March 03 / 16.05 Newcastle

16.05

Good To Soft

Virgin Bet A Good Bet Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4700.09
  • 2m 7f 91y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Virgin Bet A Good Bet Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.10
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 473-24 BF

Last run: 47 days

W: 10st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Won a Doncaster handicap chase off 2lb lower for Sam England last February (3m2f, good); two fair runs since joining Nicky Richards, although was 17l behind Uptown Harry (11lb worse off) when fourth over C&D last time (good to soft; not jump well); capable of better and wouldn't rule out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

15:30 Hexham

Jamesieconn

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Front-runner who has won his last three starts (2m7f-3m2f, good to soft/good), the latest at Carlisle nine days ago; clearly thriving and could be tough to beat for a stable that is in fantastic form.

15/8

1st

4

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

15:27 Carlisle

Jamesieconn

11st 9lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Held on gamely to make all in four-runner Doncaster chase (3m2f, good to soft) last month and is now 2-4 for current stable; has more on his plate here and needs to prove himself on a right-handed track but still respected in current form.

11/4

1st

3

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 1y

Class 5

15:39 Doncaster

Jamesieconn

11st 8lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Won a C&D chase for Sam England in February 2025 (good); doubled his tally in this sphere when scoring at Newcastle ten days ago (good to soft); penalised 7lb; major contender.

11/8

OUR TIP

Form: 042-11

Last run: 77 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Two out of two for current yard, winning handicap hurdle at Musselburgh (2m4f, soft) and handicap chase at Catterick (2m3f, good to soft); up 9lb; tongue-tie, tried on last two starts, is back on again; stable going well and he's one to take seriously.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

1st Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

16:30 Southwell

Passing Pleasure

11st 9lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Won handicaps at Musselburgh (hurdle; 2m4f, soft) and Catterick (chase; 2m3f, good to soft) on first two outings for this yard; beaten at short odds but advanced his RPR again when stepped up to around 3m under rules for the first time in a Newcastle chase four weeks ago, going down by a neck to a next-time-out winner with the pair 16l clear; another 6lb higher back hurdling but it may not stop him, particularly if reacting well to the new cheekpieces (added to the tongue-tie he's worn since joining this stable).

7/4

2nd

1

3rd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 4

16:05 Newcastle

Passing Pleasure

12st 0lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Two out of two for current yard, winning handicap hurdle at Musselburgh (2m4f, soft) and handicap chase at Catterick (2m3f, good to soft); up 9lb; tongue-tie, tried on last two starts, is back on again; stable going well and he's one to take seriously.

5/4

13/2

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 546212 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 13lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
12yo who is in excellent form at present, winning over C&D in January (good to soft; 4lb out of the handicap) before finishing runner-up at Carlisle off 8lb higher last time; up another 2lb; each-way chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

17:15 Perth

Uptown Harry

10st 10lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Jane Walton

Veteran; C&D winner in 2021; having a good season, winning at Newcastle in January (2m7f, good to soft) and in the frame on his three runs since, last time when 9lb wrong; runs off his true mark here; could go well.

7/1

4th

13

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

15:52 Carlisle

Uptown Harry

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Jane Walton

Veteran who is currently in form but has come up short in this contest for the last two years and looks unlikely to make it third time lucky; well out of the weights.

25/1

3rd

4

3rd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 4

16:05 Newcastle

Uptown Harry

10st 13lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Jane Walton

12yo who is in excellent form at present, winning over C&D in January (good to soft; 4lb out of the handicap) before finishing runner-up at Carlisle off 8lb higher last time; up another 2lb; each-way chance.

13/2

Form: 1-031P D BF

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Beat a subsequent winner when scoring at Ayr two runs back (3m, soft) but pulled up over same C&D last time; needs to bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

16:46 Kelso

Cowboy Cooper

10st 10lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Donald Whillans

Won in good style at Ayr (3m, soft) in January and he's also effective on good to soft ground; however, this 10yo has been pulled up/soundly beaten on his last two starts and needs to get back on track.

16/1

4th

5

3rd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 4

16:05 Newcastle

Cowboy Cooper

10st 12lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald Whillans

Beat a subsequent winner when scoring at Ayr two runs back (3m, soft) but pulled up over same C&D last time; needs to bounce back.

9/1

4

10th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 5

16:05 Ayr

Cowboy Cooper

11st 7lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Donald Whillans

Won this 12 months ago (good to soft) and only his third run in the meantime when well on top again here in early January (soft); 6lb rise elevates him to a career-high mark but he should still have every chance.

9/4

Form: -03514 C

Last run: 41 days

W: 10st 5lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Winner at Catterick in December (3m1f, good) but a well-beaten fourth on softer ground over same C&D last time; could bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

8

19th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 28y

Class 5

16:40 Sedgefield

Valence DAumont

10st 12lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

12yo who is inconsistent and has been well below his best on his last two starts; however, before those he won at Catterick (3m1f, good) and he's won here twice in the past; not discounted.

13/2

5th

7

3rd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 4

16:05 Newcastle

Valence DAumont

10st 5lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Winner at Catterick in December (3m1f, good) but a well-beaten fourth on softer ground over same C&D last time; could bounce back.

15/2

4th

6

21st Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 54y

Class 5

14:50 Catterick

Valence DAumont

11st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

12yo whose form can be up and down but he's won on his last two visits to Catterick (soft/good), the latest over C&D last month when beating Mersey Street by a short head; he's a player if backing up that effort.

11/2

Form: -P43P5

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
13-race maiden; pulled up behind Cowboy Cooper at Ayr in January and was behind Uptown Harry at Carlisle last time; has a bit to prove here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

15:30 Hexham

Joie More

10st 6lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jackie Stephen

Respectable fifth of 14 at Carlisle (3m, good to soft) in February but well beaten at Newcastle (2m7f, good to soft) last month; has had a second wind op since, which needs to make a difference if he's to break his duck.

16/1

6th

8

3rd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 4

16:05 Newcastle

Joie More

10st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jackie Stephen

13-race maiden; pulled up behind Cowboy Cooper at Ayr in January and was behind Uptown Harry at Carlisle last time; has a bit to prove here.

33/1

5th

12

3rd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

16:04 Carlisle

Joie More

10st 4lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jackie Stephen

Didn't run badly on final two starts in 2025 and continues to drop down the weights; however, pulled up at Ayr last month and now 0-12 under rules; needs to bounce back in a big way in a first-time tongue-tie.

20/1

Form: P1-636 D

Last run: 113 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 108

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

2nd

5

26th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:10 Ayr

Dollar Collar

11st 0lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Lucinda Russell

Recorded a 5l success in heavy-ground Irish point four months ago on third attempt; subsequently sold for £30,000; new yard also runs Two Auld Pals; heed the market signals.

5/1

Form: P4-42P

Last run: 82 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish pointer; good second in a Kelso novice handicap chase in October (2m7f, good) but pulled up with cheekpieces tried last time; now has blinkers on for the first time and is back after a wind op; each-way chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

14th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

14:33 Perth

Cosmic Blizzard

11st 1lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Ex-Irish pointer; good second in a Kelso novice handicap chase (2m7f, good) last autumn but has pulled up on his two outings since (reportedly bled latest); something to prove.

14/1

3

3rd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 4

16:05 Newcastle

Cosmic Blizzard

11st 12lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Ex-Irish pointer; good second in a Kelso novice handicap chase in October (2m7f, good) but pulled up with cheekpieces tried last time; now has blinkers on for the first time and is back after a wind op; each-way chance.

13/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.40
Straight Forecast £6.00
Tricast £13.81
Trifecta £33.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Passing Pleasure

POSTDATA:

Uptown Harry

TOPSPEED:

Cosmic Blizzard

The Star:

Joie More

RP RATINGS:

Passing Pleasure

The Times:

Passing Pleasure

Telegraph:

Passing Pleasure

The Guardian:

Passing Pleasure

Daily Mail:

Passing Pleasure

D Express:

Passing Pleasure

Daily Mirror:

Passing Pleasure

The Sun:

Passing Pleasure

Daily Record:

Uptown Harry