Newcastle best bets, inside mail for Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup can end the day with a double with Hardpoint and Colours Of Autumn drawn to get back to winning form. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Hardpoint will appreciate a big drop back in grade and looks hard to beat in the final event at Newcastle. Picture: Bradley Photos

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Adam Sherry provides his best bets and race-by-race analysis at Newcastle on Wednesday.

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NEWCASTLE TIPS

BEST BET

Race 8 No.5: HARDPOINT

Drops in grade from the Tulloch Stakes. Good efforts at previous two starts and hard to beat.

NEXT BEST

Race 7 No.4: COLOURS OF AUTUMN

Two runs back have been in Provincial-Midway Qualifiers. At her peak now.

VALUE BET

Race 3 No.8: KHANT FAIL

Placed both runs over unsuitable trips. Will appreciate the step up in distance.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1, 3, 4, 5, 9

Race 6: 1, 4, 8

Race 7: 4, 5, 6

Race 8: 5, 7, 11

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

DYLAN GIBBONS has a nice book of rides and looks a good chance in the TAB Jockey Challenge.

NEWCASTLE INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1: 2YO MAIDEN PLATE (900m)

OFFENBACH tracked the leader and come three-wide off the bend when runner-up to Blitzburg on debut here on Nov 27. Bumped near the 100m and made contact with another runner when sixth to O’ Ole in the Magic Millions 2YO at Wyong. Has been gelded. Trialling well and drawn ideally. FEARED is a debutant by I Am Invincible from a half-sister to Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign. Stalked the speed and closed well to win his Apr 14 Randwick trial. IMPACT ZONE was just pipped on debut and won’t be far away again.

BET: OFFENBACK to win.

RACE 2: MAIDEN HANDICAP (900m)

HAWKER HALL was keen pre-race and travelled strongly in front when third behind Leantothemoon on debut as a 1.90 fav at Hawkesbury on Oct 24. Resumes here of stylish wins at his latest two trials. ZOUCAT is a first starter by Zoustar from Group 2 1100m winner Snitty Kitty. Sat outside the leader and kept under a hold when a neck third to Kickstart in her Kembla trial on Apr 7. THE WAY AHEAD raced keenly and boxed on for third to Beau Bandit on debut here on Apr 1.

BET: HAWKER HALL to win.

RACE 3: MAIDEN PLATE (1850m)

KHANT FAIL was a handy third to Golden Loom when resuming over 1500m at Kembla on Mar 4 then was a month between runs when third to Darn Cute over 1600m at Wyong on Apr 3. Placed third to Impunity over the track and distance last preparation. EL PASO was held on straightening until the 300m when fifth to Always Right here last start. CHIEF OF STAFF took benefit from his debut fifth at Kembla when runner-up to Darn Cute at Wyong last start.

BET: KHANT FAIL each-way.

RACE 4: MAIDEN PLATE (1250m)

MIGNONETTE went back after the start and made ground on the inside when fourth to Hyperbolic on debut here on Dec 1 and sent for a spell. Sat outside the leader the third and second in her recent trials. SATIN SPARKLE raced three-wide without cover when a half-length second to Reducio at Wyong first-up. Looks the hardest to beat. RIGHTEOUS LEGEND followed a solid debut fourth to Zousain Bolt at Wyong with a third to Montana Dawn here on Aug 8 before a spell. Resumes a gelding and trials have been good.

BET: MIGNONETTE to win.

RACE 5: CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1250m)

MERCANTILIST settled midfield and made her move passing the 600m to beat Winning Rulet on debut over 1200m at Gosford on Mar 15. Drawn wide and may be saved for another day but will give it a shake if she does run. TASORAAY raced well in his first four starts with three placings and a close fourth at Canterbury before scoring a nice win on the Beaumont on Dec 19. Resumes here and will make his presence felt. GONE TO CAPE YORK scored a debut win before a seventh at Wyong. Blinkers go on.

BET: MERCANTILIST each-way.

RACE 6: MIDWAY MAIDEN HANDICAP (1400m)

CALTSAR is a debutant by Calyx. Led all the way to win his first trial on the Beaumont on Mar 5. Sat back and wide before closing impressively to win his Apr 2 Newcastle heat. Drawn well and can kick off with a win. RHEGION reared on jumping and was last throughout behind Kerguelen on a heavy track on debut at Kembla on May 18. Returned with a third to Dealt at Muswellbrook on Mar 28 and will be better for the run. BACKWARD GLANCE worked home from last when third over 1000m at Port Macquarie. Extra trip should suit.

BET: CALTSAR to win.

RACE 7: BENCHMARK 68 HANDICAP (1500m)

COLOURS OF AUTUMN was keen early when fourth to Mahogany Girl first-up in the Provincial-Midway Qualifier at Hawkesbury on Mar 8. Raced midfield and was wide on the bend when sixth to French Ruler in the Qualifier at Wyong on Apr 3. Extra trip suits. EMPRESS OF JAPAN stormed home from near last to score a good win over 1400m at Goulburn last start. Will be strong again. AUNTY RENE raced wide without cover and was bumped on straightening when down the track behind Yankee One at Warwick Farm last start.

BET: COLOURS OF AUTUMN to win.

RACE 8: BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1850m)

HARDPOINT led and was eased near the 100m in restricted room when 10th behind Pocketing in the Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill on Apr 1. Was just pipped at Kembla first-up before a third at Gosford in Class 1s before that. NOVEMBER FALLS boxed on for third behind Enter The Dragon at Kembla two starts back before a fourth to Demon Darb at Doomben. ROAD TO PARADISE has claims from a good draw.

BET: HARDPOINT to win.

Originally published as Newcastle best bets, inside mail for Wednesday, April 23, 2025