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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail out 10m:

The three-year-olds get the meeting underway over the short course, and there was so much to like about the dominant trial win of American Pharoah-sired 4. Drums Of War who launches his career with a senior metro jockey aboard. Out of a Lonhro mare and trained on the track in a stable that has a good strike rate when they're new or fresh.

Dangers: Emerging colt 5. Navy Blood attacked the line late on debut in a handy country field, and drawn inside with the rail out this far may well be a big advantage early in the day. Another one drawn to get a nice run, local colt 3. Curl Curl resumes off two progressive trials, and is by prolific speed sire Winning Rupert.

How to play it: Drums Of War to win

Tricky race with a few having strong claims. Settled on progressive and lightly raced Randwick colt 10. Glad You Think So staying at the distance second-up off an eight week break. Didn't get a lot of luck when it counted, resuming in a handy maiden at Goulburn, and the winner of that race should have won at Wyong again on Sunday when caught wide for the entire trip. By So You Think, and the stable has made a key jockey change.

Dangers: An ideal third-up draw over a furlong further can prove the right recipe for improving metro four-year-old 2. Good Vintage to break through on a 12 day back-up from a deeper race. Watch for sharp second-up improvement from lightly raced Justify colt 3. Limburg who is bred to be far more comfortable over this trip. Included in all exotics improving three-year-old 6. Arctic Legend third-up; and city colt 7. Alsonfire who gets blinkers on second-up.

How to play it: Glad You Think So to win

Be very surprised if talented home track filly 4. Scholl Deep doesn't win again, stepping up to the next level. Fought hard on debut here in a handy maiden before toying with her maiden rivals as a heavily backed favourite a fortnight ago winning by four lengths with plenty in hand. By Group 1 Doncaster winner Kermadec, and has already shown great acceleration and versatility in her brief career. The one to beat.

Dangers: Keep safe local mare 1. Lady Harlem who has plenty of ability, and is well suited from the draw and at the weights after a 3kg claim coming back from an unplaced run in a deeper Hawkesbury race. Another one with claims on a sound speed map is provincial mare 5. Jabali Belle who has finished just out of the placings in her last two & draws to get a nice trail with cover. Gap to the rest headed by 2. A Silvery Warrior third-up and down in weight; while at bigger odds 6. Special Day with key gear changes; can add value into trifecta and first four plays.

How to play it: Scholl Deep to win

Two well placed runners who should settle in similar midfield positions can fight this out. Going with big-finishing provincial mare 8. Condrieu who is ready to strike fourth-up with gear changes made. Worked home well from a long way back in two provincial runs up to BM 64 level before again hitting the line hard into a place 19 days ago. Wants the extra journey now, and can park around midfield and produce a dominant final 400m surge.

Dangers: Drawn even lower, progressive Godolphin three year-old 7. Diabelli is the immediate threat also rising in trip fourth-up. Similarly likes to settle well off the speed and attack the line, and comes through a handy CL1. Must keep safe 3. Owari who draws the fence third-up over more ground; while 9. Mt Luke who drops in trip, but hasn't missed a place in his last four; are both capable of running into the money.

How to play it: Condrieu to win

Tough battle here with plenty of chances. Rosehill filly 9. Llanddwyn can improve enough here to break through at her second start. Was slow to begin & didn't get a lot of room when it counted on debut at Canterbury, yet was still only beaten a touch over two lengths. Will relish getting on to a bigger track, and carries 2.5kg less.

Dangers: Emerging mare 1. Alvina's Luck impressed on debut at Hawkesbury when well backed charging home from midfield to miss by under a length, and steps up over a furlong further. Watch the betting on lightly raced The Autumn Sun filly and stablemate of the top selection 6. Autumnmation who held her ground okay in that same debut race, and similarly better off around this course under a similar weight drop. Debutant Godolphin filly 11. Study by Sidestep is a big market watch behind two progressive trials

How to play it: Landdwyn to win

Not much separates the leading contenders here but talented Trapeze Artist colt 5. Side Show goes on top resuming off a 24 week break for only his second start. Was considered good enough to debut in Group 2 company back in summer, finishing only a few lengths from the winner, and even closer to subsequent Golden Slipper winner Shinzo. Loved how the Gerald Ryan-Sterling Alexiou yard has given him too easy trials up to 1000m, and he will run this out hard fresh.

Dangers: Naturally smart Dundeel colt 6. Vomo island is a clear threat first-up for the Snowden stable. Went off as favourite in all three city runs earlier in the year, each time close-up in the placings, and has been fitted for her return with an even trial. Watch the betting aboard well bred three-year-old 10. Fortress Australia who comes back a shade in distance after sticking on strong at his second start. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Side Show to win

Always plenty of chances in and around this grade of sprinter. Improving metro mare 8. Mad Darcey has been freshened, and gets a little rise in trip and a softer trailing draw third-up. Did it tough from the gate on the tighter turning Wyong circuit last time, but has since trialled well, and can be ridden quieter here on a bigger track and saved up for a final surge from the top of the lane.

Dangers: Plenty of them headed by metro mare 5. Miss Lenorr resuming behind two quiet trials, with a 3kg claim. Keep very safe home tracker 4. Aspen Chase who draws to get the right run third-up over a furlong further; while the money will be a solid indicator with local filly 11. Lounerse who easily took care of a weak maiden field on debut.

How to play it: Mad Darcey each way

BEST BETS:
R3 4. SCHOLL DEEP
R6 5. SIDE SHOW

BEST VALUE:
R4 8.CONDRIEU

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