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By Neil Evans

The Beaumont Track is rated a Soft 6 with the rail out 2m from the 900m to the 400m, and true the remainder; the weather is partly cloudy with a maximum of 30c.

The maidens kick us off on an improving track. Home track colt 2. Geisel ($1.70 favourite on TAB) rates a near good thing with some of the better rivals coming out. Resumes off a dominant trial win and this is very thin.

Dangers: Provincial three-year-old 14. Tyquendo ($4.20) is hard fit and looms as the quinella runner.

How to play it: Geisel to win and quinella 2 and 14
Odds and Evens: Evens

The girls' edition shapes up nicely for improving home track three-year-old 2. Royal Ballet ($1.50 fav) who can peak at her third start from a softer draw. Impressed hitting the line hard at this track on Boxing Day and she can be tucked away off the speed and produced for that dominant last surge.

Dangers: Local mare 1. Belleplaine ($10) has only plugged home in her last few but there's been some depth to those races, and she's reasonably well treated after the 3kg claim. Include Medaglia d'Oro filly 6. Golden Years ($6) on debut behind three trials.

How to play it: Royal Ballet to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Very testing sprint here, although talented four-year-old 2. Mirror One ($2.70 fav) is suitably placed second-up with blinkers applied. Was easy in betting resuming before doing her best work late in metropolitan company and he'll relish getting back on the bigger track.

Dangers: Improving 3. Diamond Tipped ($4.80) sat closer at his second start before sticking on okay, although suspect he's more advantaged when ridden further back. Watch the betting on 6. Talons ($4.80) resuming for only his second start behind two trials and hit the line late in handy sprint company on debut last autumn. Debutant Xtravagant three-year-old 7. Xtra Intent ($9.50) is also a key market watch off two progressive trials despite drawing the outside barrier, while provincial mare 10. My Belladonna ($5.50) heads the rest second-up.

How to play it: Mirror One to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Hard to see progressive home track four-year-old 4. Sea Legend ($1.75 fav) being beaten fourth-up if he gets a clear crack at them from the 300m. Was close-up in the Tuncurry Mile before sweeping home for a dominant Class 1 win at the Gold Coast. Tracking nicely for the extra trip and he's a reliable wet tracker.

Dangers: Well-bred and improving 2. Sir Diamond ($3.10) charged home from a mile back at Scone before again making up plenty of ground in a handy Class 2 and he's also advantaged over the longer journey, despite climbing to 61.5kg. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Sea Legend to win
Odds and Evens: Evens

One of the tougher and more open races on the card. Got plenty of time for six-year-old provincial mare 13. Miss Twenty Twenty ($7) who is much better placed dropping back to this distance over which he won two starts back at this track. Travelled well to the 250m in classier provincial grade last start before failing to run out the mile and she's well treated on the limit weight.

Dangers: Emerging three-year-old 8. Lonely Power ($3.40 fav) can peak after two runs back with blinkers back on. Press Statement filly 10. The Storm In Me ($10) gets back on her preferred rain-affected ground from a soft draw. Consistent five-year-old 9. Dodecanese ($5) has been right on the winner's heels in his last two, although a sharp drop in distance from a wider draw is query, while 3. Members Only ($4.20) improves third-up over a bit more ground.

How to play it: Miss Twenty Twenty each-way
Odds and Evens: Split

Like the value here about progressive metro three-year-old 4. Hadouken ($4.40) after rushing home to win his maiden on the course proper here second-up, and that was potentially a handy form race.

Dangers: Metro filly 6. Field Wiri ($2.10 fav) carries the class factor freshened up behind a sharp trial win, but destined to go around under the odds from a tough draw. Watch the betting on home track filly 14. Mauricently ($5.50) who has trialled okay and returns for only her second start since powering home to win a maiden at Coffs in early spring.

How to play it: Hadouken each-way and box exacta 4,6,14
Odds and Evens: Evens a special

Plenty of chances in the closer headed by resuming filly 6. Sebring's Rose ($4.20) who hasn't started since surging home to win her maiden on debut in better provincial class. Given a quiet trial and headed for much better races than this.

Dangers: Progressive filly and first-up winner 13. Don't Doubt Katie ($3.50 fav) is suited over 150m further, although likely to drift a long way back from the low draw. Consistent mare 5. Miss Konjiki ($4.20) has been close-up in tougher grades since sweeping home to win her maiden three starts back. Still only won twice from 16, but placed a further 10 times and she's well in at the weights this grade after the claim. Keep safe tough three-year-old 9. Tupelawara ($8.50) who has only been out of a place once in his last five and draws the inside, while 1. Mandalong Roman ($7.50) is down in class fifth-up heads the rest.

How to play it: Sebring's Rose to win
Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS
R2 - 2. ROYAL BALLET ($1.50)
R4 - 4. SEA LEGEND ($1.75)

BEST VALUE
R5 - 13. MISS TWENTY TWENTY ($7)

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Newcastle here