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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail out 10m:

We start with the maidens on a firm track with the rail pushed out a long way. Improving four-year-old 3. Stars And Bars looks ready to break through third-up. Tracked a strong winner all the way at Hawkesbury three weeks back, and this shapes as a weaker race.

Dangers: Watch the betting on gelded Caravaggio three-year-old 2. Wind Of Heaven who debuts off two steady trials; while stablemate 4. The Seeker resumes with gear changes behind two trials.

How to play it: Stars And Bars to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Nearlys always open and competitive betting races at this level. The girls edition shapes ideally for consistent metro four-year-old 6. Noble Beauty second-up. Came from well back to be beaten under a length fresh at Canberra, and she can settle a bit closer here from a softer draw and over more ground, plus the wide rail placement should serve those runners who are drawn in early.

Dangers: Capable 7. Seany's Girl is the immediate threat fourth-up getting on to a bigger track. Has been steady through the line in similar quality fields the last two, but a return to dryer ground here is a big plus. At the top of the weights, 2. Gendarmerie back in grade second-up; and 4. Bowery Breeze, also dropping in class third-up; can both run into the minor money.

How to play it: Noble Beauty to win
Odds and Evens: Split

In the boys' edition, like the value around metro seven-year-old 6. Catapult who is hard fit and ready to win again. Appreciated a return to dryer ground hitting the line late in a similar race only seven days ago, and can settle a shade closer here from a softer draw.

Dangers: No doubting home tracker 2. Super will be hard to hold out on the quick back-up if he gets any sort of decent trail. Swept home to win a similar-graded race here two starts back before again making up plenty of ground from the back behind a smart winner in that same race as the top selection. Unlike most of the Snitzel stock, he's a pure dry tracker, with all six career wins coming on firm ground. Country-based 4. Sungblue reloads after failing to run home through heavy ground in a Randwick Highway 19 days ago; while 5. King Adviso heads the rest, also getting back on firmer footing third-up.

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

Moderate maiden here stacks up well for emerging provincial three-year-old 3. Hayatti after only missing by a long head in a handy country maiden on debut, and blinkers being added is a big pointer.

Dangers: The market will be a solid guide aboard Spirit Of Boom three-year-old 1. Afterboomer who starts his career for the Annabel Neasham yard behind two progressive trials. Include home track filly 7. Bespangled in trifecta and first fours.

How to play it: Hayatti to win
Odds and Evens: Odds a special

You don't see many set weight maidens over this distance, but no better value than progressive and lightly raced three-year-old 6. Whatadilemma who peaks third-up over a furlong further. Has run home okay both starts this prep at the provincials, and hits peak fitness now back on dryer ground. Can park right behind the leader with cover.

Dangers: Promising 5. Territory Express drops back sharply from the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas at just his third start, but under the odds from a tough draw. Keep safe 10. Gorgeous Zara who also has to overcome a wide draw, but has placed in three from four starts so far, and is versatile; while 2. Ocean Honour peaks over more ground fourth-up.

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

Plenty of chances here over the same journey, and while there's not much between a few of them, settled on provincial three-year-old 4. Desi Emperor who comes off a narrow country CL2 win, and draws to get a soft trail in a weakened race.

Dangers: Honest 3. Time Raid loves to lead, and can give another big sight from this draw, although looks poorly treated carrying 2.5kg more from an unplaced effort in the Murrumbidgee Cup at Wagga. Include in exotics bets, 5. Zambrero dropping in grade and drawn inside; and 6. Commander Bell who rushed home to win a similar race in heavy ground two weeks ago.

How to play it: Desi Emperor to win
Odds and Evens: Split

All aboard progressive metro filly 7. Tot Of Rum who can snap a run of three straight third placings fifth-up in her first full prep over a shade more ground. Comes through a couple of very handy country maidens, and is drawn to get a nice run just behind the speed.

Dangers: Lightly raced 2. Seneschal looms at his third start with blinkers added after running home okay in a potentially good metro form maiden 15 days ago. Big watch too on stablemate filly of the top selection 11. Victory Salute third-up; while 3. Twilight Rock placed in his last three, and with blinkers coming off; is a must for trifecta and first four bets.

How to play it: Tot Of Rum to win
Odds and Evens: Split

An open battle in the last over the short course. Like home track filly 8. Smiling Prophet who returns for her first run in 15 weeks from the inside draw and behind a smart trial win.

Dangers: Honest country five-year-old 1. Markwell Dreamer comes in off a last start feature win at Tamworth; metro mare 7. Rinagarosa is back in class first-up off a trial win; and tough 12. Small Town shoots for back-to-back wins fifth-up.

How to play it: Smiling Prophet to win
Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:
R2 6. NOBLE BEAUTY
R7 7. TOT OF RUM

BEST VALUE:
R8 8. SMILING PROPHET

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