Saturday Racing Multi Tips: Newcastle pair appeal for 134/1 each way double on Plate Day

Newcastle, Saturday, 14:40, Northumberland Vase Handicap Tip: Back St Faz EW five places @ 14/115.00

14 (9)

St Faz (Fr)

• J: M. P. Sheehy
• T: Adrian Keatley
• F: 0-1117152

• SBK 14/1
• EXC 17

Two very tough races on ITV from Newcastle on Saturday with the Vase and Plate and it's nice to have a few runners after Leicester's absolutely woeful offering on Thursday night, so for the weekend and the double, I very much want to utilise the extra places here.

With five on offer, I am tempted with the 14/115.00 on St Faz. A mark of 78 clearly demands more, but the market hasn't exactly missed the improving types and St Faz has enjoyed a good spring into the summer by winning over 2m at Musselbrugh before running a fine race in the Chester Plate when fifth to Shrimp Shady.

St Faz was pestered for the lead on the Roodee and was also pitched in stall 14 and in the first six home, fared best of those drawn high.

Shrimp Shady is the opponent again today, but the price of 10/34.33 for the double 'S' against St Faz's 14/115.00 looks too much of a discrepancy. The selection is off the back of a second at Thirsk last time, again making the running, and it's never a bad thing to get them stacked up behind at Newcastle as they can often get in eachother's way when the tempo increases at the end.

Adrian Keatley appears on the hot trainers' list at around 19% with six winners from his last 32 runners and he is also 4-13 at 30% at Newcastle this term.

Saturday, Newcastle, 15;15, Northumberland Plate Handicap Tip: Back Team Player EW five places @ 8/19.00

8 (6)

Team Player

• J: Greg Fairley
• T: Ewan Whillans
• F: 32313-115

• SBK 8/1
• EXC 10.5

Team Player was one of my antepost tips earlier this week at 12s, so I am pleased to see him fairly strong in the betting now at 8/19.00 for Saturday's big race and he looks to have all the tools and well equipped for a race of this nature.

Is he good enough to win the Pitmens' Derby?

He will stay, no issue on stamina, as he landed a course and distance handicap at Newcastle in February coming from off the pace to score comfortably.

That was his first try at 2m and he had the best finishing final furlong in the race from a speed finish of 105%. Team Player then was quick enough to win at a speedier circuit around Musselburgh over a shorter trip at 1m5f to make it two-from-two for the season, only for him to lose his unbeaten record this year when fifth in the Chester Cup.

He had a poor draw and also fared best of those held up at Chester and it was fairly obvious he was a little unlucky as he was the only horse to crack 12 seconds at the final furlong - running 11.91 seconds.

Off the same mark 92 and with new headgear for the first time, I think he holds a decent chance here.

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