3:35 Newcastle Tips

Educate has shown me consistency over these trips and conditions, particularly when fitted with cheekpieces and a tongue strap. She has placed over this course and distance before, and her last effort over 12f here saw her narrowly beaten. So she handles the track well and stays the trip with ease. Dropping back slightly in distance may help her quicken in the closing stages here, and Goldie has a decent strike rate with horses making small drops in trip. Young should ensure she tracks the leaders and positions her for a strong late run. Being backed today gives me more faith here.

Turned out again quickly after running only 5 days ago when finishing 3rd of 13 here at Newcastle, having too much to do at the finish after being held up towards the rear. Runs off the same rating today, so is a nice each way bet at 6/1, paying 4 places.

Rubellite seems to do her best running under Oisin Orr since the break, with a win at Wolverhampton. She took on 6 lbs, then was a close third here, just missing out by half a length with another run to third since, Off the same mark. She could bounce back with the return of Oisin today.

After invariably beating the market and bad luck last month, hopefully things will improve. Principally concentrate on AW. There's a good card here. SPEECHMAN at 14/1 catches the eye. Mainly raced in France in between spells here. Had two 4th place finishes here over a mile and four furlongs. It should stretch him dropping in class here and down two furlongs. That was a welcome return to form. This time last year rated 95, well handicapped if retaining a modicum of ability. Winner at Southwell over 7 furlongs and Deauville over 1 mile and a furlong. I feel his chances in this company have been seriously underestimated.

They are returning this one back to the AW as they are dropping it down in trip slightly with the same regular jockey on board. This is his only ride of the day, a good value each-way bet for the 4 places available.

My selection for this one, ROYAL BLAZE, earns the slight edge due to his proven recent ability to win over the C&D in this class, coupled with his excellent strike rate when carrying a similar weight to today's assignment (3 wins from 5 starts carrying 9-8 to 10-0).

Yet to win from 7 starts on the flat or 3 starts over hurdles. Returns to the flat on first start for this yard and holds an each-way chance if producing best form.

I was impressed enough in this horse's penultimate start to suggest he could be worth giving another chance here off his falling (and lowest ever) handicap mark. The 3-year-old is down to 57 now, having started life in handicaps off 68, and the drop back in trip looks key since he faded at around this trip in that race. So there's every chance that this could be just what he needs. The trainer has 2 winners and 3 seconds from his last 8 runners, and I don't mind the jockey switch either since he's also been riding well of late.