March 07 / 17.00 Newcastle

17.00

Good To Soft

Follow Vickers.Bet On Facebook Open Maiden NH Flat Race (Category 3 Elim’) (Go North Jodami Qual)

  • Prize money: £2614.08
  • 2m 0f 46y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
Follow Vickers.Bet On Facebook Open Maiden NH Flat Race (Category 3 Elim’) (Go North Jodami Qual)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: NH Flat

Surface: Turf

Weather: Snow showers

OUR TIP

Form: 40

Last run: 89 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Dam was a 2m-2m5f hurdle/chase winner; nothing positive to take from his two starts so far; pulled way too hard before predictably tailing off over C&D (100-1) latest; a hood is applied presumably in order to seek to curb that enthusiasm.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

1

5th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

12:45 Musselburgh

Ask My Heather

11st 2lb

J: Sam Coltherd

T: Susan Corbett

Tailed off in his four bumpers and pulled up at triple-figure odds on all three hurdle starts.

100/1

0

1

16th Nov 2023

Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

14:35 Sedgefield

Ask My Heather

11st 4lb

J: Sam Coltherd

T: Susan Corbett

took keen hold, prominent on outer, mistake 2nd, led 3rd, headed 4 out, soon weakened and lost touch, pulled up before 3 out

200/1

Form: 2

Last run: 67 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
31,000euros 3yo; travelled strongly and went down fighting when runner-up to the more experienced Pyffo on Haydock debut (2m NHF, soft; 12-1) in December; is perfectly entitled to improve for that initial experience, so ought to prove tough to beat if bettering (or even replicating) that level of form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

10th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

18:20 Hexham

Coniston George

12st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Not particularly consistent but has a chance on his best form; successful at Carlisle in March (2m3f, good to soft) when wearing a visor for the first time, but well beaten off this 7lb higher mark with same headgear when favourite at Newcastle last time (2m4f, good).

6/1

1

10th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

18:20 Hexham

Coniston George

12st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Not particularly consistent but has a chance on his best form; successful at Carlisle in March (2m3f, good to soft) when wearing a visor for the first time, but well beaten off this 7lb higher mark with same headgear when favourite at Newcastle last time (2m4f, good).

6/1

5th

4

31st Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 62y

Class 3

16:00 Newcastle

Coniston George

11st 5lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Bounced back quickly from last month's poor performance and took form to whole new level at Carlisle (2m3f, good to soft; first-time visor) three weeks ago, keeping on strongly to win readily by 6l; went up 7lb for that but must be considered in current mood.

7/4

Form: 3

Last run: 63 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Sold for 50,000gns soon after finishing runner-up in a 3m Irish point (April 2022); weakened late on after making most of the running on Rules/stable debut at Musselburgh (2m NHF, soft); freshened up by a short break since and wouldn't have to improve by much in order to play a leading role.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

15th Nov 2024

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

12:58 Southwell

Easter Junction

11st 10lb

J: Jamie Brace

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

jumped right on occasions, prominent, led 4th, joined 4 out, headed after 3 out, stayed on but no match for winner

15/8

2nd

3

15th Nov 2024

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

12:58 Southwell

Easter Junction

11st 10lb

J: Jamie Brace

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

jumped right on occasions, prominent, led 4th, joined 4 out, headed after 3 out, stayed on but no match for winner

15/8

5th

1

1st Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

17:30 Worcester

Easter Junction

11st 12lb

J: William Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Safely held in first two handicaps but took step forward and ran well for a long way when fourth at Bangor (2m3f, good) last month; another 3lb lower here and enters calculations.

7/1

Form: 9

Last run: 70 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fifth foal; brother to the bumper and 2m5f/2m7f hurdle winner Present In Court; was a totally unconsidered 50-1 outsider when struggling on debut in a Wetherby bumper (2m, soft) over the Christmas period; a significant amount of improvement is necessary.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

11

24th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:37 Kelso

Knacker Trapper

10st 8lb

J: William Maggs

T: Andrew Crook

Didn't seem to stay 2m7f when below-par at Hexham last time, having run creditably on his two previous starts; could go well but on a long losing run.

10/1

9th

14

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

20:15 Hexham

Knacker Trapper

10st 9lb

J: William Maggs

T: Andrew Crook

Only win came in a Southwell novice handicap in May 2024 (2m4f, good); good run when second at Sedgefield last time (2m4f, good); stamina to prove, but could be in the mix.

12/1

2nd

7

1st Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

16:40 Sedgefield

Knacker Trapper

10st 12lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Andrew Crook

It's now 11 outings since his last success but he's been lightly raced this term and comes here on the back of a good third of 15 in 2m4f Newcastle handicap hurdle 18 days ago; can make his presence felt off the same mark.

7/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Second foal; dam was a debut Newcastle bumper winner and a half-sister to the fellow bumper scorer McGregor's Cottage; ticks plenty of boxes with trainer Ruth Jefferson a healthy 5-36 (14%) in bumpers over the past five years and Sean Quinlan being a notable jockey booking; market informative.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

29th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

12:18 Kelso

Lunar Chief

11st 7lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Ruth Jefferson

didn't jump with fluency, in touch with leaders early, in rear when not fluent 4th, reminders after 4 out, rallied and went fourth 3 out, went third after 2 out, no impression before last

6/1

3rd

2

29th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

12:18 Kelso

Lunar Chief

11st 7lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Ruth Jefferson

didn't jump with fluency, in touch with leaders early, in rear when not fluent 4th, reminders after 4 out

6/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
First foal from a dual point winner, who was a half-sister to the staying chaser Purple Harry (2m7f-3m2f); trainer isn't known for saddling bumper winners (0-7 over the past five years); far safer options lie elsewhere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

18th Mar 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:00 Wetherby

Mister Smarty

11st 7lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Tina Jackson

held up in rear, headway after 4 out, outpaced after 3 out, kept on

11/4

2nd

8

22nd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 5

17:05 Newcastle

Mister Smarty

11st 2lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Tina Jackson

His defeat of Double Oban at Wetherby on Boxing Day now reads really well and he's since finished right on the scene in two visits here; remains on a good mark and has a lot less to prove than many of these; trip/ground ideal.

11/4

3rd

10

13th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 5

14:15 Newcastle

Mister Smarty

10st 10lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Tina Jackson

held up in rear

6/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fifth foal from an unraced dam; siblings Karapiro Boy and Karapiro Doug failed to achieve anything of note under Rules, which obviously serves to dilute the optimism; trainer Phil Makin is 0-3 in NHF races.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

9th Jun 2023

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 4

13:50 Market Rasen

Topcliffe Boy

11st 2lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Gillian Boanas

Little to show for two runs in bumpers and one on the Flat; hurdle debut on first start for this trainer (was with Phillip Makin).

66/1

7th

2

(7)

5th May 2023

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 5

18:45 Newcastle (AW)

Topcliffe Boy

9st 12lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Phillip Makin

towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out

50/1

8th

5

6th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:55 Wetherby

Topcliffe Boy

11st 2lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Phillip Makin

Only 9-1 at Newcastle and, although well beaten, his trainer reported that he didn't enjoy the heavy ground; could do better.

33/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
18,000gns yearling; ninth foal from a Listed winning sprinter; closely related to Group-placed 6f 2yo winner Elronaq (RPR 102) and a half-brother to various winners including Vindolanda (1m4f-1m6f; 92); trainer Tim Easterby is 0-3 in NHF races this season; merits a basic market check.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(5)

3rd Apr 2023

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 4

18:00 Newcastle (AW)

Whisky Wolf

10st 2lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Remote sixth in Doncaster bumper last month when making debut; however, pedigree suggests this scenario is likely to suit him better; improvement possible.

33/1

6th

10

17th Mar 2023

Good

2m 0f 128y

Class 5

17:15 Doncaster

Whisky Wolf

10st 9lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Tim Easterby

18,000gns yearling; Territories gelding who is closely related to Group-placed 6f 2yo winner Elronaq (RPR 102) and a half-brother to three other winners, notably fairly useful Vindolanda (1m4f-1m6f); dam 6f Listed winner; appeals on paper so is one to consider, especially if the market vibes are positive.

12/1

Verdict

Having gone into most notebooks when going down all guns blazing on debut at Haydock in December, CONISTON GEORGE sets the clear form benchmark in a winnable bumper. Of the others, Easter Junction looks the most obvious threat, although any market support for Lunar Chief could be worth heeding given that his dam (Oleohneh) was herself a debut Newcastle bumper winner back in 2014. [Mark Rowntree]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Coniston George

TOPSPEED:

Easter Junction

The Times:

Lunar Chief

RP Ratings:

Coniston George

POSTDATA:

Coniston George

Telegraph:

Coniston George

The Guardian:

Coniston George

Daily Mail:

Coniston George

D Express:

Coniston George

The Star:

Coniston George

Daily Record:

Coniston George

Daily Mirror:

Easter Junction

The Sun:

Easter Junction