October 17 / 18.30 Newcastle (AW)

18.30

Standard

Central – A Decade Running Purely Belta Selling Stakes

  • Prize money: £3888
  • 1m 0f 5y
  • Class 5
  • 6 runners
SKY
View Course
Central – A Decade Running Purely Belta Selling Stakes

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Mostly cloudy

Form: 331521 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Twice successful on turf since August, though his win at 1-3 in a four-runner seller at Musselburgh (1m1f, soft) 16 days ago doesn't add up to much; twice runner-up in four visits here and respected despite 15lb worth of penalties.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

10

(3)

16th Oct 2026

Heavy

0m 7f 212y

Class 3

14:17 Haydock

Empirestateofmind

9st 0lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

Two wins at Ayr (1m, soft/heavy) last month with a near-miss at Hamilton (1m1f, heavy) in between, and he was a close second when unpenalised at Ayr (7f, heavy) last Thursday; 4lb higher this afternoon but this 8yo remains well treated on his old form and has to be respected.

13/2

1st

2

(2)

29th Sep 2026

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:08 Ayr

Empirestateofmind

9st 12lb

J: Jack Callan

T: John & Sean Quinn

Returned to form and capitalised on a reduced mark over C&D (soft) this month before near-miss at Hamilton (1m1f, heavy) two days later; 3lb higher than last time but this in-form 8yo is a leading contender.

11/4

2nd

4

(5)

20th Sep 2026

Soft

1m 1f 35y

Class 5

16:30 Hamilton

Empirestateofmind

9st 13lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

Proved resurgent dropped back to Class 5 at Ayr (1m, soft) on Friday, beating Motawaared by 1l, pair clear; likely player under 4lb penalty kept to this level, provided he remains in form.

100/30

OUR TIP

10/1

Form: 741088 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Winner of nine races including three on AW (6f/7f); won twice on turf (6f/7.6f) in the summer, but not very consistent and this stiff mile may just find him out; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

(9)

29th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 7f 50y

Class 4

15:38 Ayr

Abduction

9st 8lb

J: Jake Dickson

T: Jim Goldie

Two wins earlier this year and he's been running well in defeat across the past few months, including over C&D and on soft ground here; there is every chance that he will be thereabouts once more.

7/1

3rd

5

(3)

21st Sep 2026

Soft

0m 6f 6y

Class 4

16:30 Hamilton

Abduction

9st 8lb

J: Jake Dickson

T: Jim Goldie

Has won and finished close up in all three C&D handicaps; on his latest winning mark for last five starts but he's been involved in tight finishes in the most recent two (7f and this C&D) so is entitled to figure.

6/1

4th

8

(5)

21st Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 6y

Class 4

19:15 Hamilton

Abduction

9st 8lb

J: Jake Dickson

T: Jim Goldie

A dual 7f winner early in 2026 and he's holding his form well, beaten a nose when second of five in 7f Ayr handicap 25 days ago; this C&D scorer can make his presence felt.

13/2

Form: 676976

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Both wins have come over 7f (Polytrack/good ground) and has finished out of the frame in his last seven starts; didn't enjoy much luck in a 0-85 handicap over C&D last time, but may find a couple too good on these terms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

(10)

29th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 7f 50y

Class 4

15:38 Ayr

Stanage

9st 5lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

He's dropped to a very dangerous mark on last year's best form and is one to watch in the betting following an 82-day break, but he has struggled to get competitive on his three outings this season.

20/1

7th

5

(1)

9th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 6y

Class 4

17:05 Doncaster

Stanage

9st 10lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

Won over C&D in March of 2025 off 11lb higher; 0-12 in the meantime and quiet so far this term.

12/1

12th

9

(5)

26th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 5y

Class 4

18:18 Newcastle (AW)

Stanage

9st 11lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

He's 9lb lower than when winning at Doncaster last March and may have needed his comeback run there this March, when mid-division; however, his form went the wrong way as last year developed and he needs to get back on track.

14/1

Form: 193390 CD

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 3lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Multiple winner in his young days including over C&D, but has only managed to win two of his last 31 starts, one of which was on Jersey; may find a couple too strong.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(9)

29th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

18:30 Kempton (AW)

Tempus

9st 8lb

J: William Cox

T: Archie Watson

1lb lower than when scoring in an amateur riders' event at Goodwood (1m, good) in June, but hard to win with these days and latest close third of six came in a Newcastle seller (1m, Tapeta); look elsewhere.

11/1

6

(9)

29th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

18:30 Kempton (AW)

Tempus

9st 8lb

J: William Cox

T: Archie Watson

1lb lower than when scoring in an amateur riders' event at Goodwood (1m, good) in June, but hard to win with these days and latest close third of six came in a Newcastle seller (1m, Tapeta); look elsewhere.

11/1

4

(2)

17th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 5

18:30 Newcastle (AW)

Tempus

10st 3lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

Multiple winner in his young days including over C&D, but has only managed to win two of his last 31 starts, one of which was on Jersey; may find a couple too strong.

7/1

Form: 063906 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Not at his best in handicaps lately, but 10-29 on the AW and 2-2 over C&D in January 2022 when trained by Charles Hills; stable doesn't run many here and he's interesting on these terms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

6

(10)

30th Jul 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 6

17:10 Wolverhampton (AW)

Cephalus

9st 8lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Chelsea Banham

11-time AW winner, the latest a Newcastle seller for the Moores (1m, Tapeta) last October; regressive for this yard in the meantime despite plummeting in the weights; best watched unless the market suggests otherwise.

11/1

10th

7

(12)

7th Jul 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 5

18:10 Wolverhampton (AW)

Cephalus

9st 4lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Chelsea Banham

11-time AW winner; quiet for Chelsea Banham this year but dropping down the weights and he is one of four runners on the card for connections that all require close market surveillance.

9/1

9th

13

(1)

20th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Cephalus

9st 2lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Chelsea Banham

11-time AW winner but he's been out of sorts for new yard since December and was last of eight over C&D last time; mark is tumbling but he has lots to prove and needs a major revival.

66/1

Form: 726434 C

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
0-16 since winning the Spring Mile at Doncaster (1m, soft) in March last year, but running well in handicaps lately while her record here reads 6231; major player on these terms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(5)

21st Sep 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

16:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Look Back Smiling

10st 0lb

J: Donagh Murphy

T: Neil Mulholland

All five wins at 6f-1m, the latest at Doncaster in March 2024 off 20lb lower and now on a career-low mark; has dwelt at the start on his last two runs and first-time blinkers worn last time are retained; cannot discount but losing run is offputting.

5/1

3rd

2

(2)

5th Sep 2026

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

20:30 Newcastle (AW)

Look Back Smiling

9st 8lb

J: Conor Whiteley

T: Neil Mulholland

Course winner at 7f who won the Spring Mile on turf in 2024; winless since but there were some flickers of life this summer before he faded at Chepstow 18 days ago; on a handy mark now and he might be more effective back on this track with first-time blinkers replacing cheekpieces.

8/1

6th

2

(8)

18th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 14y

Class 6

15:50 Chepstow

Look Back Smiling

9st 9lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Neil Mulholland

Has done his winning at trips between 6f and 1m; losing run goes back to March 2024 but, following a spell in the doldrums for previous yard and this one, he's been back in better form of late, doing some good late work on the AW at Kempton (1m) and Wolverhampton (about 1m1f); can be involved with Tom Marquand up for the first time

11/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £23.20
Straight Forecast £23.24
Trifecta £101.20

Selections

POSTDATA:

Empirestateofmind

TOPSPEED:

Cephalus

SPOTLIGHT:

Look Back Smiling

LAMBOURN:

Tempus

RP RATINGS:

Look Back Smiling

The Times:

Look Back Smiling

The Guardian:

Cephalus

Daily Mail:

Cephalus

The Star:

Cephalus

Telegraph:

Empirestateofmind

D Express:

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Daily Mirror:

Empirestateofmind

Daily Record:

Empirestateofmind