February 21 / 14.10 Newcastle

14.10

Good To Soft

Jimmy Hunter 60th Birthday Celebration Novices’ Handicap Chase (Qualifier) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 2m 0f 75y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
SKY
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Jimmy Hunter 60th Birthday Celebration Novices’ Handicap Chase (Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £3.10
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 2225-1 CD

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in four handicap hurdles last season; heavy ground could have been a factor in him showing improved form on his successful chase debut over C&D last month, though was well backed prior to comfortably repelling Spadestep; 9lb worse off with the runner-up but clearly open to further improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

14:20 Ayr

The Grafter

11st 6lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Sam England

Built upon his hurdling promise to win on chase/seasonal debut at Newcastle (2m, heavy) in January and he followed up there (2m, good to soft) in February; climbing the weights but this unexposed 7yo had something to spare for both wins and may well have more left in the tank.

100/30

1st

2

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

14:10 Newcastle

The Grafter

11st 12lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Runner-up in four handicap hurdles last season; heavy ground could have been a factor in him showing improved form on his successful chase debut over C&D last month, though was well backed prior to comfortably repelling Spadestep; 9lb worse off with the runner-up but clearly open to further improvement.

11/4

1st

4

27th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

13:50 Newcastle

The Grafter

11st 2lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Maiden; runner-up in four handicap hurdles last season; has no easy task on chase debut having been off for 278 days.

8/1

Form: 2-1222 D BF

Last run: 25 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Point/novice hurdle winner; his second to Jordans Cross on chase debut at Aintree (2m, good) reads really well and, although yet to build on that, he's delivered another couple of solid efforts (heavy ground perhaps not ideal latest when behind The Grafter); can surely win a race off this mark and stable has landed the past two renewals of this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 207y

Class 2

15:17 Carlisle

Spadestep

11st 8lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Point/novice hurdle winner; his second to Jordans Cross on chase debut at Aintree (2m, good) reads really well and mistakes haven't helped his cause in racking up another three seconds; has the ability to win off this mark.

9/2

2nd

1

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

14:10 Newcastle

Spadestep

12st 0lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Point/novice hurdle winner; his second to Jordans Cross on chase debut at Aintree (2m, good) reads really well and, although yet to build on that, he's delivered another couple of solid efforts (heavy ground perhaps not ideal latest when behind The Grafter); can surely win a race off this mark and stable has landed the past two renewals of this.

7/2

2nd

2

27th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

13:50 Newcastle

Spadestep

11st 13lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Point/novice hurdle winner; excellent chase debut when second to useful sort at Aintree in October (2m, good); not quite as good last time; interesting with cheekpieces now tried.

4/5

Form: 5P-633

Last run: 55 days

W: 10st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Won a claiming hurdle in France (2m1f, soft) in September 2024; didn't show a great deal over hurdles for this yard but two fair efforts over fences and would have been closer last time without a mistake; this is competitive, though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

14:10 Newcastle

Galidam

10st 10lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Micky Hammond

Won a claiming hurdle in France (2m1f, soft) in September 2024; didn't show a great deal over hurdles for this yard but two fair efforts over fences and would have been closer last time without a mistake; this is competitive, though.

10/1

Form: 681213 D BF

Last run: 75 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Winner on good ground over 2m3f at Stratford and Catterick this season; another fair effort when third of four at Musselburgh last time (2m4f, soft) where he jumped left on occasions; return to a left-handed track should suit and he can go well (won a bumper on soft ground).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

23rd Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:02 Warwick

Sleeping Satellite

11st 11lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Leads or races prominently; twice made all in the autumn (2m3f, good) and latest fifth at Kelso was a good run as he only weakened late on in a higher grade; respected in the new cheekpieces.

16/1

5th

6

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 2

14:40 Kelso

Sleeping Satellite

11st 1lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Twice made all in the autumn (2m3f, good) but his progress has stalled on his last two outings and he needs something extra if he's to return to winning ways today.

12/1

4th

3

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

14:10 Newcastle

Sleeping Satellite

11st 6lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Winner on good ground over 2m3f at Stratford and Catterick this season; another fair effort when third of four at Musselburgh last time (2m4f, soft) where he jumped left on occasions; return to a left-handed track should suit and he can go well (won a bumper on soft ground).

13/2

Form: -51211 C

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Progressed well over hurdles; didn't appear to be doing a lot in front when just holding on to make it 2-2 over fences at Catterick (2m3f, soft; second run in cheekpieces); has another 6lb to contend with but very much heading the right way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

16:46 Kelso

Always A Reason

11st 11lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Rebecca Menzies

Won in January on first two chase starts (2m4f/2m3f, good to soft/soft) and bounced back from a lesser run when second here (2m5f, good to soft) 12 days ago in a first-time tongue-tie (retained); won a 3m point in 2024 and there's every chance he'll stay this far under rules; high on the list.

7/2

2nd

8

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 2

14:40 Kelso

Always A Reason

11st 0lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Won in January on first two chase starts (2m4f/2m3f, good to soft/soft), shaping each time as though he had more left in the tank; soundly beaten at Newcastle (2m, good to soft) since but that maybe shouldn't be taken as a sign that his current mark is beyond him; cheekpieces go on.

8/1

5th

4

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

14:10 Newcastle

Always A Reason

11st 5lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Progressed well over hurdles; didn't appear to be doing a lot in front when just holding on to make it 2-2 over fences at Catterick (2m3f, soft; second run in cheekpieces); has another 6lb to contend with but very much heading the right way.

5/1

Form: U-7111 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Has won three of his four races in this headgear combination and it was fairly comfortable at Catterick three weeks ago (1m7f, soft); shooting up the weights (raised another 8lb) but things have clicked in a big way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 2

14:40 Kelso

Stick With Me Sam

10st 13lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Tom Gretton

Won three times in a row this winter (1m7f/2m, heavy-good to soft); made mistakes when well beaten at Newcastle (2m, good to soft) last time and his yard is in good form, but he needs to prove he can cope with his current mark, and also today's step up in trip.

20/1

6th

5

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

14:10 Newcastle

Stick With Me Sam

11st 4lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Tom Gretton

Has won three of his four races in this headgear combination and it was fairly comfortable at Catterick three weeks ago (1m7f, soft); shooting up the weights (raised another 8lb) but things have clicked in a big way.

3/1

1st

2

30th Jan 2026

Soft

1m 7f 145y

Class 5

14:40 Catterick

Stick With Me Sam

11st 12lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Tom Gretton

Comfortable win at Hexham (1m7f, heavy) last month on his second start of the season and he followed up at Warwick (2m, good to soft) on New Year's Eve; clearly thriving and may well complete the hat-trick.

8/13

Non-runners

Ballyedward

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.80
Straight Forecast £6.52
Trifecta £34.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Spadestep

The Guardian:

Always A Reason

The Times:

The Grafter

The Star:

Stick With Me Sam

TOPSPEED:

Spadestep

POSTDATA:

Spadestep

Telegraph:

Spadestep

Daily Mail:

Spadestep

Daily Mirror:

Spadestep

The Sun:

The Grafter

D Express:

Always A Reason

Daily Record:

Always A Reason