December 21 / 17.30 Newcastle (AW)

17.30

Standard

Win £1M With BetMGM’s Golden Goals Handicap

  • Prize money: £4972.3
  • 1m 0f 5y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Win £1M With BetMGM’s Golden Goals Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Showers

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 146526 CD

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Three wins (AW/turf) for David O'Meara this year and he went close over C&D on final run for that yard; no impact here on recent stable debut but that was after a short break and he made some encouraging late headway; now drops back in grade and has claims if this sets up for his closing style.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

(6)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

17:10 Newmarket (July)

Nikovo

9st 11lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Michael Herrington

Gained last three wins on Newcastle AW; ran respectably back there on latest start; has bits of encouraging turf form this term but it's over two years since his last success in this sphere.

8/1

3rd

4

(10)

27th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 14y

Class 2

13:40 Newcastle (AW)

Nikovo

9st 4lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Michael Herrington

Well suited by conditions and his last-gasp C&D win in March came off just 2lb lower; creditable efforts off his lower turf mark more recently; may find a few of his younger rivals better treated.

10/1

4th

6

(8)

19th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 219y

Class 3

15:25 Redcar

Nikovo

9st 12lb

J: Dylan Hogan

T: Michael Herrington

Rated much lower on turf (2-20) than on the AW (5-22); hasn't run at all badly in his last two starts on grass including when eighth of 28 in the Victoria Cup; each-way claims down another 2lb.

12/1

8/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 472126 CD

Last run: 12 days

W: 8st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Prolific winner who scored over C&D last month and went very close on his return visit nine days later; didn't really pick up from off the pace here (sixth of 12) last time but he still looks on a workable mark and is not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

(2)

4th Jul 2026

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 5

18:09 Carlisle

Jewel Maker

9st 7lb

J: Miss Rebecca Burley

T: Tim Easterby

Dual course winner (including at this trip) whose best run this term came when fourth to Krissy over C&D on his penultimate start; didn't build on it over 1m here next time, though.

16/1

8th

8

(5)

15th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 173y

Class 6

15:50 Carlisle

Jewel Maker

9st 5lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Veteran who ran his best race of the campaign when fourth over 1m1f here last month; should run his race again but might have to make do with some minor money.

8/1

4th

7

(6)

29th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 0y

Class 6

14:10 Carlisle

Jewel Maker

9st 7lb

J: Jake Dickson

T: Tim Easterby

11yo who has plenty to prove on the evidence of this year's three runs; however, he's 6lb lower than when winning at Redcar last October and perhaps the return to Carlisle will trigger a revival, with his course form figures reading 4106231.

20/1

8/1

  • Place: £3.80

Form: -63756

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Kempton novice winner (7f) for the Crisfords as 2yo; hasn't built on a promising debut for this yard and cheekpieces didn't make a difference at Lingfield (sixth of seven) last time; mark continues to fall but he still has something to prove at this trip and others are more convincing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(1)

16th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 16y

Class 5

17:00 Chepstow

Serenity Dream

9st 9lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Tony Carroll

Won a 6f handicap at Kempton in January and he has run several good races since, notably a narrow defeat back at Kempton two weeks ago; Billy Loughnane retains the ride; as this 5yo showed at Ascot in May, he's a strong contender back on fast turf.

5/2

2nd

5

(8)

2nd Jul 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

20:53 Kempton (AW)

Serenity Dream

9st 6lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Tony Carroll

C&D winner in January off a 1lb higher mark than today's and he's posted some good efforts since, including when fifth of 18 in a 0-80 at Ascot in May; beaten about 3l when sixth at Goodwood (7f, soft) 25 days ago and now drops in grade.

6/1

6th

9

(6)

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:20 Goodwood

Serenity Dream

8st 6lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Tony Carroll

Win here last August (6f) came off 2lb lower; several good runs this year, including in a big field at Ascot four weeks ago, but others look stronger for win purposes.

10/1

9/4

Form: 3-7152 D BF

Last run: 61 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Dual turf winner, who was well backed on AW debut at Southwell (1m, Tapeta) in October and he made a bold bid before finishing a close second; only 1lb higher after a short break and he should have more to offer in this sphere; key player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

(3)

28th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

16:21 Southwell (AW)

Lerwick

9st 7lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Mark Loughnane

0-13 on AW and 0-11 for current yard, runner-up both starts here; largely consistent this autumn/winter at Kempton and Newcastle but others are more persuasive for the win.

9/1

5th

2

(7)

6th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

17:30 Newcastle (AW)

Lerwick

9st 8lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Mark Loughnane

Record of 0-12 on AW and 0-10 for current yard but he has proved largely consistent at Kempton since returned to this sphere; frame possibilities if staying at the same level and win possibilities on best form.

11/2

4th

3

(11)

19th Jan 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

16:08 Kempton (AW)

Lerwick

9st 9lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Mark Loughnane

Losing run up to 16 but much better when third of 12 over C&D last month; that race has produced winners since and he races off the same mark, but the outside stall presents a problem; blinkers return.

5/1

OUR TIP

9/2

Form: 242708 CD BF

Last run: 147 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Last two wins have been over C&D but he was a disappointing favourite here in his final run during the summer; has bit to prove after 147 days off but he's on a workable mark and has claims if he can get back near best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

7

(11)

25th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 5y

Class 2

15:47 Newcastle (AW)

Dingle

8st 10lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Julie Camacho

All seven wins have been on AW and latest was over C&D in January; found more progress when a close third off this mark at Lingfield (1m, Polytrack) in April but he's been tailed off back on turf in last two runs; now returns to scene of his last success but he needs to bounce back near best.

16/1

22th

7

(22)

15th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

13:45 York

Dingle

9st 9lb

J: David Egan

T: Julie Camacho

Seven-time AW scorer, mainly over 1m, most recently in January; latest effort (failed to beat a rival) took turf record to 0-16; enough to prove back over 7f for first time in five years.

33/1

11th

10

(3)

1st May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

17:30 Ascot

Dingle

9st 1lb

J: Christian Howarth

T: Julie Camacho

Had the run of things when winning over Newcastle's 1m in January and has since finished behind both Dosman and Angel Hunter; goes to work today off his 8lb lower turf mark but that's because he's 0-15 on grass.

12/1

Form: 141028 CD BF

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Won here (7f/1m) in two of his first three runs for David O'Meara; bounced back from a Doncaster blip when going close over C&D last month but he was disappointing over 7f here last time; still unexposed on AW but he's not easy to predict and needs to rebound again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

(8)

2nd Jun 2026

Good

1m 2f 5y

Class 5

16:48 Pontefract

The Cookstown Cafu

9st 4lb

J: Oisin McSweeney

T: Fionn McSharry

Campaigned only over 7f-1m; justified favouritism at Newcastle (AW) on seasonal debut, registering a first win since joining current yard; back up 5lb but remains well treated on peak form and he's 2-3 at Pontefract; should remain competitive, provided he stays the new trip.

5/1

1st

1

(10)

13th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

The Cookstown Cafu

9st 9lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: Fionn McSharry

Way down the weights now but hasn't won since October 2024 (C&D) and had a quiet end to last season.

14/1

Form: 50-428 D

Last run: 49 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Has had only one run on AW and that was a win at Wolverhampton in April 2022; long absence before his three runs this year, which include a close second at Leicester (7f, heavy) in October but a heavy defeat at Newmarket (1m, soft) last time; remains well treated on old form but he needs to bounce back again after that last run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(7)

30th Jun 2025

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:15 Ffos Las

Encourageable

10st 0lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Michael Appleby

Placed on stable debut at Yarmouth (1m, good to firm) in early May but two lesser efforts have followed and he remains without a win since 2022; raced too freely in a visor on latest outing; cheekpieces tried here.

14/1

6th

4

(2)

12th Jun 2025

Good

1m 0f 75y

Class 4

15:25 Nottingham

Encourageable

9st 7lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Michael Appleby

Losing run goes back to 2022; did make a positive start for new yard when third (A Major Payne fifth) at Yarmouth (1m, good to firm) last month but a subsequent no-show at Leicester needs forgiving; now sports a combination of a refitted tongue-tie and first-time visor.

12/1

6th

6

(7)

26th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 53y

Class 4

16:50 Leicester

Encourageable

9st 5lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Michael Appleby

Losing run goes back to 2022 but he has course form (7f) and new yard has inherited one who's dropped a long way in the weights; looked to be on the way back when third at Yarmouth (1m, good to firm) this month; good claims.

100/30

20/1

Form: -25490

Last run: 12 days

W: 8st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Won on handicap debut at Leicester (7f, good to firm) last August but he's had only five runs since and has been disappointing in last four; now only 1lb higher than for his win but he was beaten 14l over C&D on recent stable debut and others are preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

(1)

6th Jul 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

15:00 Ayr

Royal Blaze

9st 11lb

J: David Nolan

T: Ewan Whillans

Needs to rebound from a substandard AW run ten days ago but made the frame on two of three turf starts in the spring (both times over 1m1f) and this longer trip probably suits better; can't be ignored off current mark.

12/1

9th

4

(9)

26th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 42y

Class 6

17:10 Newcastle (AW)

Royal Blaze

11st 0lb

J: Mr Eireann Cagney

T: Ewan Whillans

Both wins last season were over 1m2f, latterly over C&D in September off 1lb lower than today; two minor honours from three starts this turf season ensure that he has a prominent place in calculations.

6/1

3rd

1

(5)

17th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 1f 35y

Class 6

14:15 Hamilton

Royal Blaze

10st 1lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Ewan Whillans

Both wins last season were over 1m2f; hasn't worn headgear so far this season and was below-par dropped to 7f last time (good to firm; reportedly never travelling) having run creditably when fourth at Ayr after a break 15 days earlier (1m1f); interesting with cheekpieces back on

7/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £36.10
Straight Forecast £44.40
Tricast £668.70
Trifecta £360.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Lerwick

The Guardian:

Nikovo

TOPSPEED:

The Cookstown Cafu

NEWMARKET:

Encourageable

RP RATINGS:

Lerwick

The Times:

Lerwick

Telegraph:

Lerwick

Daily Mail:

Lerwick

D Express:

Lerwick

Daily Mirror:

Lerwick

The Star:

Lerwick

Daily Record:

Lerwick

The Sun:

Nikovo

POSTDATA:

The Cookstown Cafu