Jason Weaver: My top 6 picks for Newcastle and Dundalk on Friday

The Weaver Shark steps into the spotlight again for the Friday night lights.

Jason Weaver Flat Racing

Newcastle 16:30 – Jonboy

Returned from a 15-month layoff three weeks ago and put up a decent performance when second in a 6f handicap here on his first try for David Brown’s yard. He’s been relieved of the wedding tackle and it seemed to have the desired effect, as he looked focused and had every opportunity to win, but just got tired in the closing stages. He’s lightly raced and dropping back to 5f should be a positive in this line-up.

Newcastle 17:00 – Najib

Trainer Roger Fell picked him up from the Godolphin team and could prove to be another shrewd purchase by Colm Sharkey for £14,000. He is bred to be a good bit better than where he sits at the moment on a rating of 70 and this test over the straight mile should suit him perfectly. He got going late over a shorter trip at Musselburgh last time and rates and each-way play at a likely double-digit price.

Dundalk 18:15 – Pepperoni Pete

On all evidence to date it looks like he may well of been an all-weather performer all along. He’s been very limited on the turf so far, winning once and then falling off the radar, The spin over hurdles two runs back seems to have bucked his ideas up and he ran a cracker on the synthetic surface last time.

He can slot back to the winners enclosure for an exceptional trainer and jockey combo of Shane Foley and Jessica Harrington.

Scoot over to PaddyPower.com now for all the latest racing odds

Newcastle 19:00 – Socru

Has only tried an all-weather surface on one occasion and that was a long time ago on his racecourse debut at Wolverhampton. Recently he’s been campaigned over slightly further but this stiff 6 furlongs should prove ideal as stamina won’t be an issue for this lad.

He’s 5lbs below his peak rating and with Paul Mulrennan booked he can close out the card for us at Newcastle.

Dundalk 20:15 – Lord Rapscallion

One win from 18 hardly makes him jump off the page, but if he is a bit soft, the first-time eye-shields can make a difference. You can find that horses who suffer kick-back can climb up in the air to avoid it and make no headway in a race, until it’s too late. He was a bit of an eye-catcher last time when he got a clear passage and saw some daylight and Johnny Murtagh’s team are in good nick.

Dundalk 20:45 – Tyrconnell

When you’re operating down at this rating level of 45-65 – you need everything to go your way.

It certainly didn’t happen for this lad last time when he tried to back up after his win on the beach at Laytown. He’s not hiding anything from the handicapper, but he is in form and runs this course and distance particularly well.  His latest winning rider takes over again for the Sarah Lynam team and their Sabrina Fairchild should of won last week. Get her in the tracker!

Scoot over to PaddyPower.com now for all the latest racing odds