Matt Jones’s extended preview and tips for The Hunter meeting at Newcastle

Daily Telegraph form analyst Matt Jones examines every race at Newcastle on Saturday to point you in the right direction to finding a winner.

If Waihaha Falls doesn’t get a start The Hunter, he can pick up a consolation win in race 9 at Newcastle. Picture: Getty Images

Daily Telegraph form analyst Matt Jones runs the rule over every race, including suggested bets, for the Newcastle meeting on Saturday.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here.

NEWCASTLE

Track: Good 4. Rail: True

Race 1

Overview: The Godolphin pair of Cylinder and Ferghana will be at the top of the market after putting in comfortable barrier trials against each other but they went very slowly in them. The time said that but you didn’t need to read it to figure out that they weren’t pushed hard. I liked the trial of Fire Lane and this horse could cause a minor upset in the opener. Kris Lees naturally wants to win this so respect the placement of Bangetta. This is a tough one to judge.

Betting Advice:Fire Lane to win

Race 2

Overview: The Dramatist put the writing on the wall first-up with a top finish to his 1200m race and he won second-up last time in but can he extend his speed to a mile now? With a quiet run off the pace, he’ll get his chance. If emergency Manderboss gets a run, he’s got the class to beat them third-up over an ideal trip. Sassy Choice is more suited back to 1600m after struggling to run 1800m last start which didn’t surprise the stable too much.

Betting Advice:Manderboss to win

Miss Madison is in good form and is a can bring up her third win this campaign. Picture: Grant Guy

Race 3

Overview: Miss Madison was no match for a future Group 1 horse last start but did beat Short Shorts and Travelling Kate at her previous two runs. She faces Short Shorts again after it won well last weekend when leading all the way and it looks like luck in running will decide who beats who this time. Thalassophile put in a comfortable trial and looks ready to produce fresh while French Bonnet loves racing at this track. Ten Bells either wins or misses a placing.

Betting Advice:Miss Madison to win

Race 4

Overview: King Frankel was scratched at the barrier last weekend when favourite and gets another chance on Saturday with a low weight which is key over 2300m. Gin Martini was desperately unlucky last start when running into all sorts of trouble behind a winner that came out and won again at its next start and the plan was always to come to this race. Kukeracha found form last time when getting back on top of the ground but concedes weight to the field. Our Candidate will push them all the way.

Betting Advice:Gin Martini to win

Race 5

Overview: Sebrenco got held up at the top of the straight which cost her momentum in the Four Pillars and she gets in well at the weights in an easier race. Floating looks ready for a mile and has raced here at his past three runs and can bounce back after just losing when well favoured two weeks ago. Tympanist went well first-up and can settle closer from an inside gate and over more ground. He might be the one to look at considering his price. Wrathful has been well backed early.

Betting Advice:Floating to win

Race 6

Overview: Global Ausbred is third-up now after two good runs in the Silver Eagle and a second behind the red-hot Waterford last start. He can sit right on the speed and make his own luck. This is competitive but still looks easier. They’re worried about Maurice’s Medad overracing with blinkers on so they’ve been taken off. It’s hard to believe he’s only won one race but he’s been in some good ones. Pink Ivory will enjoy the big track and the fact it’s not going to be rain-affected.

Betting Advice:Global Ausbred to win

Global Ausbred (right) is ready to peak third-up. Picture: Getty Images

Race 7

Overview: Saveadateforme bolted in last start at Goulburn when being eased up over the concluding stages and comes to a Group race at the perfect time. The same can be said about Kazalark who won with a bit in hand at Hawkesbury last time. These two are on the rise and take on the likes of Basquiat, Robusto and Rediener who have already raced in this grade so there’s some interesting match-ups and we find out who is the most progressive three-year-old.

Betting Advice:Saveadateforme to win

Race 8

Overview: They’ll go quickly in the feature. Unfortunately, the horse I think can win this race probably won’t get a start. If there’s four scratchings I’ll be on Waihaha Falls who was unlucky in the Sydney Stakes first-up. Vilana was always up against it from the carpark in the Golden Eagle but still ran well and he’s going to get more favours now as Nash Rawiller stays on because he likes the Godolphin runner. In The Congo is better suited back to 1300m after not running out 1500m last start.

Betting Advice:Waihaha Falls to win if he runs. If not, Vilana to win

Race 9

Overview: If Waihaha Falls misses a run in The Hunter, he runs here and should just win even with the top weight on his back. Titanium Power will give them something to catch at his pet trip. He will cross the field and look to dominate. Loch Eagle returns to his home track and can bounce back third-up. His fresh win will no doubt still be in the minds of punters. Can Democracy Manifest finally step up and win a Saturday race? Cotehele beat him with ease last start and James McDonald, from gate five, gives him the run of the race.

Betting Advice:Waihaha Falls to win. If he doesn’t run, Loch Eagle each-way.

Race 10

Overview: Tony Be might be starting over the odds if he’s at $12 or more, given what happened fresh when he didn’t get a crack at them. Vucetich is also a juicy price after running on strongly fresh over a shorter trip. Notions probably crosses and leads them after coming out of a nice form race first-up. The money says Adjourn is a good chance to win at his Australian debut but we haven’t seen him publicly in this country so he’s hard to judge.

Betting Advice:Tony Be each-way

Originally published as Matt Jones’s extended preview and tips for The Hunter meeting at Newcastle