There are NINE races on Newcastle’s all-weather Tapeta surface on Friday, Oct 13th – action takes place between 16.20 – 20.30.

Many of the north’s finest are in action plus the brilliant Mrs Tom Marquand – aka Hollie Doyle.

16.52 – Cracksking @ 15/8

Cracksking is a 3-yr-old Frankel colt in the care of James Fanshawe, and Danny Muscutt rides. He’s still a maiden, hence his entry in this, but has earned a respectable handicap mark of 82. He’s surely talented enough and indeed bred to break his maiden at some point, and what better time than Friday.

Trainer and jockey are in good nick – they had a fantastic last-gasp winner in Al Ameen at Kempton under an inspired Muscutt ride on Wednesday, and this looks a gilt-edged opportunity. Cracksking races in famous old colours I’m sure I saw the late, great Walter Swinburn don back in the day – with Peter Harris training many of them, I recall.

A good second at Kempton last time, he’s run at Sandown, and Newbury too – proper top-grade tracks. He’s a winner waiting to happen for me, and I just hope it’s all going to come together on Friday.

20.30 – Woobay @ 2/1

The lucky last – and the aforementioned Mrs Marquand (Hollie) is sticking it out until the bitter end. I hope she’s rewarded with a win for our selection Woobay, before tackling the A1M.

Philip Makin trains this 4-yr-old daughter of Starspangledbanner, and she arrives fresh from a cosy success over the minimum trip at Catterick last time. That was achieved off a mark of 62, and tonight it’s 68.

Having eventually found where the jam-stick is there could be more to come from the filly, who gets the invaluable assistance of Ms Doyle on board for the first time.