January 08 / 14.33 Newcastle (AW)

14.33

Standard To Slow

£30 In Free Bets With BetUK Handicap

  • Prize money: £4972.3
  • 0m 5f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
£30 In Free Bets With BetUK Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Sunny

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 71122- CD BF

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Frustrating for a long period but has turned a corner (form figures 1122, all at Newcastle) since having wind surgery; very solid on that recent evidence and remains well treated on historical data.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

8

(7)

16th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

18:45 Pontefract

Mondammej

8st 11lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Antony Brittain

9yo who has dropped down the weights and showed spark when second of four at Nottingham last month; however, well beaten at Thirsk since and he's winless on turf since September 2021; others appeal more.

50/1

12th

9

(5)

1st Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:17 Thirsk

Mondammej

9st 8lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Antony Brittain

Talented veteran but has temperament to match his ability; no turf win since 2021 and when second at Nottingham 11 days ago there were only four runners; more minor money perhaps his best hope.

9/1

2nd

1

(4)

21st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 8y

Class 5

17:50 Nottingham

Mondammej

10st 0lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Antony Brittain

Winless on turf since 2021 but showed more on his second run back from a break last time, is now 2lb lower and this is easier than the handicaps he's used to contesting; tends to be held up and a speed-favouring 5f in a small field may not be optimal but he's capable.

6/1

7/1

  • Place: £3.50

Form: 18544- CD

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Veteran who ties in with Mondammej and Parisiac on Class 5 form over C&D last month; back up in grade but Warren Fentiman takes off useful 7lb; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(2)

31st Jan 2025

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

14:28 Newcastle (AW)

Strong Johnson

9st 7lb

J: David Nolan

T: Paul Midgley

led narrowly on far side of group, headed halfway, weakened inside final furlong

9/2

7th

2

(2)

31st Jan 2025

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

14:28 Newcastle (AW)

Strong Johnson

9st 7lb

J: David Nolan

T: Paul Midgley

The veteran of the field but he arrives in top form, finding only the revitalised Mondammej too strong over C&D three weeks ago; not dismissed lightly off an unchanged mark.

9/2

2nd

7

(7)

8th Jan 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

14:33 Newcastle (AW)

Strong Johnson

9st 0lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Paul Midgley

led but pestered, headed inside final furlong, soon no extra

7/1

Form: 31344- CD

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Often slowly away but his consistent form since October features a C&D success; ties in with Mondammej (stablemate) and Our Absent Friends on latest effort; again has frame possibilities.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

(7)

21st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 18y

Class 5

17:15 Nottingham

Dark Kestrel

8st 9lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Antony Brittain

Better on AW than turf but handicapped accordingly; not beaten far at Wetherby on his penultimate start but this is a better race and he has since finished down the field at Wolverhampton.

16/1

8th

3

(6)

6th Jul 2026

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 5

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Dark Kestrel

9st 9lb

J: Harry Russell

T: Antony Brittain

Has won here but at his best at Newcastle where he has gained his last four wins; can ruin chance by starting slowly but is not firing on all cylinders at present anyway; best to wait until he returns to Newcastle.

16/1

3rd

1

(2)

15th Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 110y

Class 6

16:15 Wetherby

Dark Kestrel

9st 9lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Antony Brittain

Better on the AW, but has a 15lb lower rating on turf; Newcastle winner in March; not disgraced on latest turf start at Beverley last month, but modest effort in a visor (on again) on Tapeta last time; a possible.

6/1

Form: 02044- CD

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Successful twice off 5lb higher for previous yard; attractively handicapped but looks held by Mondammej on course running last time (third start for new stable).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

10

(6)

15th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 34y

Class 3

13:55 Newbury

Rhythm N Hooves

9st 2lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Robert Cowell

Won this 12 months ago off 9lb higher; 0-15 since and a change of headgear (retained) failed to stop the slide at Ascot three weeks ago.

6/1

8th

13

(12)

25th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

17:20 Ascot

Rhythm N Hooves

8st 6lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Robert Cowell

Won at Royal Ascot in 2023 and second in this race in 2025; the handicapper has been in command for much of 2026 but he went close at Windsor last month; not in the same form at Newmarket two weeks ago but the switch from cheekpieces to a visor could help; contender.

10/1

8th

11

(3)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 3

16:45 Newmarket (July)

Rhythm N Hooves

9st 3lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Robert Cowell

Had a rare off day in the Dash at Epsom but quickly back on track with a close third at Windsor (5f good to firm) 18 days ago; unlikely to be far away off the same mark.

10/1

12/1

Form: 41592- D

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Six turf wins; mixed results over C&D since returned to AW and isn't guaranteed to back up latest effort (finished second in lower grade); 0-10 in this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

11

(2)

21st Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 7y

Class 3

18:45 Hamilton

Parisiac

9st 3lb

J: Conor Whiteley

T: Iain Jardine

Made all over C&D in June and runner-up on his next two starts; below his best last time at Ayr but a revival would come as no surprise.

14/1

Form: 15843- CD

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Ties in with Mondammej and Dark Kestrel on C&D running three weeks ago; hasn't won on AW since March 2023 but recent form gives cause for optimism.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(9)

31st Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:10 Ripon

Our Absent Friends

10st 0lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Tristan Davidson

Acts on good to firm and soft; nine-time winner who scored by 4l at Catterick two weeks ago but was disappointing under a penalty there last Wednesday; up another 4lb, but he was as good as ever on his penultimate run and is a player if he can recapture that form.

5/1

5th

9

(9)

26th Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

16:15 Catterick

Our Absent Friends

9st 0lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Tristan Davidson

Failed to beat a rival home at Thirsk (5f, good) but he's won over this C&D either side of that, including when coming 4l clear nine days ago; looks well treated under a 4lb penalty but this is a step up in class.

4/1

1st

3

(4)

17th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:15 Catterick

Our Absent Friends

9st 13lb

J: David Allan

T: Tristan Davidson

Wins his share and he got off the mark for the year over C&D last month; well held at Thirsk three days ago but in a Class 4; this should be more suitable.

6/1

Form: 32116- CD BF

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Never landed a blow (behind Al Farabi) last time when bidding for a Southwell hat-trick but may rebound, having been in career-best form otherwise of late; not written off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(1)

20th Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 8y

Class 4

19:45 Nottingham

Sugar Hill Babe

10st 3lb

J: Ross Coakley

T: Lisa Williamson

Reappeared with a close second at Musselburgh in April and she built on that when forging clear over C&D (good) last month; up 6lb but she has form figures of 3211 at this track and was as good as ever last time; big player.

11/4

1st

2

(7)

31st May 2026

Good

0m 5f 8y

Class 4

15:55 Nottingham

Sugar Hill Babe

9st 11lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Lisa Williamson

Her front-running C&D win last May came off just 1lb lower; ended 2025 quietly but she returned to form after six months off, keeping on well for second at Musselburgh (5f, good) 32 days ago; takes on some less-exposed 3yos but likely to go well.

7/1

2nd

2

(3)

29th Apr 2026

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

15:15 Musselburgh

Sugar Hill Babe

9st 8lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Lisa Williamson

Reappears off the mark she defied at Nottingham (5f, good to firm) last May and has won first time up before; also a creditable third on previous C&D visit; no surprise were she to go well.

9/1

OUR TIP

Form: 23004-

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
0-7 in handicaps but ran encouragingly dropped to 5f at Southwell most recently (second start for new yard) and may build on that effort; interesting contender, being unexposed at this distance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(4)

8th Jan 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

14:33 Newcastle (AW)

Al Farabi

9st 8lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Stuart Williams

0-7 in handicaps but ran encouragingly dropped to 5f at Southwell most recently (second start for new yard) and may build on that effort; interesting contender, being unexposed at this distance.

4/1

2

(4)

8th Jan 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

14:33 Newcastle (AW)

Al Farabi

9st 8lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Stuart Williams

0-7 in handicaps but ran encouragingly dropped to 5f at Southwell most recently (second start for new yard) and may build on that effort; interesting contender, being unexposed at this distance.

4/1

4th

5

(2)

20th Dec 2024

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 3

12:32 Southwell (AW)

Al Farabi

9st 1lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Stuart Williams

mounted in chute, prominent, stayed on

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £14.80
Straight Forecast £25.48
Tricast £71.67
Trifecta £63.90

Selections

Telegraph:

Mondammej

SPOTLIGHT:

Al Farabi

The Guardian:

Dark Kestrel

RP RATINGS:

Strong Johnson

The Times:

Rhythm N Hooves

TOPSPEED:

Parisiac

POSTDATA:

Al Farabi

NEWMARKET:

Al Farabi

D Express:

Dark Kestrel

Daily Mail:

Mondammej

Daily Mirror:

Mondammej

The Sun:

Mondammej

Daily Record:

Mondammej

The Star:

Strong Johnson