Modest recent form on the bare results, with a fourth last time after being crowded at the start, though the underlying sectional times have held up reasonably well. There's a hidden angle worth flagging — he had a stewards-required trial 27 days ago and ran on to finish third from a similar box, suggesting connections have kept him ticking over during a quieter patch. The white jacket carries one of the better records in this grade at Newcastle. His trainer hasn't had much luck in these specific conditions, which is the main knock. Second-fastest in the field on the clock behind only the danger and capable of running into the frame if he avoids the traffic that's hampered him recently.

Interrupted form littered with trouble in running — bumped at the start last time, crowded and bumped the run before that, and missed the break the time before that, making the results look worse than the underlying ability. When he did get a clean run two starts back he led up to near the line before being caught, showing genuine pace when things go right. The black jacket is the strongest draw in this grade at Newcastle by some distance, winning well over a fifth of the time. His trainer's record in these conditions is one of the better ones in this race. Has it to do on the bare results but the best box in the field and a run of bad luck both work in his favour if he can finally get a clear passage.

Modest form of late, slowly away last time to finish down the field after a similar slow start two runs back, though he did lead to halfway from the front when breaking well in between. The red jacket has a below-average record in this grade at Newcastle. His trainer's record in these conditions is one of the weaker ones in this race. Sticks to the rails consistently, which is a positive trait, but the slow starts are becoming a pattern and undermine his effectiveness from the inside draw over this trip. Up against it on today's numbers, with the slow-away tendency the main obstacle to overcome.