Mick Channon's team exploded into life last week and the West Isley handler looks to have another likely sort in Analyze, who should give a good account in the Thank You To The Racecourse Vets Handicap over 1 miles at Newcastle today.

The five-year-old still figures on a handy mark and shaped encouragingly after an absence of over two months when a very creditable second to Richard Fahey's Oldenway over this trip on fast ground at Nottingham last month.

He was anything but disgraced in the 0-85 grade on his most recent outing at Newbury but the return to this company will be ideal and, in stall three, he looks to have the best of the draw.

A low number was a big advantage in the sprints at the last meeting here and there's no reason why it shouldn't be a similar story in the Saltwell Signs Handicap over five furlongs and the Order Northumberland Plate Badges Now Handicap over six.

In the latter event at 3.30 the vote goes to Don Eddy's course winner Fair Shake, who is drawn in stall seven and for whom the booking of Kevin Darley looks an interesting one.

My selection showed improved form when getting up in the closing stages to win over 5f at this course last month, and several of those who ran in that race have subsequently run well.

He didn't build on that last time but the very firm ground almost certainly didn't show him in his best light and he's well worth another chance over a trip that looks sure to be in his favour.

Unlike most of today's rivals, he's certainly open to further improvement with only seven career outings under his belt.

He's taken to get the better of David Nicholls' Blackheath, while 35 minutes earlier Aguila Loco looks an interesting runner for the in-form Eric Alston yard, especially with a stall three draw.

This formerly frustrating sort got off the mark over this trip on fast ground at Redcar last July and proved that was no flash in the pan when winning on soft at Doncaster the following month.

He's gone well fresh before, won't mind if there's any further rain and looks sure to give a good account for a yard that have already had three sprint winners this turf season.

On the grass at Southwell Mac's Talisman looks interesting, despite a wide draw in the Littlewoods Bet Direct Handicap over seven furlongs.

Bill O'Gorman's progressive sort ran a blinder from a poor draw at Windsor last time in a competitive field and, although not ideally berthed this time, he'll have more of a chance now he's returned to this longer trip.

Teorban, who skated up on the Fibresand at Wolverhampton on his latest outing, can do the business on grass in the Philadelphia Freedom Handicap over his optimum trip of two miles.

Although the handicapper has raised him a stone there's probably more to come and he'll get a good lead from the evergreen Jamaican Flight.

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