Keith Melrose has a tip at Newcastle following yesterday's 5-1 winner

Ascot De Bruyere
1.45 Newcastle
1pt win at 13-2 generally

After siding with youth yesterday, the tactic is completely reversed in this race. There is potential in the likes of Mr Scrumpy, Dragonfruit (whose run at Ayr last time I did not like much for all he was second) and Frimeur De Lancray. But veteran Ascot De Bruyere has so much going for him he is hard to resist.

Newcastle tests jumping and stamina, so course form is particularly relevant and Ascot De Bruyere has it in spades: Four wins, two seconds and a third from 11 runs; six of the seven best runs of his life, including wide-margin wins off this mark or higher.