Best Bets: Friday 27 December

Blackhouse Eric (Trap 3) - 17.22 Newcastle 

Sprints aren’t everyone’s cup of tea but the 17.22 at Newcastle has a nice betting shape to it with T3 Blackhouse Eric making plenty of appeal. The selection has bags of early pace and usually leads up over the standard trip, so it’s rather a surprise he hasn’t been tried more often at this shorter trip. He ran well at it last time despite being outclassed in an Open, but this D2 is much more his level and he can show his opponents a clean pair of heels.

Pandarama (Trap 3) - 18.55 Nottingham 

At Nottingham this evening, T3 Pandarama looks a solid selection in the 18.55. The white is still learning his trade and has followed his debut A7 success with second and third place finishes in better company. In both those contests he led the field a merry dance until the run-in but is confidently expected to hold on in this weaker affair.

 Upton Legend (Trap 3) - 19.09 Nottingham 

The fourth race at Nottingham (19.09) can go to T3 Upton Legend. The selection knows his way to the winning post having won three of his last five races (all in Open company) and now finds himself back in top A1 grade for the first time since winning here last month. The last time he ran form T3 he romped home by 6 lengths so all looks set for a good run.