Newcastle AW Tips: Friday 1 May 2026

Newcastle AW Tips: Friday 1 May 2026

A Friday evening card at Newcastle on standard Tapeta, seven races across the card with a mix of novice company, handicaps, and a tight six-runner staying contest to close. The going suits horses with a clean stride pattern and those who handle a level surface well. O'Meara's yard is the standout operation in the stats, firing at 8/52 over the last fortnight, which is a healthy enough clip for a northern operation spread across multiple tracks. Keep that in mind throughout.

6:30 — Roflow Novice Stakes (7f, Standard)

This is straightforward on paper. William Haggas sends Eklleem down from Newmarket with an RPR of 80, comfortably the highest figure in the field and a yard operating at 6/28 over the last two weeks. The opposition largely consists of exposed selling-grade types and newcomers with zero form to work with. Eklleem finished second and sixth from two starts but those bare figures understate the quality of company he has run in. At 5/6 with William Hill, the price reflects market confidence and the form edge here is clear.

The alternative angle at a bigger price is Record Day at 12/1 with Bet365. Brian Ellison's yard is cold (0/16), which is a concern, but the horse showed ability on his debut when fourth and returns here on a surface that suits progressive types. At that price there is some place appeal if you want to get involved each-way, though the small field and only three place terms make it marginal.

Selection: Eklleem (5/6, William Hill) — head and shoulders on ratings, Haggas yard ticking over nicely.

5:20 — freebets.com Handicap (1m2f, Standard, 12 runners)

Mao Shang Wong Each-Way is the call here at 7/2 with Bet365. David O'Meara is the trainer of the day, landing 8 from 52 over the past fortnight, and this horse brings solid form figures of 471104. That recent winning run shows he is in the right place mentally and physically, and Mark Winn takes the ride for a yard that clearly has runners primed at present. The RPR of 88 is right in the mix for this field, the 1m2f trip on Tapeta suits his profile, and the price has genuine value given the trainer stats.

The market leader Say What You See is around 13/8 with Bet365 and Coral. The form reads 211D-35, so there is winning ability there, but the Disqualification on the recent run and a blank since then leave a question mark. Liam Bailey's yard has had just 1 from 10 recently, which is not the stat of a trainer pressing the button.

Jujubella at 17/2 with Bet365 is worth a mention. Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore are moving horses around and getting winners (5/57), and the mare has solid handicap form even if recent figures are flat. At the each-way terms available in a 12-runner field, she could creep into the places.

Selection: Mao Shang Wong (7/2, Bet365) each-way. O'Meara firing, horse in form, trip suits.

5:53 — Roflow Handicap (1m4½f, Standard, 6 runners)

The feature of the night, and genuinely open. The Cursor is the even-money jolly at 8/11 with Bet365, trained by Andrew Balding (3/33 recent), and comes here off a win last time. The RPR of 93 is respectable and PJ McDonald takes the ride. However, Balding's recent numbers are not screaming confidence, and at less than evens in a six-runner field there is limited upside even when he wins.

New York Minute Each-Way at 7/2 with Bet365 is the value play. The RPR of 99 is the joint highest in the field alongside Machete, and crucially those ratings come from a run of 1-1-2, a genuine sequence of competitive form. Joey Ramsden's yard has been quiet (0/13), but the horse's own profile suggests he is better than the market split implies. Mulrennan is a strong northern booking and the drop to a six-runner field at this track suits a horse that has shown a tendency to travel prominently.

Machete for David O'Meara also deserves respect at 11/2 with Bet365. The yard is the form yard of the card, the horse has an RPR of 99, and Ben Robinson knows the horse. The recent form reads -26436 which is a touch scratchy but those placed efforts suggest he goes close when the conditions align. At 11/2 there is each-way merit but with only two places paid at 1/4 odds, you are taking a real chance on beating at least one of The Cursor or New York Minute.

Selection: New York Minute (7/2, Bet365) each-way. Joint-top on RPR, proven form figures, fair price against a short jolly.

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