Best bets, tips and news for the All-Weather Championships Finals Day

Friday afternoon sees the culmination of the All-Weather racing season with a seven-race card at Newcastle, featuring the six All-Weather Championship Finals and a Listed heat, all the Finals races being shown on ITV. As a bit of a bonus the ITV team are also showing four from Lingfield where they host the All-Weather Vase Raceday. With the races now Handicaps it's a pretty competitive looking card. I have had some luck at the meeting down the years and all being well I will have another Good Friday!

1.18 Mile BetMGM Burradon Stakes

Not actually part of Finals Day as such it's a decent race and I fancy one in it. Silent Age arrives two from two having won a Kempton maiden on debut and defying a penalty to win at Wolverhampton on his second start in the manner of a colt that has more to offer. He has a bit to find on OR's here with the likes of Orne and Room Service but I am sure this one will be chasing Group honours on the summer. I am on at 5-2.

1.53 2m½f BetUK All-Weather Marathon Championships Conditions Stakes

The first of the finals proper. Alan King knows how to get one ready for the big staying prizes on the All-Weather so Spartan Army has to be on any shortlist. He has won his last three taking his mark to 95 for this but has won off a mark of 118 over Hurdles and looks to be improving still on the All-Weather. Prydwen and Palace Boy both have a swing in the weights in their favour having been beaten recently but I think the selection has more to give yet. I have the 7-2 this morning. Multiple Group winner Max Vega can't be ignored but but giving weight away all round over a trip stretches his stamina he looks vulnerable.

2.25 6f BetMGM All-Weather 3 Year Old Championships Handicap

A few form lines to go on here especially Sommelier who was denied in the Trial here on New Year's Day by Blue Prince having raced keenly and possibly hitting the front too soon. He is is 4lb better off with Blue Prince here for just half a length so can go close. Blue Prince has run well in defeat on his last tow starts, eye-catching fast finisher last time, but may need a little luck in running. Fire Demon put in a poor run at Lingfield between his two victories and that can be forgiven; Ryan Moore had him out the back off a slow pace. He looked to enjoy the more galloping nature of Kempton where his two victories came and a testing straight six here may well suit perfectly. A mark of 87 looks potentially lenient, Oisin Murphy rides again, and I am on at 100-30.

3.00 7f BetMGM Fillies' And Mares' Championships Handicap

Shades Of Summer will land a very nice £75,000 bonus for winning on both AWC Trials Day fixtures if she can take this. She proved just too strong for Nine Tenths over track and trip on New Year's Day but the William Haggas trained filly is 8lb better off this afternoon from that day and I would suggest is improving. Second to very good yardstick Dear My Friend in the mile Listed Tandridge Stakes at Lingfield before winning the Listed Lady Wulfruna Stakes over 7f at Wolverhampton since she arrives in fine form. Now rated 100 Jack Enright takes off 7lb as well so in theory she's 15lb better off with Shades Of Summer and she looks more than capable of holding off Cloud Cover and Wild Side who are also considered. I am on at 6-4. William Haggas isn't as confident saying recently “She has had a very good season, but it is unfortunate that this race is no longer a conditions race, as then she really would have a good chance. As it is, she probably won’t win because she is giving lumps of weight to inferior animals, but that’s the way it is.” I have a feeling William is more confident than he is letting on.

3.35 6f BetUK All-Weather Sprint Handicap

The Godolphin owned, John and Thady Gosden trained four-year-old Cover Up is a sprinter on the up who has won both starts at this track over the minimum distance. His one victory over six-furlongs came at Lingfield which does raise the question will he get the trip here but he wasn't slowing down in both those five-furlong wins here last month; a 13lb rise in the ratings tells you how easily he did that. On breeding there is no reason to think the straight six here will stretch his stamina and I am on at 7-2 for the son of Exceed and Excel to remain unbeaten on the All-Weather. Fivethousandtoone is a horse I have followed in the past and has been aimed at this by Andrew balding so has to be feared, but though talented he aint one to trust and a mark of 98 would require a career-best run here at the age of six. Misty Grey could go well at a price as could good old Summerghand.

4.10 1m2f BetUK All-Weather Easter Classic Middle Distance Handicap

The race of the day looks competitive on paper but I fancy one quite strongly. Four-year-old Elegant Man has had just the three starts but you certainly can't knock the form of them. He warmed up for this with a facile victory in a Dundalk stakes race at the end of January having lost little in defeat in the 1m4f Listed Wild Flower Stakes at Kempton in December before that when second to G.1 Breeders' Cup Turf hero and subsequent G.3 Doha winner Rebel's Romance. He has top-weight to shoulder but does look the proverbial Group performer in a handicap to me and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him competing for bigger prizes as the season goes on. I am on at 4-1. French raider Hooking has won back-to-back Listed races on the Polytrack at Cagnes-Sur-Mer and looks the danger with Storm Catcher and Oh So Grand completing the short-list.

4.40 BetMGM All-Weather Championships Mile Handicap

The lucky last sees Dear My Friend put his unbeaten All-Weather record on the line. Highly tried last year, including running in the Derby, he has thrived on the All-Weather recently and is unbeaten in four runs on synthetics including two victories over track and trip. A wind op and being gelded in the autumn appear to have done the trick and despite a career high mark of 113 I think the chestnut can take this before landing a Group race at some point in the summer. I have some of the 100-30 this morning. Fast Raaj and Symbol Of Light can fight out the minor places.

Be lucky

All-Weather Championships Finals Day 2024