17:45 Newcastle

Leg 1 Selections: Seven Pockets, Annandale

Roger Varian’s SEVEN POCKETS shaped with promise on debut when sixth and unseated through no fault of his own next time when bumped which saw him stumble and then unseat his rider. However, he won his next two starts, both times this year, and a line can be put through his latest showing on the turf. He is drawn well in stall one here and is reunited with Jack Mitchell who’s one-from-one on him. With more to come, he’s a huge player back down in trip. ANNANDALE will find this easier than when down the field here in the Northumberland Vase and is six-pounds lower than when third over track and trip back in March so should be thereabouts. 

18:15 Newcastle

Leg 2 Selections: Geremia

GEREMIA also contested the Northumberland Vase and while he was also down the field, he will find this easier and he caught the eye when a good third at York last time in a much stronger race, coming from well off the pace having been slowly away to be nearest the finish behind two well-treated horses. He drops in grade for this race off the same mark and is drawn nicely in stall five with Ryan Sexton offsetting a valuable five-pounds. With a record of three wins from three starts on the all-weather over this trip or further below class two company and provided he doesn’t get too far back from the gates, Jim Goldie’s charge is an outsider worthy of strong consideration here. 

18:45 Newcastle

Leg 3 Selections, Bringitonboris, Galiac

BRINGITONBORIS finished last of twelve when last spotted but even on the back of that poor showing, he simply cannot be ruled out back at his favourite venue in which he’s won four times over course-and-distance, with the latest of those coming off a pound higher mark. His overall record here reads an exceptional 2311742221212 and he is drawn very well in stall two. With more positives outweighing the negatives, he’s worth an interest at double-figure odds. GALIAC has won two of his four starts this year and has been ultra consistent in defeat in his last three starts. He was runner-up at Doncaster in the Racing League three weeks ago and has a good chance off the same mark here having won on his last visit to this course.

19:15 Newcastle

Leg 4 Selections: Alrehb, Abolish, Zip

ALREHB left a couple of below-par efforts behind him when he returned to form to finish runner-up three weeks ago and is only two-pounds higher here. He’s two-from-two over this distance on the all-weather and is only three-pounds higher for the latest of those victories too. From a good draw in stall 3, in which he’s likely to be ridden prominently, he makes a lot of appeal in a bid to enhance his fine strike-rate on the all-weather. ABOLISH has had just a handful of runs in the UK and his two best efforts have been at this track, so he’s a definite player, especially if he can repeat his stable debut third over course-and-distance when third behind Boosala and Lord Of The Lodge, which came off a ten-pounds higher mark than today’s. ZIP has won twice over course-and-distance, with the latest of those off a pound higher mark and the six-year-old has shaped well in better races than this of late. He has been given a fair chance by the assessor and is also drawn reasonably well in stall eight. 

19:45 Newcastle

Leg 5 Selections: Prairie Falcon

PRAIRIE FALCON showed promise in his first three starts and produced a career-best performance at Goodwood four weeks ago, where he got on top in the closing stages to beat a warm favourite. I don’t think the drop in distance will inconvenience him, as he has a lot of speed and is open to further improvement on this surface. He is drawn well in stall five and his trainer is going great guns, so there’s a lot to like about his chances and therefore he should make the frame.

20:15 Newcastle

Leg 6 Selections: Loves Me Likearock

LOVES ME LIKEAROCK has run some good races in stronger events this year and is actually undefeated on the all-weather (two-from-two). She ran a lot better than the result indicated last month at Goodwood and is off a pound lower mark in this race. Her second and fourth at Newmarket earlier this year is strong form in the context of this race and although she’s drawn in stall 13, that shouldn’t be an issue with lots of pace bound to be on offer. If everything falls into place for this filly, she looks ready to go close at large odds in her quest to make it three wins on the all-weather.