Bets Of The Day: Qaaraat can give Brittain a winner at Newcastle

Smith can continue upturn in form with a Wetherby winner

15:20 Wetherby - Back The Paddy Pie @ 6.05/1

With the resurgent Sue Smith yard in good form at the moment operating at a strike rate of 36% in the last two weeks, I'm hoping the team can land another with The Paddy Pie over fences.

He's a pretty solid jumper and acts in soft ground, plus he's getting plenty of weight in this from his rivals too.

Last time he returned to Sedgefield following a break, and shaped nicely with the way he travelled. It looked as though he might just have needed that spin.

He beat Warthog as a novice at Haydock last winter and looks reasonably well treated from a mark of 120, as I do expect him to improve on his Sedgefield effort. He has shown he acts at Wetherby too in the past with a good run over further.

Brittain's runner feasibly treated for return to north east

20:00 Newcastle - Back Qaaraat @ 6.05/1

Antony Brittain's Qaaraat is a rather infrequent winner, but the final race at 20:00 is very open and he looks the call at around 6.05/1.

He's well-handicapped on last summer's form when he was racing from 69, so clearly down to 56 he must have a chance.

Last time out he met a bit of trouble at Wolverhampton from off the pace, but that speedy venue doesn't really play to this strengths and Newcastle suits him better.

Indeed, he won a slightly stronger race in November in 0-70 grade, and he travelled nicely in that to win down the centre of the track.

His overall record is uninspiring, but a replication of that effort over course and distance should get him in the frame.