December 28 / 17.00 Newcastle (AW)

17.00

Standard

BetMGM: It’s Showtime Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4104
  • 1m 0f 5y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
BetMGM: It’s Showtime Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Rain

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.00
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 6 BF

Last run: 255 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
150,000gns yearling who ran once in these colours for the Crisfords when last of six at Redcar (1m2f, soft) in April; did go off a shade of odds-on that day and his top owner has kept the faith; returns now gelded; market can guide.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

(3)

11th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 5

17:15 Southwell (AW)

Bystander

9st 4lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Stuart Williams

Dual Newcastle winner who's generally struggled since returning from more than a year off; his only below-par effort on Tapeta came when not seeing out 1m6f, however, and the handicapper's given him every chance.

10/1

13th

10

(7)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Lingfield (AW)

Bystander

9st 4lb

J: Jack Dace

T: Stuart Williams

Often a front-runner; 13lb below last winning mark, but patchy form in five starts since returning from 14 months off in October; others make greater appeal.

33/1

8th

6

(7)

3rd Mar 2026

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 4

17:25 Wolverhampton (AW)

Bystander

9st 8lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Stuart Williams

Handy sort who was off for 14 months before returning for this yard in October; third of 11 when stepped up in trip at Southwell (1m4f, Tapeta; first-time cheekpieces) 11 days ago, but this will test his stamina further.

6/1

11/10

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 7-7432 BF

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Picked out of the Gosden yard for 28,000gns after showing ability, notably when fourth in a 1m novice at Newmarket; failed to justify favouritism on stable debut in a Southwell handicap (1m) but ran well enough for him to be taken seriously at this level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

10

(13)

29th Mar 2024

Standard

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

16:00 Chelmsford (AW)

August

9st 5lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Michael Appleby

0-10; showed ability at around 1m on turf/Tapeta in 2023, but four efforts this year have been underwhelming; needs first-time eyeshield (replacing cheekpieces) to make a big difference and is not well drawn.

16/1

8th

9

(1)

12th Mar 2024

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

20:30 Southwell (AW)

August

9st 4lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Michael Appleby

towards rear

10/1

5th

1

(1)

1st Mar 2024

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 4

19:00 Newcastle (AW)

August

9st 7lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Michael Appleby

prominent up the centre, weakened 1f out

11/2

11/4

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 42-

Last run: 393 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
RPRs in the high 60s when showing some ability in 7f/1m Kempton novices last November for the Meades; difficult to know what to expect after so long out, having changed hands for 26,000gns; market helpful.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

26th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 5

20:09 Plumpton

Yasmina

12st 0lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Andy Irvine

Soft-ground C&D winner in February and, switched to handicaps, was only just denied back here in April (good); raised 4lb since that latest effort but remains open to progress and a leading contender, with a promising 5lb claimer booked.

2/1

2nd

3

6th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 4

16:55 Plumpton

Yasmina

11st 4lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Andy Irvine

Hinted at minor ability before having wind surgery and the operation seemed to help as she forged clear of A Tickatickatiming on handicap debut over C&D (soft) in February; should make a go of it off 3lb higher.

5/2

1st

3

9th Feb 2026

Soft

1m 7f 195y

Class 5

16:45 Plumpton

Yasmina

11st 9lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Andy Irvine

Record of 0-5 on Flat and 0-3 over hurdles with modest RPRs under this code, including over C&D, but she may take a step forward now handicapping on first start since wind surgery; behind Penn Avenue on latest effort.

16/1

Form: 75

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed more second time out when fifth of eight at Southwell (7f) but it's modest form; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

(10)

22nd Jan 2026

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 6

16:35 Southwell (AW)

Very Classy

9st 2lb

J: Zak Wheatley

T: Suzzanne France

Lightly raced 6yo who holds weak claims on the form she showed last year for new yard; ruled out unless the market speaks positively.

25/1

9th

11

(12)

8th Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

18:40 Newcastle (AW)

Very Classy

8st 13lb

J: Zak Wheatley

T: Suzzanne France

A modest 1m2f maiden for Geoff Oldroyd but she's shown little in a pair of handicaps at Beverley and Doncaster for her current yard this summer; others are preferred.

50/1

7

(7)

2nd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 2f 43y

Class 6

16:45 Doncaster

Very Classy

8st 13lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Suzzanne France

Made an encouraging start in handicaps when third at Newcastle (1m2f, AW) last March but she's had only two runs since and has finished out the back in both of them; still lightly raced but has plenty to prove on second run for current yard.

25/1

Form: 7

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed nothing in a bumper and was seventh of nine when 200-1 for a C&D novice three weeks ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

(7)

21st Apr 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Knight Of Magic

9st 2lb

J: William Carson

T: James Owen

Has three wins on AW, including two here (one over C&D); tends to race freely and needs to settle better to fulfil his potential; second over hurdles two weeks ago.

8/1

2nd

4

7th Apr 2026

Good

2m 2f 111y

Class 4

14:40 Exeter

Knight Of Magic

11st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

Gained a third win on the AW in February (1m6f) but regressed in his last four starts; 0-6 as a hurdler and returns to this discipline for the first time since pulled up in a handicap last summer for Chris Grant; hardly solid but this is a poor race.

100/30

8th

10

(4)

31st Mar 2026

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 6

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Knight Of Magic

9st 2lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: James Owen

Successful three times (1m3f, 1m4f and 1m6f) this January/February, with the last two wins at this track; way below form on last two outings (headstrong on Saturday) but he has bounced back before.

6/1

Form: 254

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Hasn't got close to his debut effort in two runs since and well held in a modest novice here three weeks ago; now hooded.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

11

(4)

4th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 15y

Class 6

17:22 Hamilton

Wath Court

9st 0lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Philip Kirby

Longstanding maiden who has been well beaten on all four starts this year and would be a surprise winner today.

50/1

6th

7

(5)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 3f 197y

Class 6

16:50 Doncaster

Wath Court

8st 9lb

J: Oliver Carmichael

T: Philip Kirby

Just one placed effort from 30 starts and and he's struggled in three runs for new yard this spring; has lots to prove and he was withdrawn after bolting before the start at Beverley 12 days ago; stablemate of Recobella.

50/1

Form: 53-798

Last run: 138 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Placed in a 1m nursery when trained by James Horton but failed to progress and was sold on for only 1,500gns; probably best watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

9

(3)

23rd Jan 2025

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

14:21 Newcastle (AW)

Nights Over Egypt

9st 3lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Jennie Candlish

in touch with leaders, weakened over 1f out

12/1

9th

9

(3)

23rd Jan 2025

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

14:21 Newcastle (AW)

Nights Over Egypt

9st 3lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Jennie Candlish

In good form in the autumn, winning over 6f at Wolverhampton and 7f at Leicester (heavy); not quite so good on last two starts (7f and 8.5f); could bounce back.

12/1

2

(5)

4th Jan 2025

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 6

19:20 Wolverhampton (AW)

Nights Over Egypt

9st 9lb

J: George Wood

T: Jennie Candlish

Versatile trip-wise, having won over 6f on this track in September and later a 7f turf claimer the following month; another sound effort over the extended 1m here next time and although his 7f handicap form isn't particularly compelling, he's in good enough form to be considered.

5/1

OUR TIP

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Makes belated Flat debut after two non-completions over hurdles; very opposable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

(4)

28th Dec 2023

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 5

17:00 Newcastle (AW)

Coco Loco

9st 7lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Rebecca Menzies

Makes belated Flat debut after two non-completions over hurdles; very opposable.

66/1

0

4

17th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 4

11:50 Carlisle

Coco Loco

11st 0lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Achieved nothing at Wetherby (2m) in February, having been hindered by greenness and a lack of fluency; had wind surgery since and now goes in/ tongue-tie; may do better this time.

20/1

Non-runners

Tonal

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.50
Straight Forecast £2.75
Trifecta £8.40

Selections

RP RATINGS:

August

SPOTLIGHT:

Bystander

The Times:

Bystander

Telegraph:

Bystander

POSTDATA:

August

The Guardian:

August

Daily Mail:

August

D Express:

August

Daily Mirror:

August

The Sun:

August

The Star:

August

Daily Record:

August