NEWCASTLE 15:45 4a385y

All 7 ran.

Time: 1m 13.46s Closing Sectional: (2f): 24.8s (98.7%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 108%, Betfair SP 101.2%

A fast-track qualifier for the 3-y-o event on Good Friday and it attracted several useful types, but the result itself looks muddling, a strong pace seeing the field coning back together in the finish, likely to have been even closer had the last pair not met trouble in the final 100 yds, all in all, not form to take at face value.

DEEP INTRIGUE followed up from last time to book his ticket for Good Friday, not needing to improve on the figures, but value extra on the day and adding another string to his bow, in that he didn't have this all his own way like at Lingfield, taken on up front and having to show his battling qualities to repel a couple that had the race set up for them; close up, effort 2f out, edged ahead inside final 1f, hung right, driven out; his pedigree is that of a sprinter, and there's no reason to go up in trip yet.

CALL ME GINGER who was ridden by an apprentice who couldn't claim his 3 lb allowance, had caught the eye first time up but even so it was something of a surprise that he left that form behind to the extent that he did here, ridden to pick up the pieces and plenty came his way, probably helped to a certain extent by the way things developed; patiently ridden, travelled well, headway over 1f out, ran on late from off pace in a well-run race; he's from sprinting family connections know well and ought to be placed to win a race or 2.

DON ARMADO (IRE) again ran creditably in a race that was run to suit and it's beginning to look as though he has reached his limit in form ; held up, ridden 2f out, ran on late.

BARBILL (IRE) was the form pick on his listed form last autumn, but was easy to back and looked rusty returning from 3 months off, not seen to best effect given how things developed either so worth another chance; mid-field, pushed along halfway, upsides over 1f out, carried left, effort flattened out.

QUIET ENDEAVOUR (IRE) gelded since last seen, fared better than on his last 2 starts in 2018 but it's still some way removed from what he was showing last summer, even if the effort can be upgraded somewhat for doing too much too soon; led after 2f, hung left over 1f out, headed inside final 1f, weakened; he remains with question marks over him.

YOU NEVER CAN TELL (IRE) shaped better than last time in first-time cheekpieces and is better than could show here having met serious interference; mid-field, ridden 2f out, keeping on when badly hampered entering final 100 yds, not recover (likely to have finished upsides the fourth).

WALKMAN (IRE) faced a stiff task in this grade but seemed to excel himself, even before taking into the trouble he encountered; chased leaders, not settle fully, pushed along over 2f out, badly hampered entering final 100 yds, not recover; the onus is on him to reproduce this in more run-of-the-mill circumstances.