Lucky 15 Tips: Good news for Mark and Luke at Newcastle on Saturday?

It's very much a case of trying to find meetings one hopes will survive the dreadful weather right now, and for Saturday's Lucky 15 tips I'm turning to Newcastle's all-weather card on the Tapeta. It all kicks in at 14:00 - seven races, entertaining, competitive fare, and given that they race on Friday as I'm writing this piece, hopes have to be high that Saturday, January 11 can be nicely accommodated, too.

Here we go - and if you fancy playing, good luck and have fun. Let's hope there's drama-a-plenty in Geordieland at Gosforth Park.

Horse Racing Odds

14:00 - Lerwick @ 4/1

This is due to be part of ITV's coverage on Saturday, which as I write is yet to be fully confirmed, with Kempton now succumbing to the weather and Fairyhouse's prospects somewhat up in the air. Anyway - I've just got to include it in our Lucky 15 as I feel there's a very decent chance this five-year-old gelding can get us off to a flyer.

Lerwick is trained by Ed Bethell at Middleham Moor in North Yorkshire and Callum Rodriguez, who knows him well, is on board. The selection returned to action just before Christmas after a refresher break of 61 days with a good fourth here over a mile, beaten just 2l.

He steps up to 10f on Saturday and he's tried it once previously, on the turf at Ripon around 18 months go. He faded close home that day, but I don't blame connections for having another dart. He sees out the mile at places like Pontefract and Beverley well enough, and they are very stiff tests.

His sire, Irish Guineas winner Awtaad, never went a yard over a mile but as a mature campaigner and on a relatively flat, consistent surface like Newcastle,  Lerwick could yet prosper. Usually leads or is very prominent - wonder if they'll go for similar tactics today, or hold him up?

Looking forward to what's a fascinating heat.

15:10 - Sweet Cicely @ 11/2

The northern powerhouse stable of Richard Fahey now, with retained jock Oisin Orr doing the steering.

Sweet Cicely has had five career starts to date, the last of which was the best -  16 days ago at Wolves, beaten less than 2l, off a mark of 61 on handicap debut.

The three-year-old filly by Derby winner Sir Percy is up 2lb for her trouble, but showed enough in the Midlands to be fancied strongly today.

15:45 - Calliannasa @ 5/1

Brian Ellison trains this four-year-old Invincible Army filly at Norton, about 100 miles south in North Yorkshire.

Calliannasa ran here over a mile a fortnight ago, finishing a close-up fourth beaten less than 2l. She drops to 7f this afternoon but to be fair in her 20-race career thus far she's been campaigned over 5f and 6f too - though sadly nothing has quite clicked in terms of catching the judge's eye as they pass the old jam stick.

She's generously been dropped a pound for last time to a mark now of 63. Eighteen months ago she was briefly on 80. Take off claimer Shay Farmer's 7lb and I'd say you're looking at potentially a very attractively-handicapped filly.

She goes well here and how about belatedly breaking that maiden? Nice each-way price in any event, and that's why she's in this e/w L15. Arantes Nascimento appeals as a very likely scorer but this one offers some value, and just needs to get into the three. Hoping that price might drift a tad, too.

16:15 - Baikal @ 11/8

One of racing's oldest 'old firms' now - Sir Mark Prescott and Luke Morris combine with a three-year-old American-bred filly having just her second start.

Baikal ran well at Kempton 31 days ago, going down by less than 2l over this mile trip in a field of 14. Interestingly she went off the 13/8f and evidently had been showing enough at home to warrant such market support.

A slow start didn't help, and the finishing spot of fourth was probably about right. She'll know a lot more today, this is a much smaller field, and though some nice yards oppose I'm very hopeful of a great run.

Today's Horse Races

This is an example of a Lucky 15. If you can improve upon my selections (of course you can), then go for it!

The odds can fluctuate between publishing our pieces and race-time. As a guide, a £0.25p each-way Lucky 15 on today's selections, at the prices, and assuming all four won, would return around £260 for your total £7.50 stake.

Fred, 'The Bonus King,' invented the 'Lucky' series of bets and their bonuses. My colleague Adam has set out all you need to know with this handy guide - take a look by clicking here.

Horse Racing & Greyhound bets only. Excludes Virtual Racing. 5x odds on Lucky 63. 4x Odds Lucky 31. 3x Odds Lucky 15. All selections must run. Paid in cash if only 1 winner. T&Cs Apply.

Lucky 15 tips from Betfred Insights.