1.15pm Newcastle Tips & Betting Preview 25/11/2016

A good-looking contest to look forward to in this Maiden Stakes which should throw up a few nice horses for the coming season. Read on for our experts’ thoughts and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: The two Gosden horses are of obvious interest given their pedigrees and of the two Middle Kingdom makes most appeal. He cost $775,000 as a yearling and should know his job on debut. Pure Shores also wasn’t cheap and should go well for a yard that always has winners with newcomers at this time of year. The one of real interest however is THE STATESMAN who is the best with experience so far having been trained in Ireland by Aidan O’Brien. He may just show enough improvement to take this on his first start for Jamie Osbourne and can keep the newcomers at bay long enough to land this.

1 Battle Ensign – Colt by Arch who cost $475,000 as a yearling. Dam was a 5f winner in a minor US Stakes Race. Yard remains in fine form and one to note in the betting on debut.

2 Cray – Made his debut last month finishing 5^th of 12 in a Maiden at Newcastle behind a good one from the William Haggas yard. Not a bad introduction and market vibes would be a positive, best watched for now.

3 Light Gunner – 200/1 on debut last month when coming 11’th of 14. Far behind that day and signs wouldn’t be encouraging for this.

4 Lorikeet – Street Cry colt who was 50/1 on debut and showed inexperience finishing down the field in 14^th. Signs of improvement next time out when 3^rd at Wolverhampton 2 weeks ago. That wasn’t a great race and may find one of the newcomers too hot to handle on this occasion.

5 Make Memories – Street Cry colt who cost $400,000 as a foal. Dam was a useful winner at 8.5f to 9f in the US. Interesting on pedigree and wears cheek-pieces for debut. Market will guide.

6 Middle Kingdom – Cost 775,000gns as a yearling. Colt by War Front who is a half-brother to 3 winners including Strathnaver up to 1 1/2m and Siyaadah who won over 1m. Respected on debut for connections. Yard also saddle Make Memories.

7 Mukalal – Mawatheeq gelding who is a half-brother to 6f winner Qawaseem and 2-y-o 7f winner Taqneyya. Will likely improve for the run.

8 Noble Behest –  Stablemate of Mukalal and cost 32,000gns as a yearling. Sir Percy colt who is a full Brother to 1 1/2m winner Perceus. Dam was a 1 1/2m-17f winner and a half-sister to Aajel, who was himself a winner up to 2m. Market may guide as to expectations. Best to look elsewhere on this occasion.

9 Power Power – Made first outing for this yard at the start of the month when finishing 8^th of 16 at Redcar on Gd/Sft. Has scope for progress but may be vulnerable to one of the newcomers.

10 The Statesman – Two runs so far and finished 3^rd twice when trained by Aidan O’Brien. Was well over 6^th lengths behind on debut at Limerick and then posted an identical effort at Cork last month staying on well. Has first run for the yard and interesting especially if well-backed before-hand.

11 Belisa – Lope De Vega Filly who was 100/1 on debut and finished 10^th of 13 at Nottingham at the start of the month. Should improve for that but will find a few too good here.

12 Incadescent – Once-raced Filly by Pivotal. 7^th of 17 in a Maiden at Nottingham 23 days ago when she wasn’t given a hard race. Yard remain in fine form and she should improve. Watch market.