March 18 / 17.30 Newcastle (AW)

17.30

Standard

Boost Your Acca With BetUK Handicap (Rider Restricted Race)

  • Prize money: £7327.6
  • 1m 4f 98y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
Boost Your Acca With BetUK Handicap (Rider Restricted Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.63
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 4-8543 CD

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Four-time AW winner, two of them over C&D; solid effort when third dropped to 9.5f nine days ago; should give his running now back at his optimum trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(3)

4th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

17:45 Newcastle (AW)

Percy Willis

10st 1lb

J: Jack Garritty

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

All six wins have been on Tapeta, including three over C&D; well treated on his best form last year and he went close off this mark over C&D (Rubellite third) last Thursday; that was his second run after a break and he's a big player if he can repeat that form.

9/2

2nd

3

(7)

25th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

17:30 Newcastle (AW)

Percy Willis

10st 1lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

Three C&D wins to his name; should be sharper for his recent return to action and he'll appreciate both dropping into Class 6 and returning to a longer trip; one to consider.

100/30

4th

8

(1)

8th Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 42y

Class 5

16:39 Newcastle (AW)

Percy Willis

8st 13lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

2lb below last winning mark and although not seen in six months, has won after a similar absence; has run well in all four starts over C&D, but all six wins have come over 1m4f (three here) so he wouldn't want a dawdle over this trip.

14/1

8/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 3-9541 C

Last run: 15 days

W: 8st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
Ended a long losing run when coming out on top in a 0-60 over 2m here 15 days ago (slow time); not an obvious type to follow up in this higher grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(7)

3rd Jul 2024

Good

1m 7f 217y

Class 5

16:40 Musselburgh

Heatherdown Hero

8st 7lb

J: Paula Muir

T: Rebecca Menzies

Ran well to be fourth after completely blowing the start at Ripon (1m4f) and he won over this far on the AW earlier this year when off the same mark; likely to go well.

12/1

4th

6

(6)

20th Jun 2024

Soft

1m 4f 10y

Class 6

13:35 Ripon

Heatherdown Hero

10st 2lb

J: Miss Alex Garven

T: Rebecca Menzies

lost many lengths start

12/1

5th

3

(9)

29th May 2024

Good

1m 4f 23y

Class 6

16:10 Beverley

Heatherdown Hero

9st 8lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Rebecca Menzies

took keen hold, in rear

7/1

3/1

Form: 432-42

Last run: 37 days

W: 9st 11lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Beaten when prominent in the betting for all four stable starts, and now 0-10 overall; latest second, when coming from further back than ideal behind a revived handicapper here (1m2f), was a solid effort; stamina for new trip not guaranteed and she's now 3lb higher to boot; others appeal more for the win.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(2)

3rd Jan 2025

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 6

15:45 Lingfield (AW)

Gold Aura

10st 4lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Jack Jones

travelled strongly, midfield

5/1

3rd

1

(2)

3rd Jan 2025

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 6

15:45 Lingfield (AW)

Gold Aura

10st 4lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Jack Jones

travelled strongly, midfield

5/1

1st

2

(3)

29th Dec 2024

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 6

14:25 Southwell (AW)

Gold Aura

9st 9lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Jack Jones

towards rear, headway over 2f out, pushed along over 1f out, led inside final 110yds, kept on well

7/2

14/1

Form: 3141-8 D

Last run: 59 days

W: 9st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Did well on turf last summer, winning four Class 6 handicaps (1m3f-1m4f); well beaten over 1m2f here on his return to action in January and dropped right away over hurdles last time; probably needs some help from the handicapper.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(3)

11th Jul 2026

Good

1m 3f 15y

Class 5

20:50 Hamilton

Spanish Hustle

10st 2lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Jim Goldie

A four-time C&D winner; yet to hit top form this season but took a step back in right direction with sixth of ten in 1m2f Ayr handicap 22 days ago; very much one to consider off an easing mark.

6/1

6th

7

(5)

19th Jun 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 4

19:17 Ayr

Spanish Hustle

9st 0lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Jim Goldie

Now 2lb lower than for second of last season's two wins at favourite track Hamilton but well beaten after racing far too freely on both outings this term; wears cheekpieces for first time since 2yo season; risky.

33/1

12th

9

(2)

31st May 2026

Good

1m 4f 8y

Class 4

17:15 Thirsk

Spanish Hustle

8st 11lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Jim Goldie

Hamilton specialist who was tailed off there on his reappearance a fortnight ago (pulled hard); hard to fancy on the back of that but it may have got the freshness out of him and he's on his last winning mark; not a forlorn hope on his first visit here.

25/1

6/1

Form: 555-15 CD

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 58

Form & Verdict
Came from off the pace to win a C&D handicap with more authority than the winning margin suggests last month; stopped quickly upped to 2m 15 days ago and he's into a higher grade this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

(4)

17th Jul 2026

Good

1m 4f 5y

Class 6

18:00 Pontefract

Yakhabar

9st 9lb

J: Kyle McHugh

T: Liam Bailey

Scored at Southwell (1m4f) in March but only ninth of 11 in handicap over C&D ten days ago; not proving the easiest to catch right of late.

20/1

9th

6

(11)

7th Jul 2026

Good

1m 4f 5y

Class 6

15:48 Pontefract

Yakhabar

9st 4lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Liam Bailey

Easily landed an amateur riders' event at Southwell (1m4f, AW) in March and wasn't beaten far into fourth of 12 in a similar contest at Ripon (1m4f, good) last time, but he still needs more in order to come out best here.

14/1

4th

10

(1)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 10y

Class 6

13:40 Ripon

Yakhabar

9st 12lb

J: Miss Amy Collier

T: Liam Bailey

Sole turf win in this race last year; in reasonable form on AW at Southwell in the spring but his first run since wind surgery, on Newcastle AW, was a poor effort.

8/1

6th
5 (5)
Lunacy

16/1

Form: 61800-

Last run: 139 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
Ended 2023 with three heavy defeats and his two Hamilton wins last year both came off much lower marks; likely best watched back from 139 days on the sidelines.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

10

(8)

10th Oct 2024

Good

1m 5f 26y

Class 6

17:08 Ayr

Lunacy

8st 12lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Dual 1m3f winner on soft; stays 16.5f; not ruled out of the prize-money but will have to raise the bar to win this; ideally wants rain.

10/1

4th

9

(5)

2nd Oct 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 189y

Class 6

15:23 Catterick

Lunacy

9st 1lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Iain Jardine

1m3f winner; stays 16.5f; performing to a consistent level for the most part of late but has not got close to winning; not ruled out each-way.

8/1

3rd

7

(8)

17th Sep 2024

Standard To Slow

2m 0f 56y

Class 6

18:00 Newcastle (AW)

Lunacy

9st 1lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Losing run up to 13, but not disgraced in finishing fourth in his last three starts over 1m2f-1m4f on turf; attempts this far for the first time, but each-way claims if seeing it out.

7/1

20/1

Form: 11/60- D

Last run: 216 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Three wins when trained in France, including AW; modest hurdle form for Jonjo O'Neill in late 2022 and she fared little better in two Flat handicaps for this yard last summer; down in the weights but has something to prove back from seven months off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

(3)

18th Sep 2025

Good

1m 2f 5y

Class 6

15:52 Pontefract

Toute Chic

9st 7lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Harriet Bethell

Three wins when trained in France, including AW; modest hurdle form for Jonjo O'Neill in late 2022 and she fared little better in three Flat handicaps for this yard across 2023 and 2024; best watched on this return from a 549-day break unless the market suggests otherwise.

33/1

7th

4

(1)

18th Mar 2024

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 5

17:30 Newcastle (AW)

Toute Chic

9st 8lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Harriet Bethell

Three wins when trained in France, including AW; modest hurdle form for Jonjo O'Neill in late 2022 and she fared little better in two Flat handicaps for this yard last summer; down in the weights but has something to prove back from seven months off.

20/1

Form: 591122 D

Last run: 6 days

W: 9st 4lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 60

Form & Verdict
Won two classified events on Tapeta last month and she has run even better in defeat in handicaps the last twice, albeit not having an excuse when second over C&D last week; still low mileage on the Flat and likely to be involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(1)

5th Apr 2025

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 6

20:15 Wolverhampton (AW)

Bella Bluesky

9st 8lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Ewan Whillans

in touch with leaders

16/1

7th

2

(1)

5th Apr 2025

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 6

20:15 Wolverhampton (AW)

Bella Bluesky

9st 8lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Ewan Whillans

in touch with leaders

16/1

5th

4

(2)

10th Mar 2025

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

17:30 Newcastle (AW)

Bella Bluesky

9st 6lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Ewan Whillans

raced in last throughout

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.00
Straight Forecast £9.23
Tricast £21.05
Trifecta £24.20

Selections

The Times:

Gold Aura

POSTDATA:

Yakhabar

SPOTLIGHT:

Percy Willis

Telegraph:

Gold Aura

The Guardian:

Gold Aura

Daily Mail:

Gold Aura

Daily Mirror:

Gold Aura

The Sun:

Gold Aura

The Star:

Gold Aura

Daily Record:

Gold Aura

D Express:

Yakhabar

RP RATINGS:

Percy Willis