The opening race is tricky, especially with the scratching yesterday of Tauranga winner Eletist. Keeping Tom (No1, R1) has to be considered. There was no apprentice claim last start and he appeared to be anchored under his 60.5kg in finishing seventh. He gets 2kg off that same weight today and that will make a difference. Stacato (No2) will have 4kg ripped off his 60.5kg and will be competitive as will Roc That (No5) and Stralis (No7). Multiple bets look the best here.
Waijema (No1, R3) would have been suited by the very heavy track at Tauranga two weeks ago, but failed to get into the field off the emergency list. Te Rapa may not suit quite as much, but if the track slides back into the heavy range he won't be too disadvantaged.
Victoria Heights (No6, R4) raced a touch too dour when beaten favourite over 1600m at Te Teko last start and should appreciate the step up to 2100m this time. Her overall form is very sound. Ana (No5) remains in the same grade she was on at Te Teko and apart from a wide barrier is well placed to be in this finish. High Tail It (No8) was stylish winning at Te Teko.
Arizona Jazz (No4, R6) looked likely to cause a major upset when he clearly led around the home bend in the Kiwifruit Cup at Tauranga. He was forced back to fourth, but that was in open company and he drops two grades here and has an apprentice allowance. El Bandido (No8) is close to a win and Iz (No9) should be improved for his last start second at Te Aroha.
Track conditions and the racing pattern will both have a big bearing on Race 6, the Taumarunui Cup. Left-handed specialist Miss Mossman (No9) is a big hope. She was an impressive winner on this track earlier in this preparation and goes around with 53kg.
Peacefuleasyfeelin (No6) is in top form and Ethical (No8) is a real winning hope if the track becomes very heavy with the rain.
The sprint, Race 8, is a very strong field. Close Up (No12) is underrated and a big chance to cause a mild surprise. As a seven-time Te Rapa winner Spin Doctor (No1) will not lack support and neither will Barbaric (No3), Flower Bomb (No4) and Aaja Nachle (No8). Great race.
Ysabella Brave (No5, R9) is a very good each-way hope in the last. She has been solid late in her races and that will be important late in the day this afternoon. Charley Farley (No9) is the definite improver. He was running on late over 1200m last week and will appreciate the 1400m this time.
• Jumpers and highweight day at Te Aroha tomorrow should throw up some talent.
Bahhton (No2) makes his jumping debut in Race 2 after his latest flat form including a good second to Kentucky Son, who goes around as a real chance in today's Taumarunui Cup.
D'Llaro (No5) has won both his hurdling starts and goes for three straight in Race 3. There was a lot to like about the way he raced away late to win by a wide margin at Te Aroha last start.
Flavor Flav (No2) and Notabadrooster (No4) make appeal in the highweight, Race 5.
Flavour Flav gets 3kg off his 68.5kg. Joking (No6) looks one of the most promising steeplechasers in the making and should make it two from three in Race 7.
• It's never too late to try something new.
Ask Britain's double Olympian cycling champion and nine times world title holder Victoria Pendleton.
Pendleton, known as Queen Victoria to her fans, announced she was swapping her cycle for a horse with the intention of riding at next year's famous Cheltenham jumping festival.
On Thursday the champion cyclist, who retired in 2012, made her race riding debut in an amateur race at Newbury, finishing eighth after her mount Mighty Mambo began slowly.
"It was over too quickly. I wish I could do it again - it was so much fun. It's the most incredible feeling and nothing comes close to that moment you first gallop and canter a horse," Pendleton told the Racing Post.
"It's crazy to think how you have to rely on something else so much, and it's a really interesting relationship. You've got to keep your cool to a whole new level because they know how you feel."
Pendleton started riding in March after accepting a challenge from a UK betting company to become an amateur jockey with the ultimate aim of racing in the Foxhunter Chase at next year's Cheltenham Festival.
Also riding in the Newbury event was our own Mark Todd.
