Duke Cosimo and Rio Ronaldo among tips for Newcastle and Yarmouth

The three-year-old, who is trained by Keith Dalgleish, scored in good style over 7f at the venue three starts back and backed that up with a fine 1 1/4 length third to the unexposed and well-treated Mazzini over this afternoon’s trip.

War Department kept on really well in the latter and finished six lengths clear of the fourth home Slingsby, who has come out and won since.

That gives the form a solid look and, although now 4lb higher in the weights, the rise if offset by the 5lb claim of jockey Shirley Teasdale.

Taking it into account War Department is racing off just 5lb more than when last successful, and having been rated as high as 90 in the past, he should be more than capable of winning races off his current mark of 80.

Newcastle best bets

14.00: Mister Manduro
14.30: Midaawi
15.00: War Department (NB)
15.30: Duke Cosimo (NAP)
16.00: Maulesden May
16.30: Magic City
17.00: Princess Momoka
17.30: Loose Ends

Class-dropping Rio Ronaldo can score in Yarmouth tips

Rio Ronaldo can take advantage of a drop in class to get back to winning ways in the 6f handicap on today’s card at Yarmouth (15.50).

The Michael Murphy trained four-year-old is a useful sprinter when things drop right, as he showed when coming from off the pace and quickening smartly to land a class 4 contest at Windsor back in May under a sublime ride from Jamie Spencer.

Rio Ronaldo backed that up with a cracking two length second of 14 to Growl in a competitive class 2 affair at the same venue, and the winner has gone on to run some really solid races including when runner-up in the Group 1 Champions Sprint at Ascot.

That is extremely strong form and Rio Ronaldo now drops back down into class 4 company, the same as when last successful, having subsequently posted some solid efforts.

The son of Footstepsinthesand has a 37.5 per cent strike rate in the grade and, with ground conditions ideal and Spencer back in the saddle, everything looks in place for Rio Ronaldo to get back on the scoresheet.

Scooby handicapped to do the business

Captain Scooby has dropped to a dangerous mark and looks decent value to land the spoils in the the other 6f handicap on the eight-race card (16.50).

The Richard Guest trained 10-year-old has been a terrific servant over the years, winning 15 of his 171 races and being placed on 35 occasions.

In the last of those successes back in May, Captain Scooby came with his customary late run from off the pace to gamely beat Go Go Green by a neck in a class 5 contest at Ayr off a mark of 64.

The veteran is now able to race in this class 6 contest off 6lb lower and comes into the race on the back of a solid fourth in an apprentice handicap on the Tapeta surface at Newcastle.

That was a step back in the right direction and Captain Scooby will appreciate the return to the turf and now gets the cut in the ground that he relishes.

Yarmouth tips

13.50: Bequia
14.20: Jet Setter
14.50: God Given
15.20: Port Lairge
15.50: Rio Ronaldo (NAP)
16.20: Caribbean Spring
16.50: Captain Scooby (NB)
17.20: Tyrsal

Related

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