formerly smart two-year-old who’d showed up well in Meydan over the winter.
Prior to that, Ten Carat Harry had recorded a career best RPR over course and distance in a trial for this contest, hitting the front perhaps soon enough under Billy Loughane but staying on strongly given 11lbs to the second and third.
He drops back in trip to six furlongs, where his record reads 111111 on the all-weather, and a potentially favourable stand side draw can see him bounce back to the winners enclosure under Saffie Osborne who is three from three on him.
3:35 Newcastle – Midnite All-Weather Sprint Handicap (Class 2) (4yo+) – Marshman 5/1 1pt WIN
Marshman was a credible length third in this contest last season from a 5lbs higher mark, finishing behind Ayr Gold Cup winner Run Boy Run. He’s been slightly off the boil since, but he returned to form when a 3/4L third to Cool Hoof Luke in listed company last month, faring best of those from rear. He raced wide enough there and his effort can be upgraded, and I suspect a return to prominent tactics dropped in trip can see him return to the winners enclosure.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Best Bets
1:15 Newcastle – BetMGM Burradon Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (3yo) – Billecart 5/2 1pt WIN
1:50 Newcastle – BetMGM All-Weather 3 Year Old Championships Handicap (Class 2) (3yo) – Ten Carat Harry 13/2 1pt WIN
3:35 Newcastle – Midnite All-Weather Sprint Handicap (Class 2) (4yo+) – Marshman 5/1 1pt WIN
Matty Sutcliffe’s All-Weather Championships Tips – Friday 3 April
FAQs
What are today’s racing tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets for the racing at Newcastle on Friday 3 April.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s racing tips were published at 7.57am on Friday 3 April.
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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