18:00 Newcastle

Following back-to-back wins over 6f here and a half a length second over C&D at the weekend SPARTAN FIGHTER (best price 10/3) looks the one to be on again. He runs off the same mark and has proved good enough to strike off this so I see no reason why he won’t go close. I know it is a slightly more competitive race but there are enough doubts over the opposition to make him the value play at 10/3. Tadleel likes this track and trip having won over it 3 times in the past but I didn’t think he was screaming out that his turn was near even though he shaped better over a mile here last time. He is a bit too short in the betting. New Bay filly Lead Story looks a greater danger as she won over C&D in September and returned with a neck second last month. If she can build on that up 4lb she will give the selection something to think about. King Review is another to note in a good race.