Tuesday Racing Tips: Balding to strike Gold at HQ

Racing on Tuesday centres around the opening day of Newmarket's Craven Meeting, but there's good supporting cards at Naas, Ffos Las and Newcastle too.

We have a trio of Tuesday racing tips for you to consider - including Spun To Gold for in-form trainer Andrew Balding at flat racing's HQ.

15:05 Ffos Las - Pilgrims King @ 7/4

Peter and Sean Bowen can get on the scoresheet at Ffos Las with PILGRIMS KING, the eight-year-old seeking a second win in his last three starts.

After two near misses over hurdles to start 2024, he showed a willing attitude when scoring at Doncaster (2m3f, soft) early last month in what was his first completed start over fences.

He then went to Haydock and finished second-best behind Elleon, Sam England's charge being a useful benchmark at this level and since going close at Carlisle from 5lb higher.

Pilgrims King races from an unchanged mark now and remains open to doing better in this sphere, so this looks an excellent opening for him.

17:15 Newmarket - Spun To Gold @ 9/4

The first day of a new term at Newmarket will bring with it lots of anticipation as the opening Classics of the season start to loom large on the horizon in just over a fortnights' time.

It's an exciting time of the year, with plenty of talented horses sure to be making their ways to the track, but patience could be a virtue on this first afternoon back at Newmarket.

The concluding 7f handicap has attracted a field of nine runners and most exciting amongst them is Andrew Balding's SPUN TO GOLD.

The Justify colt had three outings last season as a juvenile, twice shaping well on the all-weather either side of being well-held in an Ascot novice won by next-time-out Group 2 Royal Lodge scorer Ghostwriter.

He signed off by landing a Chelmsford maiden over this trip, showing a pleasing attitude to best two subsequent winners in a close finish.

He should have plenty more to come this season and, with the yard in good nick, this opening mark of 79 looks well within reach in the Newmarket finale.

17:30 Newcastle - Martin's Brig @ 9/1

Evening fare is from Newcastle and course winner MARTIN'S BRIG is fancied to get some more Gosforth Park success on his CV for trainer David Thompson.

The Equiano gelding is a veteran of 48 starts, 26 on the all-weather, and has three wins in this sphere. The most recent of those was over a mile at this track last month from a 2lb lower mark and dropping back to 7f soon after appeared to catch him out.

He knows this place inside out and, in the last 12-14 months in particular, has become a really reliable conveyance around Newcastle. He is on a fair mark and its’ interesting connections have now finally seen fit to try him out over this extended trip. They could well see an instant reward.