The Hardwick Hall Hotel Handicap (6.15) at Newcastle on Tuesday looks competitive enough, with plenty of recent form on offer, but Jaywalker is 2-2 on synthetic surfaces and may be able to defy a 3lb rise in the weights, despite taking a slight rise in class. The Footstepsinthesand gelding showed improved form when making all to beat Soul Brother and subsequent winner Manatee Bay by half a length and the same in a 0-80 contest over course and distance three weeks ago. That performance proved his effectiveness over 6 furlongs and on the Tapeta surface. It’s too early to draw any conclusions about the draw over 6 furlongs at Newcastle, but the first three in the race he won on his last visit were draw 11, 7 and 4, so stall 4 may not hinder his chance of a repeat performance under P.J. McDonald.
Selection: Newcastle 6.15 Jaywalker (6/1 with bet365) to win