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By Neil Evans

Track likely Soft 5 and rail out 5m.

We start with the older milers on a track well into soft range, and it shapes as the right race for home tracker 3. Hellbetta second-up. Still lightly raced, and came off a lengthy break to do his best work late over 1400m when solid enough in the market. Gets a nice weight drop here over a furlong further.

Dangers: Well placed also is 2. Oakfield Echidna fourth-up after working home fairly in his last couple. Right at peak fitness now, and the addition of blinkers will sharpen him up. Keep safe improving mare 8. Sanbano third-up.

How to play it: Hellbetta to win

Smart colt 3. Fearless will start a hot favourite here, with an edge in fitness and a huge drop in class. Hit the line hard in the Group 3 Canonbury when resuming before tackling the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes and again ran home impressively just behind the placegetters. Drawn to get a soft run with cover, bred to handle the going, and only horror luck stands in his way.

Dangers: Talented stablemate colt 7. Media World resumes for only his second start, with winkers removed. Looked sharp in winning a soft track city trial, and was preferred here to Wyong on Wednesday. Big watch on debutant Fastnet Rock colt 8. Tenbury Wells off two progressive trials; while 4. Indecisive reloading off a first-up failure in the Group 2 Skyline; and well bred 5. Interjection on debut; can both add value into trifecta and first four plays.

How to play it: Fearless to win

A few chances here headed by the imported four-year-old 3. Rattle And Hum who can improve sharply after holding his ground first-up for eight months over a mile at Kembla, and well treated at the weights after a 3kg claim.

Dangers: Keep safe improving filly 10. Bush Girl who gets a drop in weight and a softer draw second-up off a five week break. Both 4. Zenmaster and 6. Long Memory who are well into their preps; are capable of running into the minor money.

How to play it: Rattle And Hum to win

Rain-affected ground over this short trip is music to the ears of tough and resuming provincial filly 5. Callistemon who has been fitted with the right sort of trial, and gets in light after the jockey's 3kg allowance.

Dangers: Debutant 3. Bent As Hell has trialled well, bred to handle the going, and drawn to get a cosy run. Resuming pair 7. Queen Gee Em and 10. Russian Rose are clear best of the rest.

How to play it: Callistemon to win

Talented provincial mare 9. Party Doll resumes in a very suitable short-course affair. Lightly raced with a gear change, gets in light after the claim, and will come to hand sharply behind two trials.

Dangers: Country mare 1. Outishka is a specialist over this flying distance, having won three from four. Is hard fit well into the prep, and will relish the drop back from tougher Class 3 Saturday Highway company where she showed tactical speed. Big watch too on 10. Split Decision resuming from a low draw off a quiet trial; while 6. Omar second-up and 5. Procrastinator back in grade with blinkers being added; both go into exotic plays.

How to play it: Party Doll to win

Resuming filly 4. Left Field can cap a big day for the Brad Widdup stable. Charged home to win first-up at this track back early spring before finishing the prep with consecutive close placings up to BM 64 grade. Gets in light after the 3kg claim behind two trials, and crucially blinkers have come off.

Dangers: Lightly raced filly 2. Monte Kate is the clearthreat reloading off an eight week break behind a forward trial. Never missed a place in her first prep up to BM 72 metro grade, including a smart Midway Maiden win at second start in heavy going. Gap to the rest headed by improving mare 8. Zahdi who finished hard when resuming, and draws to get a charmed run with cover just off the speed; while 1. Lunartie resuming; and 7. Scholl Deep drawn inside third-up; can both figure in the minor money.

How to play it: Left Field to win

Debutant metro three-year-old 2. I Am Breathing can start with a bang behind two very progressive Rosehill trials, winning the latest by a space. Has been gelded, winkers go on, and is bred to thrive in soft ground being by Delago Deluxe out of a Casino prince mare.

Dangers: Over the odds is smart four-year-old 1. Primo resuming for his third start, with winkers going on. Right in the market mix too is 14. Unique Ambition returning for a second full prep without the blinkers. Both 5. New Forest second-up and back down from metro company; and at bigger odds 3. Make A Call also second-up; are worthy trifecta and first four players.

How to play it: I Am Breathing to win

The toughest and widest race on the program is saved for last. Keen at the value on ultra honest four-year-old 4. Tamaroa who is bursting for some more ground deep into the prep. Ran home late into a place in much deeper BM 72 city class two starts ago before again tracking the speed and working home okay in a provincial BM 64. Looks very fairly treated at the weights in this class, and is primed to strike again.

Dangers: There's terrific early value about progressive Godolphin filly 11. Pipistrelle 3rd-up, and 19 days after a dominant maiden win at this track. Big watch on 7. Sensory resuming for the Chris Waller yard behind two easy trials; while 5. Venelope can improve sharply dropping in grade second-up.

How to play it: Tamaroa to win

BEST BETS:
R4 5. CALLISTEMON
R6 4. LEFT FIELD

BEST VALUE:
R5 9. PARTY DOLL

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