Miss Ayala, 1pt EW @ 11-1, 8.00 Wolverhampton

Miss Ayala had a couple of subsequent winners in behind when winning at Chelmsford (7f) in September, and then probably had excuses in two further runs last year, having done too much too soon from difficult draws at Wolverhampton (7f) and Chelmsford (6f), but wasn't disgraced on either occasion to finish 5th, and the first two have won since from the latter contest.

The concern is that Miss Ayala hasn't looked in the same form in a couple of starts back since returning from a 69-day break, including last time over C&D when finishing behind a couple of this evening's rivals, however, the runs might have been needed and she wasn't well drawn last time.

She looks on the small side and needs to show that she has trained on, and is eligible for 0-50 classified stakes company, but a chance is taken each-way at a double-figure price from a potentially better draw this time and off the same mark she won off at Chelmsford.

2026 Running P/L: +2.7 pts

Sherlock, 1pt EW @ 7-1, 8.30 Newcastle

Sherlock is still a maiden after seventeen starts and didn't run well last time over C&D having taken a keen hold in a race in which current favourite Pallas Lord finished second, however, he has made the frame in four of his other five starts at this course and it looked a notably good effort here in December on what was just his third try at a mile, when prominent into what was described as a "moderate" headwind and pulling clear with two others, being headed only deep inside the final furlong by a bang-in-form rival, in what was a 0-72 contest.

The cheekpieces he's worn on his two starts since are left off tonight and hopefully can give another good account at this course if settling better than last time.

Abu Royal, 1pt EW @ 20-1, 6.00 Southwell (4 PLACES)

I'm going to have a tentative pick on Abu Royal, a gelding who was on my thread's radar in 2024 following what looked a better effort than the distance beaten suggested over 12f on soft ground at Doncaster, where he had tried to go with one who relished the conditions and was 10lb well in.

He was generally regressive on better surfaces in a few starts after for Heather Main in 2024, and three starts for Laura Morgan in 2025 following a ten month break were poor, however, he returned from another break last month over the 11f trip here and didn't shape too badly, in what admittedly was a steadily-run affair, finishing a 3L 6th of 12, having tried to challenge up the centre and been a bit short of room, as the first two came away against the stands' rail. The form leaves him with work to do with the second (Night Bear) and fourth (Broadstone, who also came stands' side) but he does have a 4lb and 2lb pull respectively with those rivals.

The selection has to conclusively prove his stamina for 12f and that some ability remains, but he's plummeted down the weights and is now 20lb lower than when twice making the frame over 10f at Lingfield (AW) in 2024.

Busby, 1pt EW @ 16-1, 6.30 Southwell (4 PLACES)

Busby is an eleven-year-old now but a couple of his five runs in slightly higher grades since returning from seven months off have suggested that he should still be capable of being competitive at this 0-55 level. He's only had the five starts at this venue but he seemed to take well to it last all-weather season, winning over tonight's trip of 12f (when a visor was first applied) and then finishing second when next returned here over the 11f trip.

He finished down the field over 11f here towards the end of last year but in a 0-65 contest which has worked out well, and hopefully with no fitness worries at this stage, he can make more of an impact at this lower level.

Reenie's Dream, 1pt EW @ 28-1, 7.30 Southwell (4 PLACES)

Reenie's Dream is a free-goer who wasn't at her best the last twice at Newcastle in the autumn, but displayed winning potential over 7f on three occasions last summer, including when a keeping on 4th in a novice at Newcastle in a contest won by the useful Excellent Believe, and when headed only in the final strides at Carlisle in August in a well-run handicap.

She's by an influence for stamina in Nathaniel, and perhaps she's racing over this trip due to her keen way of going, but is a half-sister to a four-time 5f winner and to Beale Street, a three-time winner at Newcastle over 6f.

It could be the run will be needed back from four months off, and with Paul Mulrennan taking over in the saddle, the priority from a low draw may be to get her switched off and relaxed, but a chance is taken at decent odds with her yard having been amongst the winners so far this year.

Virgin, I was anticipating Busby would go forward from his low draw but wasn't well enough away from the stalls, however, as you say, he still probably would have placed had he been able to secure a clear run inside the final furlong.

The other division of that handicap made for frustrating viewing too from my point of view, as on a night when it didn't look easy to come from too far back, Abu Royal made up plenty of ground from the rear to finish fifth and beaten just over 2L.

I was hoping the free-going Reenie's Dream would just be allowed to bowl along from her low draw given how the track seemed to be riding, but predictably under Mulrennan, he tried to get her switched off, but she was still keen under restraint and could make no impression from off the pace.

2026 Running P/L: -5.3 pts

LoL superb George…..

A great selection

Fantastic

Amazing selection this. No way could I have found it.

I've just watched his last few races and today's; for a 4yo (only just I suppose) he races like a big baby. If you saw what he was doing after about 2f today, you couldn't have named him the winner. He seemed to settle down after that and then found a sharp turn of foot in the straight. Maybe racing on the outside (inner prev 2 races) and the drop in class (esp compared to 21st Jan) made the difference.

WD GB

Cheers PHS and Mad'.
Good luck today.

Annexation, 1pt EW @ 18-1, 3.37 Chelmsford

Annexation was one of my rare winners on last year's thread but an important one as he was one of three on the same post, which proved to be the turning point for the thread. He's not a particularly solid selection on this occasion as he hasn't been in much form on the all-weather in three starts since returning from a 50-day, however, the runs might have been needed and he did catch the eye a little on the latest of them at Lingfield, where he wasn't well positioned in a  steadily-run contest but did make a little late-headway.

He's only 2lb higher here than for his win in the Grassroots Series Middle Distance Final Handicap at Nottingham in October, and he has won off a higher all-weather mark at Dundalk in the past, so while this has the potential to be another tactical affair, a chance is taken at the odds.

2026 Running P/L: +22.95 pts

Masham Moor, 1pt EW @ 16-1, 7.45 Newcastle

Masham Moor returned from six months off in October with a fair effort to finish 4th of 10 in a handicap at Southwell over a mile, but he hasn't built on that in three starts since over that C/D, where three of his four career wins have come. The drop into 0-50 classified company didn't help last time so it takes a leap of faith to support him tonight, however, he has won and run well over tonight's C&D so a change of venue may perk him up, and he has a change of hands here too for this apprentice classified stakes, with Jude Fernandez (who rode his second winner on Saturday when Elouise's Prince did the thread a favour) taking over in the plate.

Cheers Virgin.

Unfortunately, the return to Newcastle combined with a change of hands in the saddle failed to prompt a  return to form from Masham Moor.

2026 Running P/L: +20.95 pts

Well, hopefully, 11kv, but after last year's nadir it's just guarded optimism at the current time.

Wd George all placed gl ...

Thanks Virgin & Brian.

Rattletheonionbag was 33s when I started typing my post, so not sure who decided it would be a good idea to start backing a 40-rated 6YO mare with dire form figures, at around midday

The winner made all in a slow overall time in Fleur De Mer's race, and doubt how that panned out would have suited some, including the fav.

A couple of the main firms were offering four places for Sherlock's race, and 4th place was where he finished. He got into a much better rhythm this time so it was disappointing that he didn't see his race out better having looked the winner when hitting the front, unless challenging up the centre wasn't ideal as the winner came stands' side.

2026 Running P/L: +26.35 pts

Wd George nice price nice BOG and almost a drifting winner (1.75 ir) nice prices all of them gl

Great places GB - consistent picking

Pearly Squirrel, 1pt EW @ 25-1, 4.58 Southwell (4 PLACES)

Pearly Squirrel is returning from ten weeks off and is eligible for weaker races than this one, but she still makes some each-way appeal at the prices based on a couple of runs over 7f at Wolverhampton towards the end of last season after joining David Loughnane, particularly on the first occasion when she did well to finish a close-up 4th having not had the easiest of trips from her outside stall and then been caught behind a weakener at a crucial stage.

She followed this by finishing second to Bella Bisbee (whom she reopposes here on 6lb better terms), a rival who had seemingly benefited from the combination of a reduced handicap mark and a change of yard. The selection then disappointed when last seen at Wolverhampton over 8.5f, perhaps the combination of a step up in trip and a third run within a fortnight proving too much.

It's a concern that Pearly Squirrel didn't run well here on her only previous visit (for a different yard), but those first two runs for her new stable suggested there is a race to be won with her on the all-weather, and David Egan is an encouraging booking.

Walhaan, 1pt EW @ 12-1, 6.15 Dundalk

Walhaan wasn't at his best last time here in a four-runner affair when too keen, but he'd previously been in good nick over the 10.5f trip at this venue, probably doing well to hang on to win in December having been pestered for the lead, and then when 4th behind a well-punted winner last month. He has a little work to do to reverse that form with the second from that contest Trishuli River, but he looks worth another try over 12f granted he settles better, as from just two previous attempts at the distance, he finished third of 14 in a Leopardstown handicap after kicking for home plenty soon enough.

Bravo Zulu, 1pt EW @ 25-1, 8.30 Southwell (4 PLACES)

Bravo Zulu seemingly hasn't been in much form in four starts since returning from an autumn break, during which time his mark has fallen 5lb, however, he travelled well up to a point two starts back here over the mile trip, and last time at Lingfield when tried again over 10f, he raced keenly in a first-time eyeshield before fading to finish 9th but was only beaten 2.5L in a bunch finish.

What makes him of a little interest here at the prices is his 2-2 record over C&D, and his 1-1 record under Jack Mitchell (who won on him over a mile on turf). The selection's record over 7f on the all-weather reads 3-1-6, and is 2-6 in cheekpieces, which are reapplied here in place of the eyeshield. He is due to be 2lb lower in future but did win off a 2lb higher mark than this evening's last spring.

Thank The Lord, 1pt EW @ 22-1, 2.42 Newcastle

Thank The Lord has been a bit disappointing the last twice but had posted some fair efforts previously since joining his current yard, notably in December when finishing runner-up on what was just his second try over this C&D, having fared best of those that had raced prominently into what was described as a moderate headwind, and splitting a couple of rivals who reoppose here, Latin Five and Shatin Venture.

A lot will obviously depend here on how this pans out in terms of pace pressure if he's ridden forward again, but Alistair Rawlinson taking over again in the saddle looks a positive having been on board for that previous C&D effort and when finishing a close third the time before that at Wolverhampton.

Maxi Boy, 1pt EW @ 33-1, 3.42 Newcastle (4 PLACES)

Maxi Boy didn't run well last time here when prominent in the betting, but prior to that he had posted three solid efforts here in December (6f twice and 7f) to make the frame on each occasion. He looks a big price today based on that evidence but perhaps he's unconsidered by the market on this occasion because his yard also run the current favourite True Promise with Callum Rodriguez booked.

It could be there will be other days for Maxi Boy, perhaps when stepped back up to 7f, but he's off a lower mark here than he was for the two C&D runs in December, and he's 2lb below the mark he won off here over the 7f trip in 2024.