Newcastle best bet: Conditions look tailor-made for Shades Of Summer
Newcastle racecourse
From the 450+ runners listed on a bumper New Year’s Day card, Tipstrr pundit Steve Jones has narrowed them down to his solitary Daily Bargain best bet.
16:15 Newcastle: Boost Your Acca at BetMGM Fillies’ Handicap (7 furlongs)
A better value option than the vulnerable-looking market leaders is Shades Of Summer, who arrives in good shape having won a small-field handicap at Wolverhampton last month.
That was over six furlongs, but she did beat a very good yardstick in Aramis Grey, a 93-rated mare who has lots of very good form in high-class all-weather races.
Shades Of Summer won more easily than her winning margin implies and never looked like being beaten once looming up in the home straight, and if anything, Shades Of Summer should improve again for this step back up to seven furlongs.
Her previous win had come over this distance and she hinted strongly that she would benefit from stepping back up when, on her stable debut, she finished a never-nearer third of 10 over six furlongs on the straight, uphill track at Salisbury back in September.
This is another straight, uphill track which is sure to suit because the five-year-old won on tapeta last time, so the surface is also ideal.
The mare has a lot going for her under her last winning rider and her revised mark for winning last time is exactly the same as she had at Salisbury.
She has only been with this yard since September and, with all four of her wins coming on the all-weather, there should be plenty more to come and she has a good chance from her middle draw.
Suggested bet: Shades Of Summer in the 16:15 at Newcastle
- Tip advised by Steve Jones who runs CD Systems Daily Bargain on Tipstrr
Of the others, Wild Side might be drawn in the ideal spot in stall 8 because the runners often head towards the near side on the straight track at this venue.
She also arrives on the back of a recent win on this surface, having landed a Class 3 handicap over 8f at Southwell last month.
Still lightly raced in this sphere after only four all-weather runs, and now proven on tapeta, she has plenty of scope for further progress and her proven one-mile stamina will stand her in good stead over this shorter uphill trip.
Next best bet: Wild Side in the 16:15 at Newcastle
READ MORE: New Year’s Day racing tips: Best bets for Cheltenham and Musselburgh on January 1
