Newcastle AW Tips: Monday 13 April 2026
A seven-race card on the Tapeta at Newcastle under standard conditions. The surface here rewards horses with proven course form, and several of tonight's key runners carry exactly that. Three races stand out for punters looking for value: the 6f handicap opener, the 1m maiden, and the restricted novice. Let's get into it.
6:30 โ Sky Sports Racing Virgin 512 Restricted Novice Stakes (7f)
Noelan Star (Edward Bethell) is odds-on and deserves to be. The Bethell yard has been in explosive form, running at a 5/15 strike rate over the past fortnight, and this gelding already has a win on his card. The opposition here is limited. Most of the field have either been tailed off on debut or shown modest form at best, and the drop in class from a competitive maiden to a restricted novice event should see Noelan Star dominate. The 4/9 available with Bet365 reflects his superiority on paper.
If you want each-way interest at bigger prices, Horu Kanu (Richard and Peter Fahey, 7/1 William Hill) is the most interesting underneath. Three runs last summer, best effort came over 7f, and he arrives here gelded since his last start. The Fahey yard is ticking along at 4/20 in the last 14 days and this race sets up as a straightforward one for him to pick up a place at the minimum. Worth siding with at 7/1 each-way.
7:00 โ Free Tips Daily On attheraces.com Handicap (6f)
The best race of the card and one with a clear standout on form and course suitability.
Grant Wood (Paul Midgley, 4/1 Bet365) is the selection. He won twice at Newcastle to open his campaign, the second of those victories described as impressive at this exact course and distance. His Wolverhampton run last time out saw him finish only fourth, but the spotlight notes he was finishing best of all late on and that form has been franked since. He steps up 4lb in the weights but the return to Newcastle is the key factor here. Horses who win twice at a track in quick succession and then come back fresh should always be respected, particularly on an all-weather surface where they have clearly found their comfort zone. At 4/1 with Bet365, he represents genuine value in a competitive field.
Evening Saigon Each-Way (Hamad Al Jehani, 11/2 Bet365) is the each-way play. An unexposed 4yo who won at Chelmsford over 6f in October and was then asked to run on heavy ground at Doncaster, which is a completely different proposition. That run can be dismissed entirely. He arrives here on standard Tapeta, which is a far more suitable surface, and with more improvement to come according to the form book. At 11/2, the each-way terms of three places at 1/5 make this appealing as a saver.
Toyotomi at 9/1 Bet365 also warrants a mention. Well handicapped on his French form, shaped with promise at Goodwood last October and was then gelded. First run back from a break for a yard that is cold right now, so keep him onside but treat with caution until he shows his new connections something.
7:30 โ Free Bets On attheraces.com Maiden Stakes (1m)
Eddaari (Simon and Ed Crisford, evens Bet365) is the obvious selection and he should go close. Two solid turf runs last autumn and then a second-place finish over this course and distance in November suggests the track holds no fears. He steps out after 137 days off, which is a question mark, but the Crisford yard is running at 2/11 over the past fortnight which shows the horses are ready to perform.
The main threat is Far Far Out (Roger Varian, 2/1 Coral), a debut runner from a trainer who places his horses well and whose runners for Jack Mitchell regularly run up to their market position on first appearances. With no public form to assess, backing Eddaari on known evidence at evens is the sensible route, but Varian runners at 2/1 on debut always command respect.
Sovereign Bay at 17/2 is each-way live if you want something longer. Second on debut over this course and distance in February, and the hood going on for the first time suggests connections believe there is more to unlock.
Today's NAP
Odds: 4/1 โ Bet365 (others: 4/1 William Hill, 5/1 Betfair Exchange)
Two wins from two at Newcastle earlier this season, the most recent of them an eye-catching performance at this exact course and distance. His Wolverhampton run looks a blip, he was finishing fastest of all late, and the handicapper has only moved him up 4lb. Standard Tapeta suits, the track clearly suits, and he returns to a venue where he has shown he is better than his current mark. Paul Midgley has one from eleven in the last 14 days so the yard is not flying, but Grant Wood's form profile is strong enough to overcome that. Best available price of 4/1 represents real value in a race where several others carry question marks.