Joe-s Thursday Tips - 3 July 2025

Joe's Thursday Tips

***7.27 Newcastle - Icemans Girl (3pts) 8/13
**8.41 Hove - Burrows Eclipse (3pts) 5/6
*7.33 Hove - Minstrels Six (2pts) 4/1

Trial stakes aplenty this evening at Newcastle and Hove as we look ahead to the upcoming events at both tracks.

The nap of the evening is Icemans Girl who runs from trap three in the Arena Racing Company Angel Of The North Trial Stakes at 7.27pm. She is at the top of her game after winning the bitches competition at Towcester in fine style on Derby final night leading and making all. She has since backed that up with a very smart 28.32 trial at Newcastle looking ahead to the upcoming Angel Of The North. She would ideally be drawn closer to the fence but if coming away she has got the legs to clear Coppice Saphire and Ballymac Neems on her inside and from then a clear run would be enough for Icemans Girl to chalk up another victory.

The next best is trap five Burrows Eclipse in the Premier Greyhound Racing Regency Trial Stakes over 695m at 8.41pm. He made the bet365 Hunt Cup final at Oxford over 650m back in April and went close over C&D last week when leading but was caught late on by the strong runners Art Riddler and Swift Jarvis. Tonight he has one way of winning and that is popping out and making all and although the strongest stayer in the race Ower Smasher wouldn’t have to do too much to win, she is only thirteen weeks out of season with one race under her belt since seasonal rest so Burrows Eclipse needs to go far enough clear or Ower Smasher before she starts to make her move. The lack of runs and fitness in Ower Smasher should play into the hands of the selection so I am with Burrows Eclipse to lead and hold on.

The third bet on the card is trap three Minstrels Six in another Premier Greyhound Racing Regency Trial Stakes over 695m at 7.33pm. She has found herself in difficult races over C&D in recent week but has still managed to win two of her last four starts. She needs to get first run on Rules For Some on the inside as well as turning close enough to give chase to Borna Parachute who should take the field along if coming away. She finds a way to get competitive Minstrels Six so I am hoping that a clear run can see her go well at a fair price in a race where if she is at her best she is more than capable of winning.

Other selections at Hove include Romeo Empire in the Coral 695 Stayers Trophy Final at Hove at 8.07pm. Slick Sentinel to get the better of Romeo Tomcat giving Patrick Janssens a one-two in the Coral Dual Distance Trophy Final at 8.24pm as both look set to be in the Coral Sussex Cup in two weeks time.

At Newcastle the first ARC Angel Of The North Trial Stakes at 7.11pm can go to Bang On Edith giving Nathan Hunt a double on the card. There are also two trial stakes for the Time Northern Flat where Rugged Road can get the better of Untold Paanga in the first at 7.44pm with Naochra landing the spoils after a short break in the second trial stakes at 8.01pm.