Best Bets: Friday 31 December

HEADFORD SIR (Trap 6) - 13:51 Kinsley

HEADFORD SIR is very much in the infancy of his career and confirmed the promise of his debut when running out a convincing winner in A5 company on his penultimate start, leading off the last bend and clearing away for a two-and-three-quarter-length victory. With his latest effort easily overlooked (stumbled start) and with this afternoon’s contest hardly looking the strongest on paper, he can avoid any mishaps at the boxes, turn front rank and assume control from the halfway point with the prospect of more to come.

MISS QUEEN BEE (Trap 3) - 15:48 Monmore

We head over to Monmore for our second selection this afternoon and whilst holding no secrets from the grader, MISS QUEEN BEE may well be up to proving she holds a class edge over today’s rivals in a basement grade affair. Kim Billingham’s charge needs to shrug off a lesser effort on her most recent start, but the balance of her form reads well in the context of today’s race and she can bide her time and announce her presence from the three-quarter point.

KILLIEFORD KATIC (Trap 6) - 16:04 Newcastle

KILLIEFORD KATIC has certainly found his niche in six-bend handicaps at Newcastle, winning comfortably in November and following that run with runners-up efforts on two of his three starts since. A strong-running sort, he should have those at the head of the handicap in his sights early doors this afternoon and is fancied to enhance his record over the 640-metre trip.