March 18 / 16.00 Newcastle

16.00

Soft

Guinness Surge Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £4541.66
  • 2m 7f 91y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Guinness Surge Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

6/4 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 8-4243

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
0-10, but has run well on most starts this season, last time finishing third off a 2lb lower mark at Ayr (3m, good to soft; fourth and fifth have won since); conditions suit; chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

24th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

15:25 Hexham

Maid Of Houxty

11st 8lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Donald Whillans

Off the mark at the 11th attempt when battling well to beat a clear second in a Newcastle handicap (2m7f, heavy) last month; this is a deeper race but a 3lb rise looks fair and she's open to more progress over fences; big player.

7/2

1st

3

18th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

16:00 Newcastle

Maid Of Houxty

11st 6lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Donald Whillans

in touch with leaders on outer

6/4

3rd

6

14th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 5

16:30 Ayr

Maid Of Houxty

10st 11lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Donald Whillans

Nine-race maiden; built upon her seasonal/chase debut when second of five at Kelso (3m2f, soft) in November but looked rather laboured when well-held fourth at Catterick (3m1f, soft) on New Year's Day and will need to show a bit more zest here.

8/1

14/1

  • Place: £2.40

Form: F448-0

Last run: 82 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Ex-French; ordinary form over hurdles for present yard including with cheekpieces last time; on a good mark and now back over fences following wind surgery; fell on last two chase runs in France; worth a market look.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

11

12th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 172y

19:58 Sligo

Le Grand Vert

10st 0lb

J: Ms E Dunseath

T: Noel C Kelly

Three-time chase winner is rated 15lb lower in this sphere; won over fences at Ayr in February (3m, soft), his second win at that venue; 2lb wrong here though and all four wins on soft and heavy ground.

14/1

4

12th Apr 2026

Good

3m 2f 50y

17:07 Down Royal

Le Grand Vert

11st 12lb

J: Carl Millar

T: Noel C Kelly

Has a liking for Ayr with two of his three chase wins coming there, including in February (3m, soft); that win came after a moderate season; lacked the pace at an important stage at Sedgefield last time (3m3f, good); needs to do it away from Ayr.

11/1

4th

6

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 59y

Class 4

15:38 Sedgefield

Le Grand Vert

11st 2lb

J: Mr O McGill

T: Noel C Kelly

3-29 over fences; very inconsistent nowadays but won readily at Ayr (3m, soft) last month and a subsequent 4lb rise is manageable if he's in the right mood again here.

9/2

Form: -P5P0F

Last run: 32 days

W: 10st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
11-race maiden who is 4lb out of the handicap; would be a surprise winner.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

24th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

16:55 Perth

Diamond Road

10st 2lb

J: Miss Ella Herbison

T: Jean McGregor

Modest hurdler/chaser who is 11lb out of the handicap and would be a surprise winner.

50/1

11

24th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

16:55 Perth

Diamond Road

10st 2lb

J: Miss Ella Herbison

T: Jean McGregor

Modest hurdler/chaser who is 11lb out of the handicap and would be a surprise winner.

50/1

6

30th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 4f 198y

Class 5

16:50 Carlisle

Diamond Road

10st 2lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Jean McGregor

Struggled off lowly mark in Newcastle handicap chase on latest outing in November and is now 0-17 under all codes; 5lb out of the weights here; tongue-tie refitted; can't be recommended.

50/1

Form: 6-031P D

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Best form for present yard when narrow winner at Wetherby in January (3m, soft) when ridden by Emma Smith-Chaston; not so good either side of that and a bit to prove now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

22nd Apr 2024

Heavy

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

15:30 Hexham

Ballynagran

10st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Joanne Foster

Two wins over fences, the latest off a 6lb higher mark over C&D last May (good to soft); decent effort from out of the handicap when second at Wetherby last time (3m, soft; visor on instead of blinkers); same headgear here; a possible.

9/1

9

22nd Apr 2024

Heavy

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

15:30 Hexham

Ballynagran

10st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Joanne Foster

Two wins over fences, the latest off a 6lb higher mark over C&D last May (good to soft); decent effort from out of the handicap when second at Wetherby last time (3m, soft; visor on instead of blinkers); same headgear here; a possible.

9/1

2nd

5

28th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

16:30 Wetherby

Ballynagran

10st 2lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Joanne Foster

C&D winner; scored at Hexham (3m, good to soft) last May and is well treated on that form, but he's been pulled up or tailed off on all six starts since; a dramatic revival is required; first-time visor replaces blinkers.

25/1

OUR TIP

Form: 5/26-P D

Last run: 76 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced in recent seasons; last good run was in May 2021 when second at Perth (3m, soft; visor on for first time); others look stronger.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

6

5th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 5

12:10 Musselburgh

Not The Chablis

11st 4lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: N W Alexander

C&D winner who has dropped to a tempting mark but he needs to produce more than on his last two starts, most recently a 12l seventh behind a few of these over C&D (good to soft); reapplied cheekpieces replace visor (he's been similarly effective in both forms of headgear in the past).

8/1

7th

6

18th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 5

14:55 Musselburgh

Not The Chablis

11st 7lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: N W Alexander

His last win was was off 1lb higher over C&D in March 2021; lightly raced since but he still retains most of his ability and he caught the eye with his staying-on sixth at Ayr (2m4f, good to soft) last month; wasn't beaten far in that race and he's in the mix back over this more suitable trip.

9/1

Form: U-6143 CD

Last run: 76 days

W: 10st 10lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Unbeaten in three runs over C&D, latest success coming in November (soft); hasn't fared quite so well since but an obvious contender now back on her favourite track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

9th May 2024

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

14:25 Huntingdon

Catlin

10st 7lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Nick Kent

0-10 over hurdles; all three chase wins over 2m7f at Newcastle, most recently in November 2022; lightly raced since and out of form last term but a stirrup leather broke when she unseated at the first on latest outing, when 8-1 and first-time blinkers replaced cheekpieces.

12/1

10

9th May 2024

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

14:25 Huntingdon

Catlin

10st 7lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Nick Kent

prominent, jumped badly left 1st, soon reminder

12/1

6

1st Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

12:35 Huntingdon

Catlin

10st 9lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Nick Kent

led, unseated 1st

8/1

Form: 873183 D

Last run: 8 days

W: 10st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Game winner at Kelso in January (2m7f, heavy) and not disgraced when third on good ground at Ayr last week; each-way chance
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

24th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

15:25 Hexham

To The Limit

10st 7lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Stuart Coltherd

Both his wins have come in 2m7f chase handicaps at Kelso (good to soft/heavy); his latest success was a brave win in January but that was in a small field and he's been well held in his three completed starts since; down the list.

20/1

11th

13

17th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 5

14:45 Kelso

To The Limit

10st 2lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Stuart Coltherd

led, headed but prominent after 1st

16/1

6

18th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

16:00 Newcastle

To The Limit

10st 8lb

J: Sam Coltherd

T: Stuart Coltherd

in touch with leaders on inner, not fluent and lost position 8th, soon recovered

5/1

Non-runners

Not The Chablis

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £19.10
Straight Forecast £19.01
Trifecta £308.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Catlin

POSTDATA:

Maid Of Houxty

The Guardian:

Ballynagran

Daily Mirror:

To The Limit

The Star:

Maid Of Houxty

RP Ratings:

Catlin

THE NORTH:

Catlin

The Times:

Catlin

Telegraph:

Catlin

Daily Mail:

Catlin

D Express:

Catlin

The Sun:

Catlin

Daily Record:

Catlin