Newcastle Placepot tips: Robbie Wilders' plays for the £50,000 guaranteed pool

The 1m4½f handicap (4.15) that opens the Placepot at Newcastle is tricky with a dearth of recent form on offer. Perhaps two months off and a gelding operation will work the oracle for well-beaten Melrose favourite Dramatic Star, while Chichester could bounce back on his return to this venue. 

Marama beat an 87-rated rival by seven lengths on her return at Chester last month and looks up to defying a penalty in the 1m2f novice (4.50).

Velvet Whisper, an encouraging second on her debut at Southwell when well supported recently, rates a rock-solid option for the 7f novice (5.25). 

Things get tougher in the 5f handicap (5.55). Alligator Alley and Arecibo, two sprinters lurking on cracking marks who have run well here in the past, make the most appeal. 

Paul Midgley has a strong hand in the next (6.25) with Elzaal and Better. Elzaal loves it at Newcastle and has slipped to a favourable rating on his return from a break, while Better caught the eye with a staying-on fourth here after missing the kick on his previous run.

The final leg (6.55) looks a nice spot for Pursuit Of Truth, who registered a promising handicap debut second at Kempton this month.

Newcastle Placepot perm

4.15
4 Chichester
9 Dramatic Star

4.50
1 Marama

5.25
11 Velvet Whisper

5.55
11 Alligator Alley
12 Arecibo

6.25
1 Better
6 Elzaal

6.55
4 Pursuit Of Truth

2x1x1x2x2x1 = 8 lines

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