March 31 / 16.30 Newcastle

16.30

Good To Soft

Border Minstrel Sunday Lunch Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3247.81
  • 2m 4f 19y
  • Class 5
  • 10 runners
SKY
View Course
Border Minstrel Sunday Lunch Handicap Chase

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

100/30 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 215-22 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Won a novice handicap off 4lb lower at Warwick last March (2m4f, good); two sound runs this time, notably when second to an in-form rival at Wetherby last month (2m3f, soft); contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

2nd Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

15:00 Southwell

Ceolwulf

11st 12lb

J: James Bowen

T: Fionn McSharry

Landed his second win over fences when prevailing at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) in March, after finishing runner-up twice; a 4lb rise is workable and he should be thereabouts.

15/8

1st

2

31st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 19y

Class 5

16:30 Newcastle

Ceolwulf

11st 10lb

J: James Bowen

T: Fionn McSharry

Won a novice handicap off 4lb lower at Warwick last March (2m4f, good); two sound runs this time, notably when second to an in-form rival at Wetherby last month (2m3f, soft); contender.

100/30

2nd

8

26th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 4

15:35 Wetherby

Ceolwulf

10st 10lb

J: James Bowen

T: Fionn McSharry

10yo who is lightly raced for his age; progressive in these cheekpieces last season, finishing second at Leicester (2m4f, soft) then first at Warwick (2m4f, good); close second at Southwell (2m4f, good to soft) in November on sole outing this term; goes well fresh and entitled to respect.

13/2

15/2

  • Place: £3.00

Form: 8-PP44

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Point winner who won a novice hurdle at Cartmel in May 2022 (2m6f, good); has run a couple of fair races over fences, including when fourth over an inadequate 2m here last time; step back up in trip will suit; place chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

26th Jun 2026

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

16:23 Cartmel

Zumbi

11st 10lb

J: Leah Noreci

T: James Moffatt

First win for a long time and over fences when it was never in much doubt here a month ago (2m1f, good; first-time cheekpieces); went up 8lb but Charlotte Jones announced her retirement straight after that race so 10lb claimer Leah Noreci now takes over; weighted to go well again and this longer trip won't trouble him.

6/4

1st

6

27th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 5

20:38 Cartmel

Zumbi

11st 4lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

Hasn't won for ages but nearly put that right when going down by a neck here on Saturday (2m5f, good); Leah Noreci rode then so he's without the 10lb claim this time; still respected with cheekpieces added.

7/4

11/2

  • Place: £2.50

Form: 151F32 D

Last run: 12 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Won at Catterick in January (2m3f, good) and best form since when 0.5l second at Sedgefield last time (2m5f, good); conditions suit; chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

20th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

16:47 Cartmel

El Muchacho

11st 10lb

J: William Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Placed three consecutive times in March-May (2m4f-2m5f, good/good to soft) and has claims if judged on that form but didn't fire when well-held third of four on latest outing and also disappointed on only previous visit to Cartmel; usually ridden patiently; others appeal more.

10/1

3rd

2

28th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

18:30 Market Rasen

El Muchacho

12st 0lb

J: William Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Won twice on good ground (2m5f/2m3f) for this new stable last season and has been placed on last three appearances, most recently when second over C&D (good) three weeks ago; 1lb lower today and seems very likely to be in the thick of things again.

7/4

2nd

3

8th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

15:15 Market Rasen

El Muchacho

11st 7lb

J: William Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Holding form well since January's Catterick success (2m3f, good), actually achieving more on RPRs when a close third at Newcastle latest; still well treated on his 2023-24 peak form, and no ground concerns.

9/2

Form: 55554-

Last run: 516 days

W: 10st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Ex-Nigel Hawke; won a Taunton handicap hurdle in March 2023 (2m3f, good to soft); had a wind op at the end of that year and rather patchy form since then, including over fences; new stable in great form but he hasn't run for 516 days so perhaps best watched this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

28th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

18:30 Market Rasen

Play By The Rules

10st 6lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Adam Nicol

Returned from long absence with a promising stable debut at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) in March, when he travelled strongly for a long way, and he was unlucky to be brought down fairly early on at Hexham this month; remains well handicapped on old form; might be the answer.

11/4

12

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 5

19:15 Hexham

Play By The Rules

10st 3lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Adam Nicol

Ex-Nigel Hawke; fair fifth after a long break on stable debut at Newcastle last time (2m4f, good to soft; 3-1); should come on for that; one with a chance.

5/1

Form: 4222-8

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Second in three consecutive races over hurdles at up to 3m on last three starts last season; should improve on his reappearance run over hurdles (over C&D earlier this month); quite interesting on chase debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

31st Aug 2026

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 3

16:55 Cartmel

Passengerontheship

10st 13lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Big improver who won five consecutive good-ground chases in May/June, the latest over C&D; slightly disappointing when only fifth behind Sean Og here last month and will probably have slower ground to contend with today but further progress is not yet out of the question.

5/1

5th

3

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 4

17:30 Cartmel

Passengerontheship

11st 7lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Major improver who made it 5-7 over fences when completing a five-timer over C&D (good) three weeks ago; up another 5lb but he's on a roll and this tough 7yo could continue on the upgrade; big player.

4/5

1st

2

26th Jun 2026

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 4

15:18 Cartmel

Passengerontheship

11st 9lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

The tongue-tie has made a difference and he completed a Hexham four-timer five days ago (2m4f, good); only two others got round but he's on a roll and might be well in with a penalty.

6/4

Form: 7PPPP4 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
0-19 over fences; ended a sequence failing to finish when a well-beaten fourth on first run back after a wind op at Ayr last time (3m, soft); 9lb out of the handicap and plenty to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

15:30 Hexham

Euchan Falls

10st 2lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: R Mike Smith

0-18 over fences and hasn't been shaping of late as though a win is imminent; 10lb out of the handicap today and hard to fancy.

50/1

7th

11

31st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 19y

Class 5

16:30 Newcastle

Euchan Falls

10st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: R Mike Smith

0-19 over fences; ended a sequence failing to finish when a well-beaten fourth on first run back after a wind op at Ayr last time (3m, soft); 9lb out of the handicap and plenty to prove.

25/1

4th

6

6th Mar 2026

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 5

16:53 Ayr

Euchan Falls

10st 2lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: R Mike Smith

Scored over hurdles here back in 2023 but he remains winless over fences and was tongue tied when pulled up over C&D in January; needs a subsequent wind operation to spark major improvement.

25/1

OUR TIP

Form: 3P-8P4

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Yet to win in six runs over fences, and hasn't been at his best so far this season; bit to prove at present.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

20th Apr 2026

Good

2m 2f 25y

Class 5

16:00 Kelso

Ozzy Cosmo

11st 0lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

Disappointing 7yo who has been soundly beaten in three chases this year and now reverts to hurdling; usual cheekpieces left off today; needs to turn a corner.

16/1

8th

3

31st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 19y

Class 5

16:30 Newcastle

Ozzy Cosmo

11st 7lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: N W Alexander

Yet to win in six runs over fences, and hasn't been at his best so far this season; bit to prove at present.

20/1

Form: 653693 C

Last run: 40 days

W: 10st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Off the mark over fences when scoring at Hexham last May (2m4f, good to soft); hasn't been in such good form since; 1lb lower than his winning mark; drier ground should suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

13

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 5

19:15 Hexham

Cave Hill

10st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Ian Duncan

Returned to form to win this race off a 3lb higher mark last year; has been rather disappointing on his last couple of starts and more is needed for a repeat win.

20/1

9th

7

31st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 19y

Class 5

16:30 Newcastle

Cave Hill

10st 7lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Ian Duncan

Off the mark over fences when scoring at Hexham last May (2m4f, good to soft); hasn't been in such good form since; 1lb lower than his winning mark; drier ground should suit.

11/1

Form: -52P6P D

Last run: 69 days

W: 10st 2lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Won a couple of 2m4f chases for Jackie Stephen; sound run when 2l second at Catterick in November (3m1f, good) but disappointing since; plenty to prove now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

10

31st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 19y

Class 5

16:30 Newcastle

Sputnik

10st 2lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Won a couple of 2m4f chases for Jackie Stephen; sound run when 2l second at Catterick in November (3m1f, good) but disappointing since; plenty to prove now.

33/1

13

21st Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 54y

Class 5

14:50 Catterick

Sputnik

10st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

33-1 runner-up to I See The Sea over C&D in November; however, two lesser performances have followed and this 11yo needs to get back on track.

33/1

10

3rd Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

16:20 Perth

Sputnik

10st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Well beaten on both starts for this stable in the autumn (2m4f/2m5f) and not seen again since; back up in trip with cheekpieces refitted today; 3lb wrong; needs to prove some ability remains.

20/1

Form: 36-PPP

Last run: 49 days

W: 10st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 72

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

Non-runners

Didntgotwenty

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £26.60
Straight Forecast £36.36
Tricast £404.88
Trifecta £219.70

Selections

The Times:

Didntgotwenty

SPOTLIGHT:

Ceolwulf

POSTDATA:

El Muchacho

D Express:

Passengerontheship

The Guardian:

Play By The Rules

Telegraph:

Didntgotwenty

The Sun:

Didntgotwenty

The Star:

Didntgotwenty

Daily Mirror:

El Muchacho

RP RATINGS:

Ceolwulf

Daily Mail:

Ceolwulf

Daily Record:

Ceolwulf