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By Gary Harley

The eagerly awaited debut of three-year-olds Shropshire Lad and Overtook is expected to be one of the highlights of Newcastle Jockey Club’s eight-race midweek meeting on Wednesday.

The recent trial winners clash in the 900m Dailey Family Funerals Maiden Handicap.

The pair are in very successful stables with former NSW Country Premiership winner Rob Northam training the gelding Shropshire Lad ($2.60 on TAB) at Scone, while the filly Overtook ($2.15 favourite) is under the care of Australia’s leading trainer Ciaron Maher’s stable at Moss Vale.

Chelsea Hillier - will be aboard first starter Shropshire Lad at Newcastle. Image by Bradley Photographers

Shropshire Lad is unbeaten in two trials, both at Scone.

In February he won a barrier trial by more than 14 lengths and on November 13 the gelding was slow to begin before a fast finishing win by a neck.

Northam said that Shropshire Lad will appreciate the spacious Newcastle straight.

“This horse has shown me he is pretty smart, and the long straight is ideal because he gives the indication he will be strong late.

"He threw his head up when the gates opened and was slow away in the most recent trial but ran them down unextended.

"That was in contrast to his first trial when he sat outside the leader. Ciaron Maher’s horse looks smart and has Tommy Berry so it should be a good race,” Northern said.

Overtook, a Deep Field filly was bred by Bruce Neill on his famous Cressfield Stud at Scone, and her recent Hawkesbury trial win when she sat outside the leader and raced away late was very impressive.

The opening event, the TAB App Class 1 Handicap (1850m), is dominated by the pair at the top of the weights, James Cummings' Squeezebox ($2.25 fav) and Brad Widdup’s Hardpoint ($2.30).

The pair met at Kembla in a 1400m Super Maiden on October 26 when Just Feelin’Lucky won the race by four lengths from Squeezebox with Hardpoint 2.5 lengths away third.

Squeezebox then went to Hawkesbury on November 7 and won a ‘Mile’ Super Maiden by two lengths.

Hardpoint then fronted up at Wyong and led all the way over the ‘mile on November 9.

Kerrin McEvoy rides Squeezebox and Tommy Berry climbs aboard Hardpoint as both horses step up in trip.

Berry has a good book of rides and one at value with a good chance is the John Steinmetz-trained Good Once ($5) in the 1400m The Adviser Collective Midway Class 1 Handicap.

Good Once flashed home for third over 1200me at Wyong on November 9 and will appreciate the longer trip and long straight. He has drawn well and he has a win and a second from two starts at Newcastle.

Kris Lees' promising New Zealand-bred filly Star Of Paris ($2.20 fav) can overcome an awkward barrier and win the 1300m Red Funnel Food Distributors Maiden Plate.

Kerrin McEvoy has the mount on the 3yo which has been narrowly beaten in her only two starts at Newcastle and Hawkesbury recently. She came from second last on the turn at Hawkesbury on November 12 when beaten three quarters of a length.

Irish bred 3yo Rumbling Night, from the Waterhouse-Bott stable, was luckless when second last at Hawkesbury on debut and can run well in the final event the 1500m The Prince Of Merewether Maiden Plate.

Tim Clark has the mount from a lovely barrier and has firmed from $5 into $3.90.

Last start at Hawkesbury he was backed from $10 into $6.50 but raced fiercely and was off heels at the ‘800m’. Then he was badly held up between the 400m and 200m and you could argue was never clear.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Newcastle here