Today's Racing Tips: Saxophonist can hit all the right notes at Newcastle

Newcastle, 16:08 - Back Saxophonist @ 11/43.75

3 (11)

Saxophonist (Ire)

• J: Daniel Tudhope
• T: David O'Meara
• F: 83-335227

• SBK 9/4
• EXC 3.15

David O'Meara's Saxophonist may still be a maiden after nine starts, but he's shown more than enough in several of them to suggest he's up to winning handicaps sooner rather than later and I'm taking him to get off the mark in this extended 1m 4f contest.

The three-year-old gelding has taken a little while to find his feet since sent handicapping, but he's shown a lot more on his last few outings, travelling with plenty of zest in several of them, including when runner-up at Doncaster and Haydock in the summer.

His most recent run at Redcar is easy enough to put a line through, as Saxophonist appeared to be finishing off his race nicely before running out of room late on.

His last three starts have all come at around 1m 2f and there's every chance a step up to this trip can bring about some improvement from the son of Saxon Warrior.

Notable winners from Mark in recent weeks

Blue Brother @ 9/1
Ugo Bingo @ 6/1
Star Of Mali @ 11/2
Treble Bass @ 7/2
Brilliant Star @ 9/4
Midnight Media @ 13/8
Rock Montreal @ 11/8

Newcastle, 18:45 - Back Paddy's Day @ 7/24.50

3 (7)

Paddy's Day (Ire)

• J: Alex Jary
• T: Nigel Tinkler
• F: 57273966

• SBK 11/2
• EXC 7.2

On the face of it, Paddy's Day doesn't look to be in the best of form, but a few lacklustre runs have seen him edge down the handicap and he now returns to a track where he has an impeccable record.

Nigel Tinkler's sprinter has finished no closer than sixth on his last three outings, but there's a feeling he's simply been marking time waiting for a return to a venue where he's won seven times from 16 starts, all of them over this 5f trip.

The last of those came at the back-end of 2025, where he took a stronger race than this one from a perch of 88, and a sign of just how well treated he is nowadays is that he gets to race off just 80 in this contest, a mark he hasn't seen since early last year.

This will be the lowest grade of race Paddy's Day has been in all year and it would be no surprise should he mount a full-scale revival.

Mark's Bet of the Day: Newcastle, 19:15 - Back Coulsty Exchange @ 9/43.25

7 (5)

Coulsty Exchange (Ire)

• J: Andrew Mullen
• T: Iain Jardine
• F: 7366

• SBK 7/4
• EXC 2.82

There are plenty of exposed types in this 7f handicap, but the obvious exception is Iain Jardine's Coulsty Exchange, who has just four career starts under her belt and really caught the eye under a considerate ride last time.

That outing came over 6f at this venue and was actually her first start for the Jardine stable having had her other three runs over in Ireland for Andrew Slattery.

The daughter of Coulsty showed ability on the second of those two outings, finishing third at Dundalk, while it's also worth noting she raced exclusively over a mile for her previous trainer.

That stat becomes even more pertinent when you realise her debut for her current yard came over an inadequate 6f, where she was slowly away and couldn't go the early pace before making late headway for just hands-and-heels riding.

That outing should have set Coulsty Exchange up perfectly for stepping up to 7f here, and this race really won't take a great deal of winning.

If she shows even a modicum of improvement for that latest outing, this contest is hers for the taking.

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