Friday Racing Tips: Key Timeform data including a 9/4 top-rated Horse In Focus at Newcastle

Newcastle, 13:50 - Progressive Silent Strike has more to offer

'Hot Trainer' Andew Balding, the leading stable in this season's All-Weather Championship, has done very well on All-Weather Finals Day in the past and looks to have another strong candidate for the 3 Year Old Championships Handicap with Silent Strike who is bidding to become a fourth consecutive winner of the six-furlong contest for his yard.

Silent Strike has a similar profile to last year's winner Berkshire Whisper in that he's making his handicap debut after progressing rapidly in his first three starts. He was green when beaten into second on his debut at Lingfield but had clearly learned plenty from that run as he made all for a comfortable win in another maiden at Kempton the following month.

Silent Strike then put up a useful effort conceding 7 lb to promising filly Soul Love when beaten half a length in a novice over today's course and distance last time, looking the type to go on improving in handicaps. Heading the Timeform weight-adjusted ratings and open to further progress, he looks the one to beat.

Newcastle, 15:00 - 'Horse In Focus' Blue RC has solid profile

The All-Weather Championships Mile Handicap looks as good a race as any on the card with the weights headed from a BHA mark of 109 by the smart gelding Chancellor, winner of a listed race at Southwell on his last run over this trip.

However, preference is for another four-year-old a bit further down the weights. Blue RC made a successful debut for James Tate on the all-weather at Chelmsford just over a year ago and went on to win turf handicaps in the summer at Thirsk and Yarmouth. He then progressed further later in the year back on the all-weather, finishing second at Kempton and then at Chelmsford where he looked unlucky not to win.

Blue RC duly made amends next time, and in good style, seeing off in-form rival Two Tempting with something up his sleeve when successful at Southwell on New Year's Day, a performance which earned him the 'Horse In Focus' flag. That was a smart effort to beat a rival who was third in Chancellor's race next time and, kept fresh since, the thriving Blue RC is very much of interest here.

Newcastle, 16:10 - 'Horse In Focus' Regal Ulixes can have latest effort upgraded

The Easter Classic over a mile and a quarter is another race on the card which Balding has won more than once before and, with two runners this year, he looks to have another leading contender with Oisin Murphy's mount Regal Ulixes.

The lightly-raced four-year-old was having his first start since Royal Ascot last year when well backed for his return over course and distance in January but pulled too hard with his hood left off. But he settled much better with the headgear back on when winning a trial for this contest at Lingfield in February, running out a ready winner by a length and a half from the Cesarewitch winner Beylerbeyi.

Regal Ulixes had to squeeze in a third qualifying run for this race just eight days later and didn't run badly in the Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton, making late headway into sixth in a race won by stablemate The Lost King who runs earlier on the card. Caught further back than ideal over an inadequate trip, Regal Ulixes earned the 'Horse In Focus' flag and he'll be much more at home going back over further now.

Now read more racing previews here