NEWCASTLE'S demanding two-mile track requires stamina in spades and as far as this quarter is concerned Empangeni (4.10) has a fistful of trumps.

Trainer John Dunlop must be laughing his cotton socks off at the handicapper as Empangeni is still only rated 68, despite having won three from four over the past few weeks.

Although the three-year-old's most recent success came on a visit to Catterick, it was his previous Newmarket victory that really caught the eye.

There are simply no "gimme" races at headquarters, where the form is generally upheld particularly well.

Apart from Dunlop's long-distance Sussex raider, there are two other strong contenders for the two-mile bet 365 Handicap, Sir Mark Prescott's Red Opera, plus a runner hailing from much nearer to home, Lingdale-based Celtic Carisma.

The latter, trained by Keith Reveley, beat a modest bunch over course and distance last time out, but she's a progressive filly at the right end of the weights and is therefore well worth a saver in the £5,000 contest.

Tipping Mark Johnston's Dream Mountain (2.10) for the opening Gosforth Decorating Maiden Stakes could hardly be described as original thinking, but in my view he will take all the beating.

Michael Dods' Apache Nation seems sure to be in the shake-up after his third placing at Thirsk, but he's already marginally exposed over seven-furlongs, whereas Dream Mountain was finishing like a hurricane on his latest Catterick venture at a furlong less.

Today's far stiffer test will suit both of the above-mentioned, with preference marginally for Kevin Darley's mount.

Dream Mountain is running for a stable whose two-year-olds can hardly put a foot wrong at present.

The effect of the draw in large number sprint fields at the Tyneside venue has been unpredictable, to say the least, over recent years.

First you needed to be high, then low, now it seems high is again in vogue. In the hope that current thinking holds sway, Missperon (5.10) gets the tentative vote for the Stephen Easton Handicap.

Kevin Ryan's speedster is scheduled to emerge from stall 17, more-or-less up against the stands rail where the ground was apparently faster at the last meeting.

Missperon blasted out of the gates as if her very life depended on it at Ayr 13 days ago.

She gave way only inside the final 100 yards when maybe she paid the price for setting such a scorching early pace.

Ridden with a little more restraint, the daughter of Orpen could be better positioned to sustain her effort all the way to the line and claim the closing five-furlong dash.

Spotting up-and-coming young jockeys before they actually come into fashion is a pastime well worthy of investment.

One of my future tips for the top is Jonathan Jones, who takes the ride on Celtic Spa (2.00) in Salisbury's Axminster Carpets Apprentice Handicap.

Jones has already won on Celtic Spa for trainer Nerys Dutfield, so he has first-hand knowledge of his partner in the ten-furlong event. He's also a lad capable of riding both hold-up horses, or front-runners, skills which take time to master.

Celtic Spa has never tried the trip before, a major plus factor as far as I'm concerned.

The Celtic Swing offspring has been crying out for the distance after a summer campaign confined exclusively to one-mile or less.

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