If one dog deserves the "pick of the day" tag tonight, it's Slingshot Poppy. The two-year-old bitch lines up in the 20:01 OR2 at Newcastle over 480 metres from trap 4, carrying a composite score of 75 that puts clear daylight between her and the rest of her field. The next best, Bluebell Teddy in trap 2, sits on 55. That's a 20-point gap, which is about as dominant as pre-race numbers get.
Her form backs it up. Four wins from her last six starts, including a 28.13 at this track and distance just last week. The one blot is a sixth at Towcester over a sprint trip that clearly didn't suit. Over 480 metres, she's a different animal. Her Sunderland runs show she handles different surfaces and configurations, and her progression from OR3 to OR2 has been smooth and convincing.
Trained by B Fairbairn, Slingshot Poppy draws well in four at Newcastle, where traps 2 and 4 have been the strongest performers over the last 60 races. The opposition here is modest: Proper Rockett (trap 1) and Ballymac Camilla (trap 3) both sit below 50 on composite, and none of the outside runners look likely to cause an upset. If she breaks on terms, this should be hers to lose.