March 15 / 14.37 Newcastle

14.37

Good

Guinness At Rio’s Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3247.81
  • 2m 4f 62y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
Guinness At Rio’s Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.34
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 697871 CD

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Stable in fine form and this one was off the mark in first-time cheekpieces when winning C&D novice handicap last time (good); up 3lb; headgear retained; should give another good account.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

8

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:35 Newcastle

Luminaries

11st 2lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Ewan Whillans

Four-time hurdle winner but he generally struggled over fences in the autumn and was tailed off back in this sphere at Musselburgh (3m, good to soft) last month; needs to get back on track but he's 6b lower than for his last win and he's 3-3 over C&D.

12/1

1

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

13:38 Newcastle

Luminaries

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Ewan Whillans

Won four times over hurdles at up to 3m, all on good/good to soft, latest at Kelso in May (3m, good); not as good over fences so far, having pulled up on first occasion and finished 33l behind runner-up Sir Carnegie at Sedgefield last time (3m2f, good to firm); visor replaces cheekpieces; should improve.

8/1

1

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

13:38 Newcastle

Luminaries

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Ewan Whillans

Won four times over hurdles at up to 3m, all on good/good to soft, latest at Kelso in May (3m, good); not as good over fences so far, having pulled up on first occasion and finished 33l behind runner-up Sir Carnegie at Sedgefield last time (3m2f, good to firm); visor replaces cheekpieces; should improve.

8/1

9/4

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 33-791 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Off the mark over hurdles in first-time blinkers in handicap at Sedgefield last time (2m4f, soft), scoring by 7l having dictated the gallop; 8lb higher; headgear retained; worth considering.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

10

27th May 2026

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

19:08 Cartmel

Rioja Alta

10st 11lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

C&D winner off 2lb lower last summer (soft) and some respectable runs in the meantime; the latest at Perth wasn't one of them but he's hard to rule out.

8/1

5th

1

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

16:40 Perth

Rioja Alta

12st 0lb

J: Miss Becky Smith

T: Micky Hammond

Winner off 3lb lower at Cartmel last summer (2m6f, soft); two good runs this year, latest when third in a stronger race at Wetherby (3m, good to soft); chance down in grade.

9/2

3rd

11

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 4

16:22 Wetherby

Rioja Alta

10st 11lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

Won at Cartmel (2m6f, soft) last July and he's worked his way back to form, finishing third of eight at Catterick (3m1f, soft) in January; faces tougher opposition today, however, and needs another step forward.

12/1

10/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 654

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in an Irish point; makes handicap debut after three runs over hurdles, best run last time when 13l fourth of nine in a novice at Carlisle (2m1f, soft; 150-1); should improve for step up to 2m4f; bit to find.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 30y

Class 3

14:15 Bangor-on-Dee

Bo Cruz

10st 8lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Has soon left all his hurdle form behind over fences and arrives here on a hat-trick after clearcut wins in Class 5 soft-ground handicaps over similar trips at Catterick and Wetherby; the concerns are whether he can deal with the latest 10lb rise in classier company and drying ground might not be ideal.

7/4

1st

2

26th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 5

17:15 Wetherby

Bo Cruz

12st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Kept on for third here (2m3f, soft) in December on second chase start and improved for the step up in trip to win at Catterick (3m1f, soft) last month, beating Court At Slip by 10l; unexposed over staying distances and he's a strong contender up 7lb for last time.

6/5

Form: 346

Last run: 58 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Unexposed 6yo who has had two wind operations, latest in August 2024; fair form in three runs over hurdles since, including over 2m4f (beaten 30l in a maiden hurdle at Musselburgh); not highly tried on handicap debut; a possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

9th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 51y

Class 5

15:30 Catterick

Athair Mor

11st 1lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Paul Robson

0-8 under rules but runner-up on last three runs over fences, all at this sort of trip, last time at Wetherby (soft); should go well again.

5/2

Form: 03P226 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Both wins have been over 2m4f at Perth (soft/good); reportedly never travelling when below form last time but two fair runs previously; a possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

10

13th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:55 Perth

Prince Nino

10st 3lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Dual C&D winner in 2023 and is considerably lower in the weights now; raced lazily, tailed off, in a division of this last year (good; 5-1); missing from action since so it's tough to know how he'll fare; market check advised.

25/1

8th

9

14th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

20:30 Perth

Prince Nino

10st 4lb

J: Elizabeth Gale

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Went close at Newcastle in January, but hasn't performed to the same level on his four runs since and his losing sequence continues.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: P55-05

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Off for more than a year after finishing fifth of nine in a C&D handicap in January 2024 (soft); has been disappointing on both starts since; tongue-tie tried; plenty to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

15th Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:37 Newcastle

Tommy Johnson

11st 11lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Mark Walford

held up in rear

7/1

2

12th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 5

16:48 Wetherby

Tommy Johnson

11st 13lb

J: James Robottom

T: Mark Walford

Runner-up in a 2m4f novice on his debut but hasn't progressed and was beaten 13l and 31l in his handicaps; more needed.

7/1

10th

8

22nd Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 66y

Class 4

14:38 Catterick

Tommy Johnson

11st 8lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Mark Walford

held up in rear

25/1

Form: 523577 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Won a 2m4f handicap at Sedgefield in May by 31l (good); best run since has been over same C&D; well beaten last two starts, latest after 61-day break; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

11

24th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:37 Kelso

Knacker Trapper

10st 8lb

J: William Maggs

T: Andrew Crook

Didn't seem to stay 2m7f when below-par at Hexham last time, having run creditably on his two previous starts; could go well but on a long losing run.

10/1

9th

14

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

20:15 Hexham

Knacker Trapper

10st 9lb

J: William Maggs

T: Andrew Crook

Only win came in a Southwell novice handicap in May 2024 (2m4f, good); good run when second at Sedgefield last time (2m4f, good); stamina to prove, but could be in the mix.

12/1

2nd

7

1st Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

16:40 Sedgefield

Knacker Trapper

10st 12lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Andrew Crook

It's now 11 outings since his last success but he's been lightly raced this term and comes here on the back of a good third of 15 in 2m4f Newcastle handicap hurdle 18 days ago; can make his presence felt off the same mark.

7/1

Form: 86688

Last run: 30 days

W: 10st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Makes his handicap debut but needs to improve on his form to feature.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

16

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:11 Hexham

Dartmhor

10st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Chris Grant

Last of seven in 2m4f handicap at Sedgefield 15 days ago; very hard to make a case for in his bid for a maiden win from 4lb out of the handicap.

25/1

7th

7

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

14:18 Sedgefield

Dartmhor

10st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Chris Grant

0-6 over hurdles but made encouraging seasonal debut when third of six here (2m5f, soft) in December, and can probably be excused for finding 2m7f on heavy ground too taxing at Newcastle in January.

5/1

4th

11

27th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 149y

Class 5

14:25 Newcastle

Dartmhor

10st 6lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Chris Grant

Didn't achieve much during last season's first campaign but he rallied when 6l third of six at Sedgefield (2m5f, soft) on last month's reappearance and the step up in trip could be a positive for this lightly raced 6yo.

9/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £14.50
Straight Forecast £17.56
Tricast £81.22
Trifecta £83.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Luminaries

RP RATINGS:

Rioja Alta

The Times:

Knacker Trapper

Daily Mail:

Tommy Johnson

D Express:

Athair Mor

Telegraph:

Rioja Alta

The Sun:

Rioja Alta

Daily Mirror:

Knacker Trapper

POSTDATA:

Luminaries

The Guardian:

Luminaries

The Star:

Luminaries

Daily Record:

Luminaries