Horse racing tips: Mostawaa to relish return to a mile at Newcastle

Robbie Wilders Updated: 30 Aug 23 16:07 Published: 30 Aug 23 15:58

Racing Post tipster Robbie Wilders assesses the latest round of Racing League fixtures at Newcastle and advises four bets.

Robbie Wilders' tips:

8.15 Newcastle - Parlando @ 5/1
8.15 Newcastle - Mostawaa @ 16/1
8.45 Newcastle - Antiphon @ 12/1
8.45 Newcastle - Batal Dubai @ 6/1

All prices correct at time of writing and subject to change.

8.15 Newcastle - Parlando @ 5/1
8.15 Newcastle - Mostawaa @ 16/1

There are excellent betting opportunities for punters at the Racing League and PARLANDO rates the best-value favourite on the card for Ian Williams.

Parlando is seriously well bred as a son of Dubawi whose dam went off a 10/1 shot for the 1,000 Guineas 11 years ago, and he was almost a perfect two from two for Charlie Appleby before joining Williams for £105,000 in March.

The four-year-old has clearly had his issues as his first start for Williams came just 19 days ago at Newmarket following a 549-day absence. It was a deeply encouraging debut, though, as he arrived from well off the pace to snatch third behind two rivals who were in the front rank throughout.

It can be tricky making up ground from the rear on the July Course and that run suggested Parlando could be a good bit ahead of a mark of 85 on his fourth run, with the handicapper leaving his rating unchanged for that promising effort. As the least-exposed horse in the field, he could be a cut above these.

MOSTAWAA is the overpriced one among the outsiders. Heather Main's horses have been running excellently this summer and Mostawaa's four-timer bid was thwarted in another Racing League fixture at Windsor two weeks ago.

The seven-year-old could manage only seventh that day, but attempted to make all over a 1m2f trip he simply doesn't stay. Regardless of his finishing effort, it was still a fair run from Mostawaa given how well that piece of form is working out.

The winner, Spirit Dancer, subsequently landed the Group 3 Strensall Stakes at York's Ebor meeting, while third Tregony was only beaten half a length in the Listed Galtres Stakes after encountering trouble in running. Even the eighth home, Reach, did her bit for the form by landing a competitive fillies' handicap on the Knavesmire.

I expect Mostawaa to prove tough to peg back as he returns to his optimum trip.

Robbie Wilders' tips:

Parlando @ 5/1 - 1pt win
Mostawaa @ 16/1 - 1pt win

8.45 Newcastle - Antiphon @ 12/1
8.45 Newcastle - Batal Dubai @ 6/1

Alligator Alley heads the betting for the concluding 5f handicap and has an excellent chance if replicating the form of his second of 22 at York last week. However, I am looking further afield as the half-furlong shorter trip is probably against him and he often misses the kick.

One horse who certainly doesn't break sluggishly is ANTIPHON, who looks worth trying back at five furlongs.

The son of Kodiac showed blistering gate speed to grab the stands' side rail from stall 11 over six furlongs at Windsor two weeks ago, just failing to sustain the gallop when beaten a neck by Capote's Dream.

He races from slightly out of the weights, but Mia Nicholls' 7lb claim negates that and, in a group largely containing sprinters who have seen better days, this progressive four-year-old can put up a bold show off bottom weight.

My other selection, BATAL DUBAI, was also progressive going into his last run at Ascot. He took a backward step on his return to turf there, drifting from 9/2 to 7/1 on the show when finishing a tailed-off last of ten, and is surely better judged on his last-gasp victory over 6f at this course in July.

That marked him down as a seriously well-treated sprinter and the way he travelled, after being denied a clear run on multiple occasions, breeds hope he can handle dropping back to the minimum trip. The sole three-year-old in the field, Batal Dubai can get his career back on track.