NoseAhead

 NEWCASTLE 7.00 ... SAAHEQ @ 25/1

Sure to be run at a decent pace with WARMINSTER now dropping in trip who often breaks fast and goes to the front. He could set this up for a closer as he did with ALAPHDAL at Wolverhampton in January. He was giving him 2lb that day and now meets him 8lb better off so should turn that around and could be worth a interest now trying the minimum trip.

BLAZING HOT and PHEONIX STAR finished 3rd, 2nd here last October [Class 6] and are 2lb, and 1lb respectively higher today

Jim Goldie's runners are making hay at Newcastle this season since January, and WATER OF LEITH commands respect returning from a absence running off 12lb lower that his win here in a Class 3 6fl event 2 Yr back. Normally held up he has often missed the break and hit trouble in running, which doesn't bode well at 5 fl.

All in form, PHEONIX STAR plenty form here, ELZAAL, MEWS HOUSE, SIXCOR and LATIN FIVE all have recent form together, with ELZAAL and LATIN FIVE coming out best at the revised weights for distances beaten. Latin Five has yet to win from 9 A/W outings which is why he's on his lowest mark and gets in off bottom weight. He does meet Pheonix Star on 6lb better for a neck beating last September and should come on for last months return.

Paul Midgley's runner INDIAN SOUNDS, has its first run in this grade on the A/W having contested  Class 5/Class4 on turf but is only 1/14 on artificial surfaces and last turf wins were off similar marks to today.  His other runner ELZAAL has the better form on A/W and has 5, 5fl wins 8 places from 16 runs here, and had SAAHEQ behind when they last met in November.  All those wins in this grade and hovering around this mark so needs to improve today.

SAAHEQ meets ELZAAL on 3lb better today, but in November had been carried right and never got going. 

ELZAAL did however finish last to SAAHEQ here last May whilst going for a 4 timer upped in grade to a Class 5, where SAAHEQ was beaten ONLY around Half a length off a rating of 70. Both run off 5lb lower marks today, but on that outing I have to favour the Nichol's runner.

 SAAHEQ has 2 wins 2 places from 5 contests on A/W since leaving Amanda Perret's yard, and has won in higher grade off this rating so should still be certainly capable in these events. Running well after a absence has always been in better grade races but Mia Nichols has 2 wins and a place from those 5 A/W outing since joining this Yard, and she's still able to claim a valuable 5lb keeping her mount at the bottom of the weight range.

Yes, it's a gamble and has to be taken on trust SAAHEQ will be fit enough tonight,  but plenty to like about his chances in one of the easiest events he's contested for some time!

NEWCASTLE 6.30 ... STAR JASMINE @ 4/1

Well bred Filly which trainer is doing well in Maidens current season with this Jockey.

NEWCASTLE 7.30 ... TORCHLIGHT @ 9/2

Runs off the same mark as last week when contesting a Class 2 Lingfield H/cap running on over 7fl. She ran here in November and at |Kempton both over the mile not beaten far both times in which winners have come form both events. Taking on the boys but George Boughey doing real well and Billy Loughnane has around 25% strike rate for the trainer.