3:15 Newcastle

Jez Bomb (1pt)

Antrim is interesting on his first start for Karl Burke but the most solid option appears to be JEZ BOMB (best priced at 7/2) who has form figures in AW handicaps of 11165212. The Sam England trained four-year-old is unexposed over this 1m2f trip with a win and head 2nd on his latest two starts.

Jez Bomb won off a mark of 70 before finishing a head 2nd off a mark of 76 last time in a 0-80 handicap and should cope with this step up in grade to this 0-85 handicap.

4:45 Newcastle

Midnight Lion (0.5pt ew)

The Jim Goldie trained MIDNIGHT LION (best priced at 9/2) has been campaigned interestingly so far this winter running over trips as far as 1m6½f but is 2/2 over 7f in that time. The five-year-old defied odds of 25/1 to win at Ayr off a mark of 77 before running with credit back up in trip over 1m4½f here on his next two starts.

Connections of Midnight Lion then dropped him back down in trip to 7f once again when defying odds of 20/1 to win over this course and distance last time off a mark of 81. He runs here off only 3lbs higher and should hold strong claims.  

5:45 Newcastle

Spun To Gold (1pt)

SPUN TO GOLD (best priced at 9/4) has won his previous three starts and gets to run here off the same mark as his course and distance success last time. The Jim Goldie trained four-year-old won by a length here in October off a mark of 54 before winning over 7f at Southwell on his next start off the same mark.

Spun To Gold then won back over this course and distance last time by a nose off a mark of 58 under Lauren Young in an apprentice handicap and he gets to run here off the same mark again. Paul Mulrennan takes back over on board and he should be staying on best of all in his bid for a four-timer.