Yesterday’s Review

0.75pt e/way Franz Strauss (89) – Looking at the selection’s four most recent efforts at the track it could be said that blinkers on or off yielded no huge improvement in form the last day. There was no response when asked for more during the race, and he was well beaten in tenth place some twenty five lengths behind the winner (who he beat easily the last day).

1pt e/way Astrophysics (96) – A disappointing effort from the selection who couldn’t finish out his race as strongly as he normally does. He can have no excuses this time considering Tathmeen (99) came from further back to finish third.

Today’s Advice

RIOT (7F 14Y Hcap) – The race that Oliver Show won on the 4th February last month looks like an interesting piece of form for tonight’s (7.00) Newcastle. The selection performed best of tonight’s contestants that featured in this race when not getting a clear run from the rear, and finishing nicely just beaten three quarters of a length. He has since performed well behind McLean House at Lingfield, and may appreciate the drop back in trip. A case could also be made for Zozimus from the former race, but he looks a difficult one to catch right, and may appreciate a stiffer test.

PEPSI CAT & CASTAN (5F Hcap) – The Cover Up form over course and distance would appear to be the strongest on offer for tonight’s (7.30) Newcastle, and PEPSI CAT has performed best at the weights when finishing an excellent third in behind John & Thady Gosden’s improving gelding. A case could be made for Zarzyni on this form, but he looks short enough in the betting and can be difficult to catch right. She looks to hold Moon Flight going by their encounter on the 19th January, although a case could be made that Moon Flight has since improved. One who seems to have been overlooked by the market, and ran an excellent race following a 54 day break last time out, is the Bryan Smart trained CASTAN. He raced prominently with Majeski Man on that occasion, on a night when winds were strong and finding cover in the straight was key. Remarkably, he stuck to the task well in the conditions, and was only beaten two lengths by Moon Flight (who he meets on 10lb better terms tonight). With not much pace on in tonight’s contest he may run better than his odds suggest.

0.75pt e/way Riot (12/1 General 4 places) 7.00 Newcastle

0.75pt e/way Pepsi Cat (6/1 General 4 places) 7.30 Newcastle

1pt e/way Castan (10/1 General 4 places) 7.30 Newcastle