Horse Racing Tips: Phoenix can rise again at Newcastle

There's five meetings taking place across the UK & Ireland on Thursday, including three National Hunt cards and a couple of all-weather offerings on the level.

Among my horse racing tips for the day is one for trainer Jessica Macey who has plenty going for him in his bid to return to the winners' enclosure.

13:11 Newcastle - Phoenix Star @ 4/1

With his last four wins coming over course and distance, it’s fair to say Jessica Macey’s 9yo is well-suited to conditions and on his fourth start after a break he looks ready to strike.

He gave notice of a return to form when third to the reopposing Beaumardier 13 days ago, and a nice swing in the weights can see him turn the tables here.

Even before taking Alex Jary’s 5lb claim into account, a 7lb difference in his favour would give Phoenix Star a fighting chance of overcoming the 2 ½ length deficit, and he looked for all the world as though he would come on again for the run.

He has been apprentice ridden for his last seven wins. The most recent of which was off a mark 7lb higher than he is here in March last year, so there’s every reason to expect a good run today.

This is an Extra Place race, meaning that Betfred are paying 3 places (1/5 odds) instead of 2.

14:21 Newcastle - Bellagio Man @ 5/1

After a very quiet period for most of 2024, Antony Brittain’s string have been in rare form in recent days, with four winners from the last nine runners.

Four of those winners came at Newcastle and the selection, who won here himself in December, can enhance that record off what is still a very low mark for him.

When he won here in December he was racing off his career-low rating, so there is still plenty of room for manoeuvre despite returning here off 3lb higher.

He almost followed up when ending up on the far side over the same C&D next time, and his failure last time is easily excused as he lost all chance when rearing at the start at Southwell.

That isn’t something that has dogged him in the past so, like many from this stable, he can be expected to continue in form and he can get back on an upwards curve here.

15:05 Huntingdon - Express Surprise @ 11/2

Clive Boultbee-Brooks has maintained a decent strike-rate over the past five seasons, but it is notably better with chasers (19 per cent) than hurdlers (11 per cent), and this ex-pointer can improve that record on his rules chase debut.

After some encouraging runs in bumpers and maiden/novice hurdles over two miles, he almost struck at the second time of asking in handicaps over 2m6f at Stratford in June.

The 6yo has followed that up with two solid runs over similar trips over hurdles and is clearly capable off his current rating, while fences promise to bring about a bit of improvement.

There is lots to like about his sole point-to-point outing where he bustled up the now 136 rated Bill Joyce when sent off favourite at Lisronagh.

He finished ahead of a couple more who are rated well into the 100s in Ireland and he should be able to do some damage off a mark of 89.

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