October 09 / 20.30 Newcastle (AW)

20.30

Standard

ARC All-Weather £1Million Bonus Returns Apprentice Handicap

  • Prize money: £3245.08
  • 1m 0f 5y
  • Class 6
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
ARC All-Weather £1Million Bonus Returns Apprentice Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 145798 CD

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
Four-time AW winner, twice here (7f/1m); struggled off his revised rating since winning at Southwell (1m, Tapeta) in April but there were signs he was on the way back when not getting the breaks over C&D in late August and he sat too close to a hot pace back here three weeks ago; could go under the radar.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

5

(10)

29th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

17:15 Southwell (AW)

Spirit Of Bowland

9st 5lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Tony Culhane & Stella Barclay

Readily landed a division of this race last year and sole win since came in C&D classified contest 34 days ago; should go well, for all that he might be vulnerable to younger legs.

7/1

1st

12

(4)

26th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

15:07 Southwell (AW)

Spirit Of Bowland

9st 9lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Tony Culhane & Stella Barclay

Dual C&D handicap winner who's run respectably on his last five starts (all classifieds); beaten just 1l (7f; first-time blinkers, now removed) at Newcastle one week ago and he'll likely be on the premises once more.

8/1

5th

8

(10)

19th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

Spirit Of Bowland

9st 9lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Tony Culhane & Stella Barclay

C&D winner who has finished third in classified events on three of his four starts this year; first-time blinkers won't need to give him too much extra.

7/1

Form: 0-7011 CD

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 7lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 48

Form & Verdict
0-14 in Ireland but landed a gamble at Hamilton (8.5f, soft) last month and was unpenalised when following up under Aiden Brookes over C&D eight days later; that made it 2-2 for the yard and the hat-trick looks a distinct possibility.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

9

(11)

2nd Jun 2026

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 5

20:15 Newcastle (AW)

Second Fiddle

9st 1lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Iain Jardine

Five C&D wins, the latest from a 3lb lower mark in December; has struggled at double-figure odds on turf lately (Musselburgh and Hamilton) with slow starts a regular feature; drops back into a Class 5 now at a more suitable track, but with enough to prove for the time being.

16/1

8th

6

(4)

17th May 2026

Good

1m 1f 35y

Class 3

17:45 Hamilton

Second Fiddle

8st 11lb

J: Greg Fairley

T: Iain Jardine

Enjoyed a superb 2025 when a six-time winner (including here) but yet to fire this season, beating just one home in a 1m Musselburgh handicap last month; she's 4lb out of the handicap too.

33/1

10th

10

(10)

12th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 2y

Class 4

16:45 Musselburgh

Second Fiddle

9st 0lb

J: Cara Tuke

T: Iain Jardine

Made it 15th-time lucky on stable debut at Hamilton (1m, soft) last September and then won five of his next six starts on the AW, but held in both outings at the start of the year; bit to prove back on turf after three months off.

25/1

OUR TIP

Form: 899-4

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 54

Form & Verdict
All starts at about 1m; modest form in three qualifying runs (AW); switch to handicaps and first-time cheekpieces didn't prompt improvement at Musselburgh (good to soft) last month; might build on that first start for 260 days, though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

18:20 Stratford

Blue Siam

10st 13lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Syd Hosie

Modest Flat maiden and only minor promise in her three races over hurdles; she still has time on her side, though, and she swaps a hood for cheekpieces on her handicap debut.

7/1

4th

10

13th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 4

17:30 Newton Abbot

Blue Siam

10st 3lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: Syd Hosie

Modest Flat maiden and insufficient promise in her two races over hurdles to consider.

50/1

5th

7

12th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 50y

Class 4

14:55 Wincanton

Blue Siam

10st 3lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: Syd Hosie

Modest Flat maiden; well behind Siorai when tailed off at Stratford two weeks ago; hood added.

40/1

Form: 731437 CD

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 4lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 50

Form & Verdict
C&D winner one year ago; soft-ground Carlisle handicap (1m) win in May was followed by two respectable efforts in July; may have just needed it when back from a small break here (7f) one month ago; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

(10)

2nd Jun 2026

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 6

18:15 Newcastle (AW)

Wheres The Crumpet

9st 9lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: David Thompson

Scored at Carlisle (1m) last May but her more recent form is much less encouraging, beating just one in 1m2f Redcar handicap eight days ago; this C&D scorer needs to take a major step forward.

25/1

11th

9

(2)

25th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 1y

Class 6

17:18 Redcar

Wheres The Crumpet

9st 0lb

J: Barry McHugh

T: David Thompson

Creditable third at Southwell in January (1m) but not so good since; seems to stay 1m2f and wouldn't rule out.

16/1

10th

11

(8)

20th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

20:30 Newcastle (AW)

Wheres The Crumpet

9st 1lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: David Thompson

Both AW wins have been at Newcastle (1m/1m2f) but her last success was 11 months ago and she's been out of sorts in two runs this spring; down the list.

12/1

Form: 066079

Last run: 154 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 52

Form & Verdict
Regularly switched stables across a 13-race career in France, including when under the care of Phil Kirby in the early part of this year; only one third-placed finish to shout about, when beaten just under 2l in 6.5f claimer (very soft) over a year ago; best watched on British debut unless the market suggests otherwise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

11

(5)

6th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 6

15:17 Wolverhampton (AW)

Shoptilyoudrop

9st 0lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Philip Kirby

Little to shout about for some time and now 0-20.

33/1

7th

12

(11)

20th Jan 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

17:00 Southwell (AW)

Shoptilyoudrop

9st 11lb

J: Miss Venetia Thompson

T: Philip Kirby

Remains an inconsistent maiden and it's still a long time since her sole piece of placed form; opposed.

33/1

8th

6

(9)

17th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

18:00 Southwell (AW)

Shoptilyoudrop

9st 9lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Philip Kirby

Ex-French filly who is 0-18 and has finished down the field in five runs (6f-1m) for current yard; passed over.

33/1

Form: 454804 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 45

Form & Verdict
Seven-time C&D winner, including this race last year and most recently in April; long way below that in two starts last month and isn't easy to recommend at present.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

10

(6)

29th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

17:15 Southwell (AW)

Pop Favorite

9st 0lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Scott Dixon

Hasn't troubled the judge since returning in December from a short break and finished well behind Spirit Of Bowland over C&D last time.

33/1

9th

8

(5)

26th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

15:07 Southwell (AW)

Pop Favorite

9st 9lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Scott Dixon

Last win away from Newcastle was in 2021; slow starts have been holding him back so both classified fourths over C&D this month can arguably be upgraded; chance rests largely on the start.

20/1

4th

5

(7)

14th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

19:00 Southwell (AW)

Pop Favorite

9st 9lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Scott Dixon

It has been a long time since he won away from Newcastle and he has run to just a modest level in two Southwell runs this year; others appeal more for win purposes.

10/1

Form: 62-090

Last run: 75 days

W: 9st 0lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 45

Form & Verdict
4yo maiden; some fair efforts last term, including here, but this season's campaign has been a write off and wind surgery will need to have worked wonders.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(5)

9th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

20:30 Newcastle (AW)

Showmethewayhome

9st 0lb

J: Morgan Cole

T: Ewan Whillans

4yo maiden; some fair efforts last term, including here, but this season's campaign has been a write off and wind surgery will need to have worked wonders.

25/1

11

(7)

26th Jul 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

16:50 Newcastle (AW)

Showmethewayhome

9st 0lb

J: Harry Russell

T: Ewan Whillans

4yo maiden who has been tailed off in both her races this season; now tongue tied.

33/1

9th

10

(1)

6th Jul 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

14:55 Ayr

Showmethewayhome

9st 9lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Ewan Whillans

4yo maiden; record of 442 at classified level includes a respectable fourth in this race last year; needs to bounce back from a dismal reappearance effort.

16/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.60
Straight Forecast £9.74
Trifecta £26.40

Selections

Telegraph:

Second Fiddle

SPOTLIGHT:

Spirit Of Bowland

Daily Mail:

Blue Siam

The Times:

Wheres The Crumpet

POSTDATA:

Pop Favorite

The Guardian:

Second Fiddle

D Express:

Second Fiddle

Daily Mirror:

Second Fiddle

The Sun:

Second Fiddle

The Star:

Second Fiddle

Daily Record:

Second Fiddle

RP RATINGS:

Spirit Of Bowland