Racing League tips: race-by-race guide to the first meeting at Newcastle tonight

The Racing League gets under way on Thursday evening at Newcastle, launching a six-week team competition that runs until September.

A total of 12 teams will bid for £1.8 million in prize-money throughout the series, with each team made of up to four trainers, three jockeys (plus a reserve) and 30 horses.

Teams will field a single runner for each of the six races on the card bearing team silks, with the weekly fixtures broadcast on Sky.

The lowdown on the 12 teams

All you need to know about the Racing League – starting at Newcastle

The Racing League: the big races on Thursday

6.25: William Hill Pick Your Places Racing League Race One, 5f

Copper Knight, the clear pick of the field, takes a drop in class in the opening race. A course-and-distance winner in 2018, the seven-year-old has never been far off the mark in his four runs at Newcastle and runs for trainer Tim Easterby under the eToro Racing banner.

The Paul Midgley-trained Saluti must be respected for Team Arena lower down the weights following his close third here in June last time out, while Kingsholm's all-weather form looks promising for Team talkSPORT and James Fanshawe.

Spotlight tip: Copper Knight

Team: eToro Racing
Trainer: Tim Easterby
Jockey: David Allan

Won big-field York handicap in May; three solid runs since; goes well here; huge chance

6.55: William Hill Plus Bet Club Racing League Race Two, 6f

Cash Machine is the most lightly raced runner in the field for trainer Tom Clover. He steps into handicap company for the first time for the Goat Racing team after three promising novice runs, which included a success over the distance at Chelmsford.

Team Arena are again in contention with the Mick Appleby-trained Mohareb, who recently ended a 17-race losing streak at Lingfield and seems to have a preference for six furlongs, as does Royal Musketeer for Team Swish and Charlie Hills, with two wins to the colt's name already.

Spotlight tip: Mohareb

Team: Team Arena
Trainer: Mick Appleby
Jockey: Cam Hardie

Scored at Lingfield latest; up 2lb but effective here and still feasibly treated

7.25: William Hill Extra Place Races Racing League Race Three, 7f

It's been over a year since Woven last won for the yard of Michael Dods, but that success was the five-year-old's last try over seven furlongs, and a return to that distance may bring out the best in him for Team Arena.

Competition comes from Newmarket Red's Royal Pleasure, who boasts an all-weather record of two wins and two seconds from six starts. The Sir Mark Prescott-trained gelding will sport a hood after running too free when second at Lingfield last time.

Team ODDSbible's hope Gavi Di Gavi comes off the back of Kempton success, but is facing a step up in class against some proven handicappers for trainer Alan King.

Spotlight tip: Gavi Di Gavi

Team: Team ODDSbible
Trainer: Alan King
Jockey: PJ McDonald

Impressive at Kempton last time and 4lb rise fair; should remain competitive

7.55: William Hill Build Your Odds Racing League Race Four, 1m

The unexposed Flyin' High has won two of his four starts, both coming over course and distance. The three-year-old was disappointing for Andrew Balding in the Listed Fairway Stakes in May, and makes his Newcastle reappearance for Team ThoroughBid and Hayley Turner.

Jumping up in class is the Joseph O'Brien-trained, and Team Ireland runner, Sincerest, but she showed ability when winning at Killarney by over four lengths, while Team Swish's Menai Bridge has yet to be beaten on the all-weather for Charlie Hills.

Spotlight tip: Menai Bridge

Team: Team Swish
Trainer: Charlie Hills
Jockey: Saffie Osborne (5)

3-7 in handicaps and 2-2 on AW; should continue to give a good account

8.25: William Hill Play Responsibly Racing League Race Five, 1m2f

Newmarket Red have Sir Mark Prescott to thank once again as they field Jebel Dukhan, who was a comfortable winner at Newcastle five days ago and sets out over the same distance.

First-time cheekpieces may bring out the best in Bright Idea for Joseph O'Brien and Team Ireland, while a recent Newbury win for True Scarlet may set her up in good stead in this race for Ed Walker and Team Swish.

Spotlight tip: Bright Idea

Team: Team Ireland
Trainer: Joseph O'Brien
Jockey: David Egan

Beaten favourite but ran well in two Curragh handicaps since Killarney win; headgear now; chance

Last month's King George V Stakes seems to have unearthed some decent handicappers, and Marshall Plan may join their ranks after suffering from a bad draw at Royal Ascot. The John and Thady Gosden-trained colt was not far off the pace when finishing eighth, and this grade may be more comfortable for the three-year-old representing Newmarket Red.

The main competition comes from In The Breeze, who made his first step up to 1m4f a winning one at the start of the month. It will be the first run on the all-weather for the Team ODDSbible runner.

Spotlight tip: Marshall Plan

Team: Newmarket Red
Trainer: John and Thady Gosden
Jockey: Robert Havlin

Not beaten far in big 1m4f handicap at Royal Ascot; can fare better in this grade

Newcastle Thursday racecards and betting

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O'Brien brothers add Irish interest as first Racing League teams are revealed

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