Trainer bids to improve recent 43 per cent strike-rate with sole runner on Newcastle card - punting pointers for Wednesday's action

Kempton: Beccali out to justify hefty price tag for Appleby and Godolphin

Charlie Appleby enjoyed a healthy 30 per cent strike-rate at Kempton in 2024 and will attempt to get off to a strong start this year with expensive purchase Beccali.

The three-year-old son of Lope De Vega, who fetched €310,000 as a foal at the Goffs November sales in 2022, was bought for €580,000 as a yearling at the Arqana Deauville sales in August 2023.

Having finished seventh on his first two starts at Leicester and Newmarket last year, Beccali was beaten a length and a half into fourth at Chelmsford in November and then got off the mark at Wolverhampton last month. He is expected to be a leading player in the mile handicap (7.30) under James Doyle, who rides him for the first time.

Beccali will face four rivals, with the Marco Botti-trained Molveno his toughest opponent based on official ratings.

Beccali19:30 Kempton (A.W)

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Jky: James Doyle Tnr: Charlie Appleby

Newcastle: course specialist Red Maids goes again for Rimell

The 7f handicap (3.33) is an intriguing contest as seven of the ten runners have won over the course and distance.

The one to beat on official ratings is the Mark Rimell-trained Red Maids, who bids to land a fourth victory in six starts at Newcastle. 

Following a turf outing at Redcar in October, the former Godolphin-owned daughter of Invincible Spirit finished midfield on the all-weather at Kempton before reeling off a hat-trick at Newcastle in the space of four weeks. She was beaten only half a length into third at the track last time and should be considered again.

All of Rimell's track wins have come with Red Maids at an overall strike-rate of 75 per cent, but she faces some in-form rivals.

King's School bids for a course hat-trick for the red-hot Gemma Tutty yard, which has a 44 per cent strike-rate in the last fortnight, while the Kevin Ryan-trained Barnaby also notched a four-timer at the track between September and November.

Red Maids15:33 Newcastle (A.W)

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Jky: Taryn Langley (7lb)Tnr: Mark Rimell

Newcastle stat: Burke a trainer worth following

Karl Burke has registered six winners from 14 runners (43 per cent) in the past fortnight and his sole runner at the track is Northern Ruler, who makes his stable debut in the 1m4½f novice (2.03).

Northern Ruler14:03 Newcastle (A.W)

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Jky: Clifford Lee Tnr: K R Burke

Taunton: Derham looking to continue purple patch

Three of Harry Derham's last six runners have won and the trainer will look to continue his rich vein of form at Taunton.

Slugger was Derham's most recent winner on New Year's Day, with all six of his runners since December 29 finishing in the first three.

Dual winner Any Biscuits, who finished fifth on his latest start at Hereford in November, tackles the 2m novice handicap chase (1.45) and the David Maxwell-owned Joker De Mai makes his seasonal return in the 2m5½f hunter chase (2.45).

Derham said: "Any Biscuits has been schooling well. He was way too keen over hurdles and we hope fences will be able to cool him down a bit and be better for him. It's been a long time since his two wins, so we're hoping we can get him back on track.

"Joker De Mai will need the run quite badly, as he's missed some bits of work. But we're looking forward to getting him back out again and we're hoping for a nice run to take us forward."

Taunton stat: course-and-distance scorer goes for more

Joint-trainers Philip Hobbs and Johnson White boast a 50 per cent (2-4) strike-rate in handicap hurdles at Taunton this season and are represented by course-and-distance winner Tom Doniphon in the 2m3f contest (2.15).

Tom Doniphon14:15 Taunton

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Jky: Micheal Nolan Tnr: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

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