15:20 Newcastle

Leg 1 Selections: Dream Harder, Freak Out 

DREAM HARDER has made a good start to the Ian Williams stable, winning both starts, including at Wolverhampton on Boxing Day and he should go close to completing the hat-trick here. FREAK OUT won over track and trip in October and is only two-pounds above that mark here. Gemma Tutty’s charge will appreciate the drop in trip and could give the favourite most to think about here. 

15:55 Newcastle

Leg 2 Selections: Perfect Swiss, Little Jo 

PERFECT SWISS has won three times over course-and-distance and the form of his latest win has been boosted as the runner-up has won since. Tim Easterby's six-year-old has to shoulder top-weight but he is the one to beat, while LITTLE JO is also a three-time track and trip winner and has made the frame in his last four starts. It seems only a matter of time before Gemma Tutty’s charge returns to the winners enclosure. 

16:25 Newcastle

Leg 3 Selections: Central Hall 

CENTRAL HALL ran a promising race when fourth on his debut at Chelmsford and ran to a useful level when runner-up in a Kempton novice over this trip in September. That form should work out well in due course, so with plenty more to come, this is a good opportunity for him to open his account at the third time of asking with Jack Mitchell in the saddle. It would come as a surprise if he wasn’t able to at least make the frame here. 

16:55 Newcastle

Leg 4 Selections: Streak Lightning, Like A Lion

Ruth Carr’s STREAK LIGHTNING won at this course when last seen in March and shouldn’t have a problem returning to this longer distance off a three-pound higher mark. If he is fully tuned up, he should be thereabouts in his follow-up bid, while LIKE A LION scored over track and trip earlier this month and has only been judged up a couple of pounds. He is open to a lot more improvement and should make a bold effort to potentially make it two wins at this course. 

17:25 Newcastle

Leg 5 Selections: Clipsham La Habana 

CLIPSHAM LA HABANA showed a lot of promise in making the frame in his first three starts before easily opening his account last time four weeks ago from the front at Kempton. He is the form-pick horse and his trainer is in decent form of late too. He is hard to oppose in this race. Wiccan should have more to come and is feared most. 

17:55 Newcastle

Leg 6 Selections: South Dakota Sioux 

SOUTH DAKOTA SIOUX was unfortunate to bump into a well-treated rival last time and that is now twice he has finished runner-up in succession to two well-treated horses. He would have finished closer last time with a clear passage and he has more to offer. In the hope he gets a clear sight of things, this could be the time he gets his head in front. It is hard to see him not involved in the outcome here.