January 01 / 16.45 Newcastle (AW)

16.45

Standard

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  • Prize money: £24300
  • 0m 6f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 10 runners
SKY
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Best Racing Odds Guaranteed At BetMGM Handicap

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface:

Weather: Mostly cloudy

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.80
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 36481- D

Last run: 11 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
More exposed than most but he ran well from a bad draw over C&D on his stable debut and showed his true colours with an impressive win at Southwell 11 days ago (6f), finishing with a flourish to win cosily; 4lb rise in stronger company but it wouldn't be wise to underestimate him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

(14)

5th Sep 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

14:20 Kempton (AW)

Blue Prince

8st 12lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: David Evans

Latest win came in a claimer and he was never a threat back in a handicap at Chester last time; fully exposed and others appeal more.

22/1

7th

12

(5)

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 127y

Class 2

14:05 Chester

Blue Prince

8st 10lb

J: J F Egan

T: David Evans

Normally ridden to be produced late, as when successful at Salisbury (7f, good) in June, but was given a straightforward ride to land a claimer over C&D (good) 20 days ago; this looks tougher however and more is required.

14/1

1st

4

(4)

2nd Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 127y

Class 4

16:22 Chester

Blue Prince

8st 13lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: David Evans

The last run wasn't his best (four ran) but he was bang there in his four previous races, all handicaps at 7f/1m; drops into a claimer on favourable terms and must have every chance; has run well here before.

5/4

3/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 411- D

Last run: 42 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Returned from a break to win a Chelmsford maiden in November (6f) and he defied a penalty at Kempton six weeks ago in emphatic fashion (weak race but the win was backed up by the clock); notable that he's been purchased by King Power Racing since that win; he'll need to be verging on Listed class to defy his opening mark but that's not out of the question.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

1

(15)

28th Jul 2026

Good To Yielding

0m 7f 0y

19:15 Galway

Sommelier

10st 2lb

J: Paddy Harnett

T: Kieran P Cotter

Dual AW winner; highlight of British form when second to Big Evs in a Listed race at York in May 2024; rated 99 at his peak. gained his first turf success off 72 when making all in a 20-runner contest at the Curragh three starts ago; now 10lb higher.

16/1

14th

3

(3)

27th Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

17:05 Curragh

Sommelier

9st 8lb

J: Paddy Harnett

T: Kieran P Cotter

Dual AW winner; highlight of British form when second to Big Evs in a Listed race at York in May 2024; rated 99 at his peak. gained his first turf success off 72 when making all in a 20-runner contest over a little further than this here early this month; fair fifth under a fixed penalty in a 5f Cork event four days later; has gone up 11lb in total.

12/1

5th

1

(19)

7th Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

14:17 Navan

Sommelier

10st 9lb

J: Joseph Harnett

T: Kieran P Cotter

Dual AW winner; highlight of British form when second to Big Evs in a Listed race at York in May 2024; rated 99 at his peak. gained his first turf success off 72 when making all in a 20-runner contest over an extended 6f at the Curragh on Wednesday; has a fixed 7lb penalty; an additional 2lb claimed this time; this stiff 5f should be fine for him.

9/2

3rd
7 (1)
Bazball

12/1

  • Place: £3.30

Form: 16242-

Last run: 26 days

W: 8st 5lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Largely solid record in handicaps includes three wins at 5f and two creditable efforts at 6f; ran well upped to 7f at Lingfield most recently; more exposed than these rivals but her consistency is a selling point.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(10)

1st Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 212y

Class 6

16:18 Catterick

Bazball

9st 8lb

J: Barry McHugh

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Runner-up at Newcastle (6f, AW) before going one better to end a lengthy losing run over that same C&D 12 days ago; has won on turf, so the switch to grass is no issue and she's still on a nice mark on her old form following a 4lb rise.

7/2

1st

7

(2)

19th Sep 2025

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

19:15 Newcastle (AW)

Bazball

8st 12lb

J: Barry McHugh

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Placed efforts on her last two starts, latterly behind Asadjumeirah over C&D; may have to make do with more minor money.

6/1

2nd

4

(2)

8th Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

19:40 Newcastle (AW)

Bazball

9st 4lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

It's now 18 runs since her last success but retried in headgear when a solid third of ten in 6f classified event at Thirsk ten days ago; she can't be ruled out in another headgear change.

6/1

6/1

Form: 311-

Last run: 173 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Three runs over 5f as a 2yo, winning well at York in June and showing better form when defying a penalty at Yarmouth one month later; should appreciate 6f and she's a strong traveller for whom AW shouldn't be an issue either; absence to contend with and the betting should be instructive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

(10)

25th Sep 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Newmarket

Harvanna

9st 6lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Michael Appleby

Prominent racer; three 5f wins when trained by Karl Burke, the latest a handicap off 1lb lower last July; runner-up in two of her five runs for Mick Appleby but she dropped away having forced the pace at Goodwood eight weeks ago; should be able to grab the stands' rail which could be advantageous but there are other pace influences to contend with.

10/1

Form: 61222- D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Comes here on the up and today's conditions won't faze him; he'll need to better his latest Wolverhampton second now taking on some unexposed opposition but he's unlikely to be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

12

(9)

1st Nov 2025

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

18:45 Newcastle (AW)

Neapolitan

8st 11lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Antony Brittain

Regressive form for current stable, including after a wind op in February; down the field here two weeks ago (7f) and today's change of headgear isn't enough to tempt.

50/1

6th

12

(9)

1st Nov 2025

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

18:45 Newcastle (AW)

Neapolitan

8st 11lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Antony Brittain

Regressive form for current stable, including after a wind op in February; down the field here two weeks ago (7f) and today's change of headgear isn't enough to tempt.

50/1

12

(4)

17th Oct 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

Neapolitan

8st 11lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Antony Brittain

Regressive form for current stable, including after a wind op in February; tumbled down the weights and now tried in cheekpieces but he is eligible for weaker races than this.

33/1

Form: 15943-

Last run: 11 days

W: 8st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
5f winner at Chester last summer; back in top form when third at Southwell 11 days ago but he was no match for Blue Prince on that occasion and his old adversary is preferred despite the revised weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(3)

24th Jan 2024

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 4

14:15 Lingfield (AW)

Loaded Gun

9st 4lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Andrew Balding

Series of good runs on AW since returning from a gelding operation in November, going down by a short-head over 7f here ten days ago; stamina for 1m has to be taken on trust.

7/2

2nd

5

(2)

14th Jan 2024

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 4

13:00 Lingfield (AW)

Loaded Gun

8st 13lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Andrew Balding

Sole win (ten races) was a 5f novice at Chester last July; has run creditably this winter on all three starts (7f/6f, Tapeta) since gelded but those results also suggest he will again prove vulnerable to an improver.

8/1

6th

8

(7)

1st Jan 2024

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

16:45 Newcastle (AW)

Loaded Gun

8st 3lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Andrew Balding

5f winner at Chester last summer; back in top form when third at Southwell 11 days ago but he was no match for Blue Prince on that occasion and his old adversary is preferred despite the revised weights.

14/1

33/1

Form: 71734- CD

Last run: 26 days

W: 8st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Stayed on well to win a C&D nursery in October (windy night and he was advantaged by being held up); mixed bag since then and he'll need a clear personal best to take this from out of the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

19th

16

(20)

29th Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

16:50 Curragh

Im Spartacus

8st 10lb

J: Keithen Kennedy

T: Adrian McGuinness

On the go since June of last year; two wins in 2026, over 6f at Dundalk in March and over 6f at Fairyhouse (good) in June and runs off last winning mark; last couple of runs not his best, however, and others arrive in better form.

33/1

14th

7

(14)

23rd Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

16:30 Naas

Im Spartacus

9st 11lb

J: Adam Caffrey

T: Adrian McGuinness

All seven wins came over 6f (has run well at 5f) and six of them on AW; turf breakthrough in June when scoring at Fairyhouse (6f, good) by 2.5l off 3lb lower; moderate efforts since, including when beaten by 5.5l at Cork last time (6f, good to firm); others preferred.

16/1

33/1

Form: 53468-

Last run: 11 days

W: 8st 2lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Ten-race maiden; has run well over C&D in the past but well behind Blue Prince 11 days and she's opposable from out of the handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

13

(10)

21st Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 2

17:20 York

Callianassa

8st 8lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Brian Ellison

She's 5lb lower than when winning at Newcastle (1m, AW) in February and when running well at Royal Ascot (1m, good to firm) in June; she's 0-12 on turf and unproven at this trip, and she's been below par at favourite course Newcastle on her last two starts (1m).

50/1

6th

6

(12)

25th Jul 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 5y

Class 4

16:00 Newcastle (AW)

Callianassa

9st 10lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Brian Ellison

Took this in 2025 and also scored over C&D in February; not at her best when 11th over C&D last time but she's the sort to bounce back.

14/1

11th

1

(13)

26th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 5y

Class 4

18:18 Newcastle (AW)

Callianassa

10st 2lb

J: Conor Whiteley

T: Brian Ellison

Three-time C&D winner, including this race last year, who ran well when seventh of 24 in the Kensington Palace at Royal Ascot last week; she's below her last winning mark and has strong claims back down in grade.

4/1

OUR TIP

11/4

Form: 611- D

Last run: 191 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Green on his York debut but put that experience to good use at Windsor on his second start (6f, good to firm) and created a good impression when slamming 12 rivals at Redcar 191 days ago; subsequent absence suggests it hasn't been smooth sailing with him but he's still a fascinating contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

11

(12)

21st Jul 2026

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 6

21:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Brave Empire

8st 13lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Ivan Furtado

Ran well when a close fourth of 16 at Doncaster (6f, good to firm) last month, but didn't back it up at Pontefract (5f, good; first-time hood) a fortnight ago; opposable given his wide draw and a losing run of 22.

10/1

7th

9

(7)

7th Jul 2026

Good

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

16:48 Pontefract

Brave Empire

9st 1lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Ivan Furtado

Losing run up to 21, but he ran well to finish a close fourth of 16 at Doncaster (6f, good to firm) last month; a few winners have come out of that race and a hood is given a go, but the drop to 5f may not be ideal even on a stiff track like this.

7/1

4th

8

(12)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 2y

Class 6

13:20 Doncaster

Brave Empire

9st 7lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: Ivan Furtado

Very useful juvenile/3yo for Roger Varian but his last win was in February 2024 and he's not made an impact in seven runs this year; mark continues to fall but losing run is up to 20 and others are preferred.

14/1

Form: 2150-

Last run: 128 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Won a 5f maiden at Bellewstown on his second run for Jessica Harrington last July; ran well in a Listed event the following month; dropped away in a Curragh Group 3 six days later (upped to 6f), after which he changed hands for 50,000gns; improvement required if he's to make a wining stable debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

7

(4)

11th Mar 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

20:15 Southwell (AW)

GDay Mate

9st 5lb

J: Frederick Larson

T: Michael Appleby

Early promise for this yard but he's been struggling for form this winter; tackles 7f for the first time; stable may have stronger claims with Straight A.

20/1

8th

7

(9)

28th Feb 2025

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 4

16:40 Southwell (AW)

GDay Mate

9st 3lb

J: Frederick Larson

T: Michael Appleby

took keen hold, held up in rear

20/1

7

(7)

19th Feb 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

19:30 Kempton (AW)

GDay Mate

9st 4lb

J: Frederick Larson

T: Michael Appleby

Rated considerably higher this time 12 months ago but he's down in the weights as a result of some modest runs since March; returning to 6f not enough to tempt this time.

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £28.10
Straight Forecast £22.67
Tricast £230.32
Trifecta £194.10

Selections

Telegraph:

Sommelier

SPOTLIGHT:

Blue Prince

RP RATINGS:

Brave Empire

TOPSPEED:

Bazball

The Times:

Brave Empire

POSTDATA:

Blue Prince

Daily Record:

Blue Prince

The Guardian:

Bazball

Daily Mail:

Sommelier

D Express:

Sommelier

Daily Mirror:

Sommelier

The Sun:

Sommelier

The Star:

Sommelier