The Evening Punt: James Stevens' free horse racing tips at Newcastle on Thursday

BANKER

Tenbury Wells(7.55 Newcastle)

A drop back to a mile resulted in a much-improved second at Newmarket for John and Thady Gosden's runner and he can go one better this evening.

Representing Team Newmarket Red in the Racing League set-up, he is only 1lb higher following that effort where he was too keen but still stayed on creditably behind a well fancied Godolphin runner in Path Of Thunder.

Tenbury Wells was also fitted with a tongue-tie for the first time that day so there's more reason to think the best is yet to come from this regally bred type, who cost $1.6 million when bought as a yearling.

He has also has won on an all-weather surface – when easily dismissing a 102-rated performer. He makes plenty of appeal off 89.

DARK HORSE

Bright Idea(8.25 Newcastle)

Joseph O'Brien has his string in good form at the moment and can give Team Ireland a winner on day one of the Racing League with this well-handicapped type.

Bright Idea almost beat subsequent Group 1 winner Champers Elysees on his only start last season before going one better at Killarney.

Since switching to handicaps and going up in trip he has shaped well with two solid efforts at the Curragh. He'd need to improve from his latest fifth – when sent off 6-4 – but he was short of room and unlucky when beaten a length the time before and would have major claims on that.

Cheekpieces are also fitted for the first time and his dam ran to a high level in America so a switch to the all-weather is interesting.

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