Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Newcastle

A lightly-raced gelding from the Chris Waller yard should lap up every metre of the 1600m and atone for his last start second placing. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainer Chris Waller has a promising three-year-old in Endorsement who can atone for his last start second placing at Newcastle on Thursday. Picture: Getty Images

Daily Telegraph form analyst Matt Jones gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Newcastle.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

NEWCASTLE

BEST BET

Race 6, No.3: ENDORSEMENT

He’s only raced here to date and won on debut. He only lost second-up to a red-hot horse and he will be more suited to getting up to 1600m now.

NEXT BEST

Race 1, No.1: ONE WAY STREET

He has super form all around him and he’s probably going to take a sit first-up and chase them into the straight rather than get exposed too early.

VALUE BET

Race 5, No.8: DR EVIL

He is rock-hard fit and comes into this off a fairly comfortable win against a horse that won its next start and is now heading towards a Group 1 race this weekend.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1, 4, 6, 8

Race 6: 3, 7, 9

Race 7: 3, 10, 14, 15

Race 8: 2, 3, 8

Trainer Kris Lees has a strong hand to play at Newcastle on Thursday with several leading contenders. Getty Images)

TRAINER TO WATCH

It’s hard to go past Kris Lees at his home track. He’s got seven horses racing in the main race with Confessed looking the leading contender.

JOCKEY TO WATCH

William Pike’s ride on Pippali in the main race will be key from a wide gate. He’s a good chance of winning the fourth with Spitfire also.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR NEWCASTLE

RACE 1

One Way Street will start short here considering what he’s done so far. He’s run two seconds to date including a last start defeat to Petulant who came out and smashed them again at its next start so the form is there and the wide gate can be overcome. Rapid Response is the danger. She’s already proven in wet ground and she will push forward and use her extra fitness to her advantage and will beat most home with the right run and Hugh Bowman is now on. Marooniyah has had the visors taken off and she’s trialled up like a horse who has improved and this is the easiest race she’s been in.

Bet: One Way Street to win

RACE 2

Lord Of The Hunter has raced in some good events to date and off his trial you’d have to say he’s come back an improved horse as a gelding and he’s on his home track but will need luck from the gate to win. Enfolded trialled up much better at his second heat which is a good sign and he’s been given the winkers for his debut. Annabel Neasham has two in this and perhaps the one at longer odds, Cardano, could beat home stablemate Compelling Truth who has the race experience on its side.

Bet: Lord Of The Hunter To Win

RACE 3

Strombus has been trialled up by Hugh Bowman on both occasions this time in and looked particularly good and he should be getting a perfect run in transit and will look to explode late. Mystic Mermaid looked sensational in her barrier trial and she was good on debut but no doubt has come back a better horse and the barrier is ideal. Blueskin trialled up nicely and the blinkers have been put on for the first time while California Press is an improver off a fresh run which as good enough.

Bet: Quinella 1, 8

William Pike has good chances with Spitfire and Pappili. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 4

Wolfburn and Spitfire should be racing close to each other on the speed in the run and spitfire may handle a wet track better and drops back to provincial racing and a bigger track off three runs at Canterbury. Milka is by a Melbourne Cup winner who also had speed in its legs and she should be peaking now third-up and might be better taking a sit. Crown’m looks better placed at this trip third-up and is bred to handle wet ground. Big Short is very fit for this and is trained by a stable who picks up plenty of wins at races over this distance.

Bet: Spitfire to win

RACE 5

Stellar Performer won here fresh and caught the eye in a Midway last start when racing like 1870m looks perfect now third-up and being by Sebring she should handle the wet and is looking for her third win at this track. Rosovo needed the post when winning last time and the horse that nearly beat it didn’t do much at its next start. Dr Evil beat home a horse that’s running in a Group 1 this weekend and he handles wet ground and likes racing here. He’s a good chance at $10.

Bet: Dr Evil each way

RACE 6

Endorsement won here on debut and was only beaten by an in-form horse last time but he wasn’t weakening on the line and gets up to a mile now third-up. Thousand Years was scratched from Canterbury on Wednesday and the big track here suits. She really went through the line well second-up at Kembla Grange and will again be finishing off stronger than much of the field. See how Dr Evil goes a race earlier because Travelling Kate ran behind it last time and she loves wet ground and is a consistent type.

Bet: Endorsement to win

Hugh Bowman (pictured) again partners the lightly-raced Endorsement on Thursday. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 7

Confessed is so consistent and is trained on the track and has Hugh Bowman on now and she’s a tough mare so won’t give this up easily. Pippali flew home to run third in Newcastle’s Provincial-Midway Championship Qualifier and ran behind Never Talk and Mayrose and that’s the right from to win this race. She’ll need some luck but should be storming home. Oakfield Arrow pulled up with abnormal blood work last time so forgive that flop. The previous form was great. Contributingfactor is undefeated second-up while French Marine is the each-way hope.

Bet: Pippali to win

RACE 8

Super Extreme took some time to hit his straps on debut but once he got going and knuckled down, he was super impressive through the line over 1000m and 1200m now looked even better. Banana Queen has trialled up nicely and wasn’t far off winning in town at the midweeks last time in so she’s well placed and gets the gun run from the barrier with an in-form jockey on board. The Denzel looks well placed also and he’s already won a provincial race by nearly six lengths and the blinkers have been thrown on for his first-up run.

Bet: Quinella 2, 8

Originally published as Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Newcastle