Horse Racing tips: Timeform's 3 best bets at Newcastle on Friday night

7.00pm – Etikaal (nb)

ETIKAAL ended last season with back-to-back wins at this venue, including once over this trip, and he looks nicely placed to repeat that feat from just a couple of pounds higher.

He looked rusty on his first couple of outings since the resumption of racing, finishing down the field at Doncaster and Beverley and looked as though he was in in need of the run, but he bounced back to form when second over this course and distance last time having eased back down in the weights.

That form is starting to work out well, the winner going in again subsequently, and Etikaal gets the vote to go one better in a wide-open contest.

8.00pm – Blue Cable (nap)

BLUE CABLE showed plenty to work on when making her debut at Lingfield in January, with the penny really starting to drop late on. And with that run under her belt, she ran well again at Wolverhampton last time, doing well after a six-month break.

She again got going late on, keeping on well to finish less than a length third, and she really looks to be getting the hang of things now. She remains open to further improvement and is expected to be bang there on her handicap debut, with the step up to seven furlongs also likely to help.

8.30pm – Devil’s Angel (each-way)

DEVIL’S ANGEL, who had been threatening a handicap win – finding just one too good at Ripon and Hamilton – proved better than ever to win comfortably over this course and distance in July. He was awkward leaving the stalls but made good progress over two furlongs out and got to the front with a furlong left to go, staying on strongly to win well.

He ran badly at Ayr subsequently, but that run can be overlooked, and he returned to form when third at Redcar last time, going like the best horse at the weights for a long way only for a pair played later to pass him.

He is a relatively low-mileage four-year-old whose record on the all-weather is pretty good, so he certainly appeals as shortlist material.

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