Best bet for the horse racing Friday 31st August at Thirsk and Newcastle

Saeed bin Suroor has a 34.5% strike-rate when he ventures the 184 odd miles up to Thirsk and he sends one on Friday for the 4.45 Theakston Pale Ale Handicap over six furlongs. The horse off in the horsebox is four-year-old Big Tour who has three wins to his name, though all three were over further. That said he has looked as if a drop in trip wouldn’t hurt in this last couple of runs. He is a consistent type and with the cheekpieces going on for the first time as well as Jason Watson taking off a very handy 3lb I think he has a chance in what will be a bit of a cavalry charge over the undulating straight six here. At 15-2, he has drifted overnight, he is worth a speculative couple of bob to try and nick some Friday night beer money.

Up at Newcastle on the Tapeta they have the 1m2f Capital Allowances Consultants Ltd Novice Stakes at 6.45. Midi is one from the notebook and has to be backed at 9-4. By Frankel out of Midday he is a half-brother to Midterm (G.3 winner) and Mori (Lstd winner) there has to be every chance he'll be pattern class in time also under the care of Sir Mike. Somewhat disappointing on debut at two he put in a much better effort on his three-year-old bow winning at Windsor on his second start after a wind operation over the winter.

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