Winning Form share all of their tips and picks for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Newcastle 21 April 2022.
Best Bet: NEWLEY WED (Race 5)
Value Bet: VERBEK (Race 7)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8).
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
5 | 4 | 7 | 9 |
2 | 12 | 6 | 11 |
| 9 | 1 | 7 |
|
|
| 8 |
|
|
| 10 |
Cost: R90.00
Race 5
The day’s best bet, NEWLEY WED is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she has only had the two runs to date, finishing fourth on debut over 1300m and then second over the same c&d next time out, just a head behind the winner, but she had nothing go her way that day. She jumped awkwardly and had to be held up between the 500M and 300M marks before having to be steadied at the 250M pole. The objection lodged against the winner for that interference was overruled and the result stood. She does return from a 17 week rest and has not had a barrier trial so her fitness will have to be taken on trust, but from a handy gate three, she could prove difficult to topple.
AIRCRAFTMAN is seldom far off the action and finished second last time out over six furlongs, 2.3L behind the winner, but he overraced in the middle stages that day and only saw daylight at the 250M mark, before finishing his race off well. From draw seven, he could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice.
PROTOSTAR finished fourth first time out over five furlongs and then a staying on fourth when stepping up to six furlongs next time out, four lengths back from the winner. He would have come on further with that run under his belt and from draw two and with ex-SA jockey Keagan Latham in the irons, he should be involved in the finish.
Race 6
OUTBURST raced just behind the leaders, but had to be held up entering the home straight before unleashing a powerful finish to get up in the shadow of the post to win a short-head last time out over a mile. He has a cozy draw two and should be right up there when they hit the line.
YGGDRASIL is a 4yr old filly taking on males, but she had her consistency rewarded with her maiden victory by a head last time out over a mile. She struck the front at the 150m mark in that contest and then held off all the lates challengers in the dash down to the line. She does take on stronger here and is drawn wideish in gate nine, but she seems likely to turn in another honest effort here.
THEO LEGION went from jump to wire to win his last start over nine furlongs by half a length, this despite being crowded and eased at the 1500m mark. He faces an even wider draw eleven, but he is a speedy sort who should be able to work his way across without using up too much energy.
Race 7
VERBEK has recorded two solid last efforts, the latest when winning his maiden race over five furlongs by putting three lengths between himself and the opposition. He will have to negotiate draw nine, but he has his peak run after returning from a 20 week break and is taken to be the value bet on the day’s card.
PTIMO is drawn one inside the top choice and has consistent formlines to his name, finishing third in his latest outing over seven furlongs, just under a length and a half off the winner, notwithstanding coming five wide into the home stretch. The form of that race has however stood up well with five runners out of that contest subsequently winning. He has his first run since a 17 week break, but he did win his only barrier trial to prove his fitness.
BRIARS KINGDOM showed marked improvement when making good late progress to win his last start over six furlongs by 0.8L when returning from a 12 week absence. He will have to overcome a wide draw twelve, but on the plus side, he will get 1.5kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.
Race 8
This looks to be a tricky race to end off the day’s Jackpot with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is advised.
STROMBUS finished well to win his last outing over six furlongs by a head. He was returning from a 16 week spell that day and although drawn wide in gate eleven, he should be doing his best work late.
NEW REPUBLIC has won two of his last three starts, the latest over seven furlongs by 3.3L. He was eased back in the early stages from a wide draw that day, but found a strong finish to mow down the frontrunners over the latter stages of the contest. He is drawn wide in gate thirteen, but given his style of racing, he is likely to be dropped out of it again and then start to pick off the leaders over the closing stages of the race.
NEVER CRY has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three runs culminating with a one length victory last time out over 1300M. That effort was particularly encouraging as he was bumped and crowded at the start but recovered quickly to race just behind the leaders, before drawing away smartly for the victory. He has fared no better with his draw, having pulled gate fourteen, but he should not be easily overlooked in this line-up.
