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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail out 3m

We start over the short course, and home track three-year-old 3. Jo Jo Sun by Press Statement can go one better second-up. Was well supported from $3.60 into $2.60 before showing good speed until collared in the final strides here, and draws to do even less early work this time.

Dangers: Big watch on resuming Not A Single Doubt filly 9. Melissa who failed in a one-off debut run against stronger last spring, but tuned up for this with a smart trial win. Gap to the rest headed by 4. Keysborough fitter now second-up off a long break; and 8. Lazulite who worked home okay in that same race as the top selection, and draws the inside.

How to play it: Jo Jo Sun to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Keen to ride home here with emerging and lightly raced local three-year-old 1. Zoukeeper second-up and back a little in distance. Was very gallant on debut boxing on for a long way after stalking the speed from a middle gate, and with that extra fitness and a stronger rider hopping on, he shapes well.

Dangers: Provincial colt 10. Villa Tino is nearing a win after beating all bar the winner here 12 days ago, although hasn't exactly attacked the line in four runs this prep. Keep safe stablemate to the top selection 2. Ambassadors who stuck on strong second-up after working hard early, and drawn to get a softer run in transit. Improving 7. Mystic Diva is the best of the rest.

How to play it: Zoukeeper to win
Odds and Evens: Evens

Progressive three-year-old 5. Crazy Russian has been knocking on the door in three starts, and was stiff not to win at Kembla third-up, losing his position badly on the turn, then striking traffic trouble before hitting the line late. Not surprisingly the regular rider has been replaced for his fourth start over 100m further, and winkers go on for a race that's been weakened in depth.

Dangers: Watch the betting on 3. Allhallowtide who can improvely sharply at his second start from a much softer draw. Big watch too on resuming Fastnet Rock filly 9. An Charraig who has enough ability, and given two improving trials.

How to play it: Crazy Russian to win
Odds and Evens: Odds a special

Promising Pierro three-year-old 2. Cool Jakey can win again after an impressive debut performance. Sat behind the speed and finished off hard in heavy ground at Warwick Farm, easily accounting for a hot favourite and running one of the better final 600m splits of the day.

Dangers: Plenty of respect for 5. Strombus second-up, although likely to drift a long way back again from the draw. Last start provincial BM 68 winner 3. Pad Thai third-up; and 6. The Great Houdini who drew the fence fourth-up, with winkers replacing blinkers; head the rest in a race of only moderate depth.

How to play it: Cool Jakey to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Another race lacking depth and quality for the grade, and that augurs well for talented and lightly raced filly 4. Secaution who can go back-to-back second-up. Tracked the speed before surging past to beat a handy metro maiden field, running a very good final 600m split for heavy ground. Naturally up in weight from a wider barrier, but plenty of time on this bigger circuit to balance up and finish over the top.

Dangers: Keep very safe provincial filly 11. Justina who draws to get a cosy run right behind the speed third-up. Big gap to the rest headed by 13. Viennoiserie who improves second-up.

How to play it: Secaution to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Tough and consistent five-year-old 6. Markwell Dreamer hasn't had a lot of luck beating all but the winner in his last four starts. Chased home the hot favourite here in his last effort, and gets a nice 2.5kg weight drop for the rise in class.

Dangers: Speedy mare and hot favorite 2. Alicia Roma made light work stepping up to a BM 68 here over the same trip, jumping to the front and kept going. Shapes as the natural leader from this gate, and while she can be a shade weak over the last little bit, is naturally a huge threat. Both 3. Flora and 8. Jumping Power Two are capable of running into the minor money.

How to play it: Markwell Dreamer to win and quinella 2 and 6
Odds and Evens: Evens a special

Naturally a wide open feature with plenty of chances, although the leading home track stable of Kris Lees threatens to dominate the race. Keen on one of them, six-year-old and ex Irish-based 3. Kalapour first-up since late winter. Has looked strong winning both trials up to 1200m, and last autumn was a middle distance winner over 1800m in provincial BM 78 grade. Will settle back from a wide draw, but capable of sustaining a powerful 600m finishing run.

Dangers: Big watch on stablemate 2. Acquitted who comes to hand quickly and has had two soft trials; while the third of the Lees' runners, 4. Geo is also first-up off two progressive trials. Another one drawn out although he would prefer it wetter, 5. True Crime had been right in the money in three runs up to BM 78 metro level before a disqualification in a Midway BM 72 at Rosehill. Keep safe 10. Sebrenco second-up from a low draw and dropping sharply in weight; while 1. Contributingfactor third-up with blinkers coming off goes in exotic plays.

How to play it: Kalapour each way
Odds and Evens: Split

Open battle to finish. Provincial mare 1. Buba has a tidy fresh record, and trialled strongly. Prefers rain-affected ground, but will come to hand, and the big weight has been off-set by a 2kg claim.

Dangers: Lightly raced home tracker 6. Convincebility has won both starts this prep, but this is a decent step up from country CL1, and he looks poorly weighted under 58.5kg. Include 7. Rumpshaker and 10. Par Five in exotic bets.

How to play it: Buba to win
Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:
R3 5. CRAZY RUSSIAN
R4 2. COOL JAKEY

BEST VALUE:
R2 1. ZOUKEEPER

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday's Newcastle meeting