The feature race at Newcastle on Thursday is the opening 0-90 handicap over 2m at 3.57, on account of being the only race on the round course. It’s a competitive contest too, and with a couple who like to go forward it should be run at a truer pace than most staying events around here. Four of the 11 runners are previous course-and-distance winners including WEDDELL SEA, whose record over this trip here reads 2211502214. Mike Sowersby’s gelding ran really well to finish fourth of 11 in a stronger contest last month and would have finished even closer but for being hampered at a crucial stage. The form of that race has received a couple of boosts since, including from the runner-up who won a 0-105 event at Wolverhampton 13 days ago.

The 0-55 handicap over 1m at 5.30 can go to SHOWMEDEMONEY. Iain Jardine’s gelding ran a blinder when beaten half a length into second of 12 over 1m2f here on Sunday, pulling over 6l clear of the third. He races off the same mark and the return to this trip is no problem having won twice over course and distance.

LORD CAPULET can complete a course-and-distance hat-trick in the 0-65 handicap over 7f at 6.00. Kevin Ryan’s gelding made all for both wins last month, beating the reopposing Pit Boss by just over a length on the second occasion. His old rival’s subsequent success means that the selection is only 1lb worse off and although there are other pace angles in the field, there is no evidence as yet that he has to lead in order to show his best.

A couple of horses who won their latest starts over course and distance meet in the closing 0-75 handicap over 5f at 8.00, including Digital who did us a favour on Sunday. However, this will be harder for him in a better race under a 4lb penalty, especially as he seems likely to be taken on for the lead, so I prefer to take him on this time with TRUE PROMISE despite a losing run of 22. Fionn McSharry’s gelding certainly can’t be criticised for his consistency, having been placed in seven of his nine starts since returning to the AW last August, going down by less than a length on six occasions. Three of his four wins have come here and his recent narrow defeats appear to be more down to just plain bad luck, rather than a lack of application. David Bellingham