January 04 / 13.23 Newcastle

13.23

Good To Soft

Download The Quinnbet App Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4193.42
  • 2m 4f 62y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
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Download The Quinnbet App Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: /0F/16

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 7lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Returned from long absence to cause 40-1 shock in Southwell maiden (2m, good) on stable debut in May, but was safely held in a low-grade handicap there (2m4f, good to soft) last month; looks vulnerable under his penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

2

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:35 Newcastle

Aquitaine Boy

11st 11lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ruth Jefferson

Has a patchy profile but he got hampered when unseating over C&D last month and is now only 2lb higher than when winning this race (good to soft) last year; that was a brave success and he's a player if he can recapture that form.

10/1

4th

5

20th Apr 2025

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 5

16:20 Market Rasen

Aquitaine Boy

11st 8lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Ruth Jefferson

raced in third

5/1

4th

5

20th Apr 2025

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 5

16:20 Market Rasen

Aquitaine Boy

11st 8lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Ruth Jefferson

raced in third

5/1

Form: 1-1 D

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point/bumper winner who justified favouritism with hard-fought success on seasonal/hurdling debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) six weeks ago; that form already makes him a leading contender and he probably still has potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

26th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:20 Ayr

Derryhassen Paddy

11st 2lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Successful in heavy-ground Irish point 11 weeks ago, beating a rival who has since gone very close in a bumper; granddam scored in this sphere; wears tongue-tie; interesting contender.

11/4

Form: 15

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Four-time winner when based in France, most recently on hurdling debut in October (2m3f, heavy), but made underwhelming British debut when well-held fifth at Haydock (1m7f, soft) last month; improvement required.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

9th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 3

17:42 Hexham

Monaco Rules

10st 11lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

Won over hurdles in France (2m3f, heavy); some fair form since joining Micky Hammond and was a close second at Sedgefield in November (2m4f, soft) but hasn't run since.

10/1

Form: 1 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Went close on Irish point debut last May and outsprinted the odds-on favourite for narrow win in four-runner Musselburgh maiden (2m4f, good to soft) on last month's hurdling debut; needs to be taken very seriously.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

15th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

18:20 Aintree

Smokeringinthedark

10st 13lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Lightly raced and improving; beat Fingal's Hill by 2l at Newcastle (2m4f) before finding only one too good upped to Class 2 level at Haydock (3m, good); didn't fail for stamina that day but he'll be fine back in trip; player.

9/2

2nd

9

15th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

16:25 Haydock

Smokeringinthedark

10st 7lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Maiden winner who opened his account in handicaps with a comfortable win at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) two weeks ago; a 3lb rise seems fair for all that it wasn't a strong race, and his yard can do little wrong right now.

3/1

1st

5

31st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 3

16:00 Newcastle

Smokeringinthedark

11st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Only win was in a four-runner Musselburgh maiden hurdle in December 2024 (2m4f, good to soft); best run this season when second over same C&D in January (good to soft); chance on that form.

7/2

Abandoned

Form: 0-74

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Displayed minor promise on both hurdling starts, more recently when fourth of eight at Doncaster (2m3f, good to soft) three weeks ago, but has quite a lot to find with the principals here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

8th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

15:15 Market Rasen

Forsa Bay

11st 3lb

J: Miss Ellie Callwood

T: L J Morgan

Ostensibly a chance on the form of either of last season's third places off up to 5lb higher, one of them logged over 2m3f here; not a conspicuously strong finisher either time, however, which doesn't augur well stepping up to a new trip here; cheekpieces replace visor.

17/2

5th

3

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 1f 43y

Class 5

15:58 Market Rasen

Forsa Bay

11st 10lb

J: Miss Ellie Callwood

T: L J Morgan

Made quite promising seasonal/chase debut over C&D in December and bounced back from a poor run with good third under Ellie Callwood at Hereford (2m, good; first-time visor) last month; could still have a bigger run in him; shortlisted.

7/2

Form: 757

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Finished last on all three starts, most recently when 200-1 for hurdling debut at Catterick (2m3f, good) 18 days ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

28th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 4

14:25 Newcastle

Frontier Force

11st 5lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Peter Niven

Has shown very little in two bumpers and two novice hurdles.

100/1

9th

10

28th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 4

14:25 Newcastle

Frontier Force

11st 5lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Peter Niven

Has shown very little in two bumpers and two novice hurdles.

100/1

3

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 4

13:00 Newcastle

Frontier Force

11st 10lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Peter Niven

Failed to beat a rival in two bumpers and same story when tailed off on hurdling debut at Catterick (2m3f, good) last month.

100/1

Form: 53

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Placed on Irish point debut last April and also looked quite promising on first two hurdling starts, more recently when third of seven at Catterick (2m3f, good) last month; needs to improve to win but is worth keeping an eye on with the future in mind.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

3rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

14:07 Sedgefield

Tyson Magoo

11st 6lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Turned in his best effort over hurdles at Carlisle (2m3f, good to soft) on handicap debut 25 days ago and, although that form has taken a few knocks, he's not without a chance at this level.

4/1

2nd

6

3rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

14:07 Sedgefield

Tyson Magoo

11st 6lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

prominent, hit 4th, led home turn, headed then jockey had whip knocked out of his hand run-in, kept on

4/1

3rd

9

9th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

15:30 Carlisle

Tyson Magoo

10st 6lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, hampered after 6th, headway before 3 out, pressed leaders before 2 out, stayed on

11/2

Verdict

Smokeringinthedark showed some good speed to win a tactical race on his hurdling debut at Musselburgh, but connections of the beaten odds-on favourite in that race are evidently happy to take him on again here with DERRYHASSEN PADDY, who scored on his hurdling debut at Uttoxeter and is now 3-3 under all codes.[Chris Wilson]