May 16 / 15.25 Newcastle

15.25

Good

Follow @attheraces On Twitter Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £4858.52
  • 2m 4f 19y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
SKY
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Follow @attheraces On Twitter Handicap Chase

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £6.50
  • Place: £1.50

Form: U9533- D

Last run: 32 days

W: 12st 1lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish; last win was over hurdles at Punchestown in May 2022 (2m3f, good); two fair runs over fences on last two starts, despite jumping errors; suited by good ground ideal and worth considering.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

28th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 4

14:45 Wetherby

Marshalled

11st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Better chaser than hurdler, last win being in a Cartmel handicap chase in August (2m5f, good to soft); well beaten last twice; could go well but better on faster ground than is forecast.

7/2

4th

1

16th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 1f 14y

Class 3

16:32 Kelso

Marshalled

11st 13lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

prominent early, raced in third after 1st, outpaced from 4 out, lost third after 3 out, weakened quickly before 2 out

8/1

5th

5

25th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 3

14:25 Wetherby

Marshalled

11st 12lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

10yo who makes his first start since last August but he did well for his new yard last year, winning twice (2m4f/2m5f, good/good to soft), and he's also effective on soft; the betting may be informative on his return.

8/1

9/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 33527-

Last run: 52 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Better of his two runs over fences when third at Musselburgh in January (2m, soft, tongue tie on for first time); not so good next time but has since finished runner-up over hurdles (2m4f, good).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

4th Sep 2025

Good

2m 3f 65y

Class 4

18:30 Sedgefield

Limerick Leader

11st 3lb

J: James Bowen

T: Alison Thorpe

Incredibly consistent on his last four starts, three seconds and a win (all on good between 2m3f and 2m5f) returning an RPR of 100 each time; had course form over hurdles for previous connections and he's a player once again from an unchanged mark.

6/4

2nd

9

21st Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

17:35 Newton Abbot

Limerick Leader

10st 11lb

J: James Bowen

T: Alison Thorpe

In good form over C&D this summer since the visor returned, just denied on his June reappearance then going one better 20 days later, and matched those efforts when down in trip and runner-up at Stratford (2m3f) last month off this mark; likely to run well again.

13/2

5/2

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 4133-1 C

Last run: 10 days

W: 10st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Made it two wins from three runs over fences when scoring in good style at Hexham ten days ago; up in grade but should go well off 6lb higher mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:45 Hexham

Ribeye

12st 0lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Peter Atkinson

Two wins last season, the second off 3lb lower over C&D in October (good); hasn't been in quite such good form in 2026, but has had a break and can't be rule out.

14/1

6th

5

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 59y

Class 4

15:38 Sedgefield

Ribeye

11st 3lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Peter Atkinson

Five chase wins, the latest off 5lb lower at Hexham (3m, good) in October; creditable second to very progressive rival at Wetherby (3m, good) on next outing but form has slumped since (hurdling last time).

10/1

9

17th Feb 2026

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

15:37 Market Rasen

Ribeye

11st 3lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Peter Atkinson

Stays at least this far and was in good form over fences for most of last year, but he has a bit to prove against younger rivals on his first start over hurdles in almost three years.

14/1

Form: 92136- D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 11lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Won a three-runner chase at Huntingdon in March (2m4f, soft); not fared so well since; good ground no problem but a bit to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

23rd Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

13:45 Southwell

Luckofthedraw

11st 8lb

J: Jordan Nailor

T: Toby Bulgin

Claims on last season's best but he made an underwhelming return from 320 days off at Plumpton 23 days ago; needs to leave that effort behind him.

14/1

5

23rd Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

13:45 Southwell

Luckofthedraw

11st 8lb

J: Jordan Nailor

T: Toby Bulgin

Claims on last season's best but he made an underwhelming return from 320 days off at Plumpton 23 days ago; needs to leave that effort behind him.

14/1

3

31st Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 164y

Class 4

16:50 Plumpton

Luckofthedraw

11st 7lb

J: Jordan Nailor

T: Toby Bulgin

Beat just two rivals at Huntingdon in March (2m4f, soft) and hasn't fared so well since in deeper races; bit to prove.

14/1

Form: 33322- D BF

Last run: 38 days

W: 10st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Hasn't won since scoring at Carlisle in March 2022 (2m4f, good) but a series of good runs since, including when second at Haydock last time (2m4f, soft, cheekpieces); chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

10

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

16:30 Cartmel

Croagh Patrick

10st 6lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Gillian Boanas

Back on the lowly mark off which he snapped a long losing run in December 2024 at Carlisle (3m2f, soft); remains to be seen what ability remains on this stable debut following 14 months out.

25/1

7

13th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

16:22 Hexham

Croagh Patrick

10st 7lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: Sam England

Got back to winning ways at Carlisle (3m2f) in December but well below par both runs since at Uttoxeter and back at Carlisle; this course winner has something to prove.

14/1

9th

10

3rd Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

16:00 Carlisle

Croagh Patrick

10st 7lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: Sam England

Largely consistent record at Carlisle features two wins, the latest in December (ended a long losing run); return to this venue is a plus.

10/1

Form: 31255- D

Last run: 162 days

W: 11st 6lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Two wins on good/good to firm over 2m4f and 3m1f last season; back on last winning mark so could go well but may need the run after a break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

1

7th Sep 2023

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

13:45 Southwell

Big Difference

12st 0lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: L J Morgan

Two small-field wins (2m4f/3m1f) over fences last year but he's struggled in last four runs including when pulled up at Perth in June; with new yard now and he needs to turn things around after a short break; visor reapplied.

7/1

4

11th Jun 2023

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

15:00 Perth

Big Difference

11st 6lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tim Reed

in touch with leaders, headway and prominent after 10th, lost ground from 13th

16/1

6th

4

16th May 2023

Good

2m 4f 19y

Class 4

15:25 Newcastle

Big Difference

11st 6lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tim Reed

midfield, towards rear with one circuit to go

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: 3157P-

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 9lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Prolific winner over the years; best on good ground so can be forgiven two below-par runs on heavy this year; back on his last winning mark; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

24th Aug 2024

Soft

2m 1f 61y

Class 4

16:00 Cartmel

Tontos Spirit

10st 7lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Miss A M Slack

led, nudged along from 5th, headed last (usual 2 out), soon weakened, eased run-in

9/2

5th

3

20th Jul 2024

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 5

14:50 Cartmel

Tontos Spirit

11st 11lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Miss A M Slack

Nine-time course winner, most recently when holding on gamely to make all off this mark last summer; looked out of sorts when pulled up on all three subsequent outings, though, and age may be catching up with him now.

20/1

Form: 3056P- C

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 6lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Won over 2m1f at Kelso last May (good); mainly disappointing since, but is now 16lb lower, so could go well though this longer trip a concern (all wins at 2m1f or less).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

9th May 2024

Yielding

2m 0f 110y

18:10 Tipperary

Joke Dancer

11st 0lb

J: Michael O’Sullivan

T: Patrick Griffin

held up in rear, struggling before 5 out, pulled up before 3 out

25/1

12

9th May 2024

Yielding

2m 0f 110y

18:10 Tipperary

Joke Dancer

11st 0lb

J: Michael O’Sullivan

T: Patrick Griffin

held up in rear, struggling before 5 out, pulled up before 3 out

25/1

10th

6

24th Apr 2024

Yielding

2m 1f 0y

17:20 Bellewstown

Joke Dancer

11st 9lb

J: Michael O’Sullivan

T: Patrick Griffin

midfield

16/1

Form: 2/86P-

Last run: 130 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Ex-French; unexposed; pulled up on chase debut in January (2m4f, good to soft; first-time cheekpieces) but has since had a second wind operation; headgear retained and should do better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

16th May 2023

Good

2m 4f 19y

Class 4

15:25 Newcastle

Ice Coast

11st 3lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

held up in rear, not fluent 7th

12/1

8

6th Jan 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

14:00 Ludlow

Ice Coast

10st 12lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Placed in two juvenile hurdles in France during the autumn of 2021 (2m/2m2f, soft/very soft); early days with this yard and market suggested that better was expected of him on his handicap debut; now goes chasing still unexposed.

12/1

6th

3

27th Nov 2022

Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 4

12:30 Carlisle

Ice Coast

11st 9lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Soundly beaten in mid-division in Chepstow maiden hurdle (2m, good to soft) on this month's British debut, but he may have needed that run and he was placed in two juvenile hurdles in France in autumn 2021 (2m/2m2f, soft/very soft); not discounted now handicapping for in-form yard.

7/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £27.10
Straight Forecast £25.02
Tricast £41.04
Trifecta £56.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Ribeye

The Guardian:

Marshalled

RP RATINGS:

Joke Dancer

The Times:

Limerick Leader

The Sun:

Croagh Patrick

POSTDATA:

Ribeye

Telegraph:

Ribeye

The Star:

Ribeye

Daily Record:

Ribeye

Daily Mail:

Marshalled

D Express:

Marshalled

Daily Mirror:

Marshalled

TOPSPEED:

Joke Dancer