6:00 Newcastle Tips

Pal Joey is a gelding whose better recent efforts have come over this sort of trip on the all-weather, including a Newcastle run where he moved smoothly through the race and finished strongly without everything going his way. He tends to do his best work when allowed to build into the contest rather than being rushed early. With conditions again in his favor, there are sound reasons to expect him to be competitive and in the mix late on.

Lightly raced 4yo. He ran a nice race over this 5f course and distance last month after coming off a three-month break, and should be better for the run. He was only 4th and beaten 2L that day, outpaced at the finish, but he was beaten by runners rated 78 and 84, with the winner now rated 90. He has a 2 lb lower mark now and has just one rival rated above 69.

This former course and distance winner will welcome the drop in trip after three races over 6 furlongs and the return to this straight track appeals.

No comment made

Harb ran a decent race when third of 11 over today's course and distance, just beaten by just over a length. Could have done too much with other front runners that day. If learning to settle just behind the pace, he could bounce late to take this. Luke Morris continues to ride, which is a positive, and he is 1 lb below his last winning mark. Pace is expected to be fast, so this should suit and shows that they are effective on the all-weather surface. NB

BONITO CAVALO has only won twice over this trip, but get this: both times were at this track. The trainer's horses are in fine form, and it may just be that this horse needed the runs after his return. It would be crazy to give up on him just yet. I think he could go well today!

His form tailed off in the last quarter of 2025, but he has dropped to a mark from which he should be competitive at the very least. A short break of thirty-eight days since his last run may have been of benefit, and he has a good record fresh. Worth an each-way interest at rewarding odds.