February 08 / 16.00 Newcastle

16.00

Heavy

Border Minstrel New Menu Handicap Hurdle (Go North Cab On Target Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 2m 4f 62y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
SKY
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Border Minstrel New Menu Handicap Hurdle (Go North Cab On Target Series Qualifier)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

Form: 430-05

Last run: 85 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

6th May 2026

Good

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

14:55 Kelso

Jericoacoara

11st 8lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Yet to add to his French hurdle win (2m1f, very soft) in 2023 but he's been placed in last three runs including when second behind Kilmore Rock over C&D (good) last month; should go well again and any rain would be a bonus.

4/1

2nd

2

20th Apr 2026

Good

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

14:30 Kelso

Jericoacoara

11st 12lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Yet to add to his French hurdle win in 2023 but was placed on both starts this year, more recently when close second in valuable series final here (2m5f, good to soft) last month; must be considered.

5/1

2nd

9

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

13:30 Kelso

Jericoacoara

10st 13lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

His French win came in 2023 and he's 0-6 in Britain, but he's dropped down the weights and ran well when third to Eloi Du Puy at Ayr (2m4f, soft) last month; has also shown promise on good to soft; might not be far away.

10/1

Form: 243549 D

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 9lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

13:30 Kelso

Wolfspear

10st 13lb

J: Edward Austin

T: Daragh Bourke

Three-time hurdle winner (including on heavy) who has run a couple of fair races since joining this yard in the autumn, but this 10yo was tailed off at Ayr (2m4f, soft) a fortnight ago and his losing sequence continues.

16/1

9th

6

29th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

13:43 Ayr

Wolfspear

11st 1lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Daragh Bourke

10yo who has not won since January 2024 but he's reached the frame in two of his three runs for current yard; now 2lb lower than when third of 14 at Kelso (2m5f, good to soft) in November and he could be in the mix back at this trip.

12/1

Abandoned

Form: -94441 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 137y

Class 4

14:55 Exeter

Eton Mes

11st 11lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Won on handicap debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) in January and followed up at Wincanton (2m5f, heavy), both under Rian Corcoran; when third at Ffos Las (2m4f, heavy) it maybe came too soon, just six days after the Wincanton win; 7lb higher mark has now kicked in but he may still have more to offer.

11/2

3rd

5

20th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:22 Ffos Las

Eton Mes

11st 4lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Immediate improvement for the switch to handicaps and deployment of Rian Corcoran, the pair obliging at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) and Wincanton (2m5f, heavy) with something in hand each time; unpenalised for the latter, and obvious case assuming the six-day turnround isn't too quick.

2/1

1st

3

14th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 5f 82y

Class 5

13:05 Wincanton

Eton Mes

12st 0lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Well-held fourth in his first three runs over hurdles but he found improvement when justifying support on handicap debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) three weeks ago; up 5lb but that was a convincing win under Rian Corcoran and he's open to more progress at this new trip; key player.

11/8

Form: 4-5232 D BF

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

16

27th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 56y

Class 4

15:20 Wetherby

Forest Blaze

10st 10lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Mark Walford

Below par at Ayr last time, ending a consistent spell of form; rebound looks possible but this is a difficult task and he's still seeking a first win away from Hexham.

33/1

5th

7

6th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

16:20 Ayr

Forest Blaze

11st 3lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Placed on consecutive starts in cheekpieces here (2m4f/2m3f) in December/January and again ran well when close second in first-time visor at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) on latest outing; contests this competitive race from a career-high mark but still enters calculations.

8/1

Form: 326-12

Last run: 69 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

5

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

20:20 Hexham

Red Cadillac

11st 12lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Nicky Richards

Came good with hard-fought success on his reappearance at Carlisle (2m1f, soft) in November and has improved on that in two Ayr outings since, upped to around this trip and winning on soft last time; up 8lb which demands another career best but he has to be respected in current form.

8/1

1st

8

6th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

16:20 Ayr

Red Cadillac

11st 3lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Nicky Richards

Came good with hard-fought success on seasonal debut at Carlisle (2m1f, soft) in November, his seventh start over hurdles, and bettered that performance when clear second to a handicap blot here (2m3f, soft) the following month; no surprise if he plays another major role.

7/1

Form: 251P60 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

24th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:37 Kelso

Less Legacy

11st 8lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Susan Corbett

Won four-runner handicap at Hexham last June (2m4f, good to soft; cheekpieces on for first time); disappointing since; needs first-time blinkers to bring about significant improvement.

12/1

10th

3

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:11 Hexham

Less Legacy

11st 12lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Susan Corbett

Captured this prize last year (fourth win at the track) and caught the eye when eighth of 12 in 2m4f handicap at Sedgefield 34 days ago, racing wide and set a lot to do; he's a player off a 2lb lower mark now.

8/1

8th

6

19th Feb 2026

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

15:43 Sedgefield

Less Legacy

11st 11lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Susan Corbett

Four of his five wins have been at Hexham; hasn't been at his best on last three starts; others stronger.

50/1

Form: 5-23

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

21

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 3f 81y

15:05 Punchestown

Another High Five

10st 5lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Scottish raider; 0-5 but getting closer with each run this season; 2.5l behind Judicial Deference on penultimate at Kelso (22.5f, heavy); beaten a neck at Hexham on latest (2m4f, soft); cheekpieces go on now; can't discount.

25/1

2nd

1

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:11 Hexham

Another High Five

12st 0lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Lightly raced sort who took a big step forward on his handicap debut when a running-on second of eight at Kelso (2m6f) 40 days ago; this Irish point second merits serious consideration nudged up 1lb.

4/1

Form: 35-642 D BF

Last run: 59 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

15th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

16:07 Market Rasen

Aire Spray

11st 7lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Has responded well to cheekpieces and was up in trip when prevailing by a nose over C&D (soft) last month; 4lb higher, but still unexposed over this far and makes the shortlist.

3/1

1st

8

17th Feb 2026

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

15:37 Market Rasen

Aire Spray

11st 3lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Dual winner over 2m3f/2m4f on soft ground last winter and gradually working his way back to form this season, finishing runner-up at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft; first-time cheekpieces) in December; has never attempted this far before, though.

11/2

Form: 385O7

Last run: 44 days

W: 10st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

9

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

16:40 Carlisle

Yapper Hill

10st 4lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

Posted his best effort when fourth of eight in 2m handicap hurdle at Wetherby in February but well beaten at Hexham ten days ago; a first-time tongue-tie is reached for on the back of that.

14/1

9th

12

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:11 Hexham

Yapper Hill

11st 0lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

Posted his best effort when fourth of eight in 2m handicap hurdle at Wetherby last month; remains low mileage, so is not out of things from a slipping mark.

11/1

Verdict

The lightly raced 5yo ETON MES (nap) shaped as though he had more left in the tank at Uttoxeter and is taken to make it 2-2 in handicaps. The progressive Red Cadillac could be the main danger ahead of Another High Five, who could improve for the step up in trip on handicap debut. Forest Blaze and Aire Spray could also be firmly involved.[Ben Hutton]