Sam for a Sunday boost

One bet only on Sunday 1pt ew Sam Hawkens 4.35 Newcastle

The other bet I considered was Gunship in the 4.00 but too short at 6/5

William Haggas sends two runners to Newcastle on Sunday and both ran well on seasonal debut looking sure to come on for the run.

Cairdeas in the 6.15 looks to have a tougher task with three improving rivals that look ahead of the handicapper .

Potentially poorly drawn in stall 3 the 5/1 is not big enough to take an Ew shot especially as he is unproven at Newcastle.

Sam Hawkens is also around 5/1 and with the extra 4 places available is worth a bet. This is a weaker contest than he has been contesting and the 4yo is running against exposed rivals up in the weights who have done their winning mainly in grade 4 .

Sam Hawkens has been at the head of the market in Grade 2 and 3 races off a mark of 89. Beaten by horses such as Subsequent, East India Dock and Minstrel Knight all of whom have gone onto win Grade 2 handicaps off higher marks. Those races have mainly been over 14f on soft ground which stretched his stamina at that stage of his career.

His disappointing effort at this trip was on his first start for the yard but he was held up in a slowly ran Shergar Cup race and a line can be put through that run.

Given an easy first outing at Ripon this season he has dropped to a mark of 81 and he is now well handicapped .

It is first run on the AW but is related to AW winners who ran their best races on Tapeka and I expect Tom Marquand to be prominent throughout and grind out the victory over this stiff 12f track which will suit this horse who has plenty of stamina.

He looked a much stronger horse at Ripon and I expect to see this afternoon a horse that can win and kick off a successful season in staying handicaps over 1m4f plus.

Sunday Diary of Season Bet 1pt ew Sam Hawkens 4.35 Newcastle