Newcastle best bets: Faylaq targets Northumberland Vase after 2023 near miss

14:35 Newcastle: JenningsBet Festival Northumberland Vase Handicap  (2 miles 56 yards)

We’ll take a closer look at the favourite later, but one who looks a good bet to interrupt his winning sequence is Faylaq, who looked unlucky not to win this race last year and who is 6lbs lower this time around.

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Last year’s renewal on the same standard-slow surface saw Faylaq come from well off the pace up the finishing hill. He was switched to the centre of the track and then switched again to the near side as his rider manoeuvred to find a clear run.

The partnership was never nearer than at the line (beaten just half a length to come third of 14) and would quite likely have won with a straightforward passage.

That was the eight-year-old’s first try beyond 14 furlongs, so now that connections know that he stays two miles strongly around this testing circuit, he can afford to be ridden a bit closer to the pace.

This will be Faylaq’s first two-mile assignment since last year’s race, and he comes here in good shape having most recently finished a never-nearer  third of 12 in a decent handicap over 15 furlongs at Hamilton, which also has a stiff, uphill finish.

Suggested best bet: Faylaq in the 14:35 at Newcastle

He is still lightly-raced on the all-weather for his age, and he has developed a liking for this track, having run a close-up fourth of 10 (beaten only 1½ lengths) over an unsuitably short 10 furlongs on his most recent visit in mid-March.

Very significantly, he is now 6lbs lower than he was in this race last season, and he arrives in at least as good form as 12 months ago.

Paul Mulrennan gets on well with him (figures 2334) and this unexposed staying handicapper will clearly have had this race targeted for him.

From a very handy stall 2 (last five winners of this race were all drawn 6 or lower), Faylaq has plenty going for him.

• Tips and preview provided by Steve Jones who runs CD Systems Daily Bargain on Tipstrr  

Elsewhere, Alphonse Le Grande looks the right favourite on the back of his wins at Dundalk and Chester the last twice, particularly his Chester Plate win, which saw him beat 15 Class 2 rivals over and extended 2¼ miles by more than two lengths.

He won at Chester despite racing keenly on what was his first try beyond 12½ furlongs, and then having to wait for a clear run before sprinting clear once he found one.

It was an impressive win, and he is still completely unexposed as a staying handicapper, so there should be plenty more to come from him in this sphere, despite his eight-pound hike.

Next best bet: Alphonse Le Grande in the 14:35 at Newcastle

 

 

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