Friday ITV Racing Tips: James Mackie fancies two from Newcastle

• James Mackie picks out two fancies at Newcastle on Friday

• Champagne Powder to go one better in first time cheek-pieces

• Tolstoy to run well at a big price

19:30, Newcastle - Back Champagne Powder @ 100/304.30

The first selection on ITV from Newcastle comes in the Class 4 Handicap over a mile and wearing first time cheekpieces Champagne Powder could take all the beating for Oliver Cole.

The four year old never hit the ground running on the turf being tried heavily in France but was obviously thought of quite highly when finishing third in the Haras de Bouquetot as a juvenile behind Mount Kilimanjaro.

Never kicking on as a three year old, he was gelded last year and since turning to the all-weather has looked a much better horse.

Finishing third at Southwell on his first try at the surface, he then went to Chelmsford and got off the mark justifying favouritism.

Upped 2lb for that win to a mark of 82 over the same C&D he went down by a head to an odds-on favourite for Mick Appleby, slightly hanging left which may have cost him the race.

Running off the same mark here and sporting the first time headgear should give him a big chance to keep progressing in this sphere.

Mostar Dreams for Adrian Keatley is interesting at an each-way price, but having already been well-backed Champagne Powder can justify favouritism with Tom Marquand an excellent jockey booking.

20:00, Newcastle - Back Tolstoy E/W 4 places @ 10/111.00

At a big price in the Class 4 Handicap over 7f, Tolstoy for Brian Ellison can hit the frame now dropping down to a mark much more workable for the seven year old.

A horse with a fair bit of back class off this mark, he landed a 17-runner handicap at York and then off 6lbs higher did the same a month later in a similar race over the same C&D back in 2024.

It has been a long time since he was last seen winning but his handicap mark has been constantly dropping and he is now down to a mark of 76, just 1lb higher than when winning that big fielded handicap in 2024.

He is not getting any younger, now aged seven, but he does handle Newcastle well- previously winning over a mile off a mark of 86.

His two runs this year have been steps back in the right direction both off a mark of 77, with his last run at Southwell a pleasing fourth.

Tolstoy can race keenly early doors and jockey Kaiya Fraser needs to temper that to give him every chance, but if being able to keep a lid on him he looks to still retain plenty of ability in this sphere.

With four places on offer I am hoping off a mark of 76 he can hit the frame at a double-figure price.

Now read Sam Turner's Friday Tips