Today's Horse Racing Tips: Easterby and Hannon the two trainers to follow at Newcastle

Sky could have the power for Newcastle switch

15:55 Newcastle - Back Sky Power @ 5.04/1

The agony of backing another Kim Bailey second yesterday (third on the spin) and losing by a nose despite being favourite in the photo market was assuaged by the splendid performance of Mercian Prince - who ran the field ragged to win by 10 lengths at Kempton.

One thing that struck me with Mercian Prince's performance was how his jumping impacted on the in-running betting. Quite early he'd moved into 4.77/2, and as he was flying over his fences with panache, on several occasions went down to 4.1031/10 and 4.03/1 per leap, taking two lengths out of his nearest pursuer each time. Moving half a tick per jump is quite substantial.

As we move onto Tuesday, there'll be no fences (and hopefully no seconds) with two picks on the all-weather.

Richard Hannon's Sky Power is a horse that hasn't endured a hard campaign, and as one of the three-year-olds in the field, fits the unexposed bracket from a mark of 72.

He was upped in distance at Windsor last time for his handicap debut, and while he looked inexperienced, he also appeared a bit slow to suggest he's an out-and-out stayer. Switching to a track like Newcastle with its taxing finish could help him, as should the Tapeta surface. His sire Fastnet Rock has a 17% strike-rate on the Tapeta, and a 37% s/r to be placed. There's every reason to think he could improve given his fancy pedigree.

A return to Newcastle can make the difference for Vive

17:25 Newcastle - Back Vive Le Difference @ 9.08/1

It's time for another Tim Easterby selection at Newcastle, and Vive Le Difference is worth a poke in a wide-open looking handicap with several out-of-form opponents.

Vive Le Difference has come down in the weights 7lb this season but he hasn't completely lost the plot. Last time he wasn't beaten too far at Ayr, and he was the eyecatcher of all time in his previous start at the St Leger meeting at Doncaster. He could never get a run in that.

However, my angle is the switch to Newcastle. His record here is 855112, with both victories over course and distance. They went a fairly even pace in both of those successes last winter and the feature of those wins was the way he finished off his races. The stiff finish suits him, and that's probably why he likes Hamilton.

Pacino heads the betting and whilst he is well treated too, he hasn't won for a while, so I'd rather take a much bigger price with Vive.