4:30 Newcastle Tips

This M. Todhunter-trained 7-y-o gelding made it third-time lucky over fences over two miles four furlongs on soft ground at Musselburgh 44 days ago when easily beating the P. Robson-trained King Horse by six lengths. With Sean Quinlan back in the saddle, he can follow up today.

Former pointer Passenger On The Ship could have needed his first run for nearly a year when running 8th here in a handicap hurdle 17 days ago. He now goes chasing off a mark of 89 and could go close with a clear round.

PLAY BY THE RULES has a very long absence to overcome here, but he's joined a yard that tends to have a knack of getting the best out of recruits from Nigel Hawke. So it's worth chancing that Adam Nicol has got his new acquisition ready to roll straight away. Although he's yet to win over this particular trip, he has proven capable over this slightly longer distance in his most recent outings, competing well off marks in the low 80s. Since last seen, the selection has had his mark dropped to 75, and that's the lowest mark he has run off over hurdles, having previously won off marks as high as 93. With that in mind, if he has been fully prepped for this run and carries on from where he was prior to his long break, then he can certainly play his part today.

Lightly raced 7yo, not great career stats, but he was a good 3rd over this C/D a year ago behind two 117-rated runners. Things have not gone to plan in four runs since. He's had a seven-week break since his last run. No rival is rated above 97 in this handicap. The selection had a 16 lb higher mark in that good run last year. Still young enough to get his chasing career back on track.