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By Neil Evans

Track improving to Heavy 8 and rail out 7m

We start over the short trip on a slowly improving surface that could nudge back into Soft 7 range. Very testing maiden, with a few either resuming or having their first start potentially shaping the market. Believe what you see with the promising Fastnet Rock filly 7. Laroupe who resumes for a second prep having won both lead-up trials over this journey, although the time wasn't flash in her latest considering she was made to find the line.

Dangers: Improving 4. Shadow Vampire will find this much more to his liking after chasing home an impressive winner first-up in city company. Big watch on 2. Karedada by reliable wet track sire Wandjina, and debuts now as a gelding for a shrewd provincial stable. Trialed nicely in soft going, although it's taken a while to get him to the races after all the weather interventions. The betting will have a say with 1. Felix Majestic who starts his career as a gelding having won a trial 14 weeks ago. Both Maurice debutant 3. Senshi behind a recent winning trial; and 12. Spitchaser, rebooting her career off a nine-week freshen-up; can both run into the minor end of the money.

How to play it: Laroupe to win and first four: 2,4,7/1,2,3,4,7,12/1,2,3,4,7,12/1,2,3,4,7,12
Odds and Evens: Split

Play it again Sam for the three-year-olds, and it's likely to be an even more open affair. Leaning to well bred and named Capitalist colt 5. Capital Theatre who resumes for only a second start for a leading metropolitan stable. Comes off a handy trial run seven days ago, and while he failed in heavy ground on debut in smarter company as a two-year-old, he's been given time since, and is utterly bred to get through these conditions.

Dangers: Another one by the 2016 Golden Slipper winner, 7. Asteria disappointed over the final stage first-up at Hawkesbury when heavily backed. Drawn wide here, but also very comfortable in the going. Gap to the rest headed by 3. Jo Jo Sunreloading after a modest debut here in late June; and Star Turn filly 8. Centre Bounce who debuts off two progressive trials.

How to play it: Capital Theatre to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Another tricky affair over the mile. Like improving home track three-year-old 9. Gripping peaking here third-up in the ground. By Pierro, and worked home well enough into a place through heavy going in a handy provincial maiden 13 days ago.

Dangers: Big watch on So You Think staying mare 4. Youthfull returning off a six month spell, and two typical quiet trials. Progressed from nowhere into Group 1 company in the autumn, and while she was beaten out of sight in that company, the wraps have always been there. Blinkers come off again, and she'll be finishing well. Home track Kiwi-bred colt 1. Tamar can improve sharply off a fair debut here; while improving mare 13. World Atlas heads the rest third-up.

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

In what is now a significantly weakened race, progressive metro four-year-old and first-up maiden winner 5. Smart Little Miss can pounce again. Drawn to settle back and attack the line late.

Dangers: Honest 3. Our Belle Fille draws the fence second-up with blinkers added; while home tracker 9. Rockbarton Ruby is fit and very assured on rain-affected ground.

How to play it: Smart Little Miss to win
Odds and Evens: Odds a special

Now for the boys' edition, and it doesn't get much easier in what is a strong and open affair for this class. Always had a big opinion of four-year-old 2. Mediaro who resumes off two quiet trials. Made big strides last prep after winning his maiden at Canberra second start, well beaten in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas here before an even effort in Listed Saturday company at Caulfield. Suited on the bigger track, and should curl up back in the field and be saved for a dominant final 400m.

Dangers: Home track Kermadec four-year-old 3. Sir Kerm showed his real promise surging home to win a handy maiden on debut here 17 days ago. Drawn wide, but if he can slot in behind a reasonable speed, will be challenging late. Big market watch on talented four-year-old 1. Fuller who comes back to NSW after a disappointing first-up run at Sandown in a tougher grade. Naturally up in weight, but maps to get a nice cover position just off the speed. Another one with plenty of promise 6. Czar surged home late first-up in a provincial BM 64, and carries the same weight here.

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

Competitive older maiden field over the same journey, although promising four-year-old 4. Floating is ready to win third-up. Has powered to the line impressively from well back in two runs this prep, and is destined for bigger and longer targets. Again will settle back near the tail from a wide draw, but loves the conditions being by high class Puissance De Lune, and doubtful anything will run a better final 400m in the ground.

Dangers: Keep very progressive and lightly raced home tracker 1. Better Not Bitter who did his best work late first-up here 17 days ago. Gap to the rest headed by 8. Centrestone who debuts for a strong metro combination behind two trials; while 3. Diamond Drummer first-up; and 13. Poetic Drama third-up with a claim; are both worthy exotic players.

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

A few chances here, although another member of a strong Matthew Smith-trained team, four-year-old stallion 6. Cool Lad has been strong through the line in two straight BM 72 affairs in different states, and is looking for the extra trip now fourth-up. Up in weight but handles all ground.

Dangers: Doubt the inside draw under a big weight will suit local four-year-old 1. Concocted, but he's found the line nicely in consecutive deeper BM 72 Midways after a provincial win, and loves to surge late in rain-affected ground. Keep safe 4. Annulus back from a fast-finishing effort in BM 72 Midway company. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Cool Lad to win and box exacta 1,4,6
Odds and Evens: Split

We finish over the middle distance, and like emerging filly 13. So Dazzling who charged over the top to win a three-year-old Sat race at Flemington over a similar trip in heavy ground, and can repeat the dose here from the wide draw.

Dangers: Progressive wet tracker 2. Sky Ace is well suited over this distance fourth-up; improving 4. Endorsement is also fourth-up; and lightly raced 7. Miracle Spin steps up in trip third-up with a nice weight drop.

How to play it: So Dazzling to win
Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:
R5 2. MEDIARO
R6 4. FLOATING

BEST VALUE:
R2 5. CAPITAL THEATRE

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