March 25 / 19.00 Newcastle (AW)

19.00

Standard

Bet £10 Get £40 At BetMGM Handicap (Div II)

  • Prize money: £4710.6
  • 0m 7f 14y
  • Class 6
  • 9 runners
SKY
View Course
Bet £10 Get £40 At BetMGM Handicap (Div II)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Showers

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 82112- CD BF

Last run: 132 days

W: 9st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 60

Form & Verdict
Finished last year in cracking form, winning at Redcar (7f, heavy) and then over C&D, before being just held after rearing at the start back over C&D when last seen in November; up another 4lb for this reappearance but makes the shortlist given how well he acts here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

(4)

19th Feb 2026

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

18:30 Newcastle (AW)

Ratafia

9st 8lb

J: Oisin McSweeney

T: Michael Herrington

Pounced late to notch his second Yarmouth win (1m, Class 6, good to firm; from 6lb higher) last June; there hasn't been much to draw inspiration from lately, only eighth of 12 at Southwell (1m; 22-1) a month ago.

25/1

8th

3

(1)

20th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

18:30 Southwell (AW)

Ratafia

9st 9lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Michael Herrington

Turf winner at 1m last June but under the parapet thereafter and he never reached a challenging position at Newcastle last month (dual winner there); temptingly treated but risky.

16/1

1

(1)

13th Oct 2025

Good

1m 0f 3y

Class 6

17:00 Yarmouth

Ratafia

9st 9lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Michael Herrington

Hard to predict and has finished down the field in last three runs but he defied this mark over C&D (good to firm) in June; should get a good tow into this race and has possibilities if he can get back near best.

9/1

5/1

  • Place: £1.20

Form: 461-23 C

Last run: 3 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Has returned from a short break in good form, bettering last December's Southwell win (5f, Tapeta) when 1l second at Wolverhampton (5f, Tapeta) this month; another good effort when third here (6f) on Friday; still a bit to prove over this far but should be involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(5)

4th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 7y

Class 5

16:21 Hamilton

Water Of Leith

9st 0lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

Won at Wolverhampton (6f, Class 5; 6-4 favourite) in March but below that level in three subsequent starts, 2l fifth of eight at Musselburgh (5f; 15-2) latest; vulnerable on those performances.

7/1

14/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 4-3076 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 61

Form & Verdict
7f Tapeta winner; a repeat of his first two starts after a break, both at Southwell during the winter, would give him claims but he needs to improve on what we've seen since.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

(5)

9th Sep 2024

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 6

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Mr Squires

8st 12lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Roger Fell & Sean Murray

Made all to win a 7f handicap here in June; not beaten a rival in three subsequent runs; has the pace to be effective at this trip and he's favoured by these weights; not ruled out.

5/1

12th

1

(9)

18th Aug 2024

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

14:20 Southwell (AW)

Mr Squires

10st 4lb

J: Lewis Chalkley

T: Roger Fell & Sean Murray

Dual winner from the front this season, including over C&D in April off 12lb lower, who hasn't been able to dominate the past twice and has been eased off each time; needs to bounce back and also show this mark within range.

12/1

13th

5

(8)

2nd Aug 2024

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

15:45 Southwell (AW)

Mr Squires

9st 8lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Fell & Sean Murray

Successful under positive rides over C&D in April and at Wolverhampton (7f, Tapeta) in June; taken on in front when last of nine at Chester (7.6f, good) ten days later; not many confirmed front-runners among this opposition, so he could be dangerous if allowed his own way.

8/1

Form: 6-2351 C

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 54

Form & Verdict
3-25 on AW, having won over 7f and here over 1m (both Tapeta) last time; up another 2lb for that but he's an each-way player again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

11

(5)

25th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

14:57 Redcar

Martins Brig

8st 9lb

J: Barry McHugh

T: David Thompson

Winner at Wetherby in April 2025 (7f, good to firm) and some fair runs since; hasn't been in much form on the AW this year and perhaps best watched for now.

33/1

7th

13

(7)

20th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

20:30 Newcastle (AW)

Martins Brig

9st 0lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: David Thompson

Triple C&D winner but he's finished in rear in his last three runs and and his last win was 12 months ago; one of three runners for the yard and he needs to turn things around.

16/1

8th

4

(2)

5th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

Martins Brig

9st 9lb

J: Mark Winn

T: David Thompson

A three-time C&D scorer but he arrives out of sorts, beating only one in classified event over C&D 40 days ago; he needs this change of headgear to spark a resurgence.

16/1

Form: 00-391 CD

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Loves it here, having won six times over 6f and also over C&D; has plummeted in the handicap since the spring of 2022 but finally took advantage when scoring at Southwell (7f, Tapeta) last month; a 4lb rise might make it tough to follow up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(6)

6th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

18:30 Newcastle (AW)

Spartan Fighter

8st 11lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Antony Brittain

Tough 9yo who has won four 6f handicaps here this year; form dipped last time, however, and returning to 7f isn't enough to tempt.

9/1

9th

1

(2)

14th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

16:55 Newcastle (AW)

Spartan Fighter

9st 11lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Antony Brittain

Has won four of his five races, all over C&D, this year, his latest win coming last Tuesday when getting home by 0.5l; up 6lb but has won off higher marks in the past; should go well

7/2

1st

9

(7)

10th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

19:15 Newcastle (AW)

Spartan Fighter

8st 13lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Antony Brittain

Sprightly 9yo who completed a quick hat-trick of front-running C&D wins last month and lost out only by a neck off today's mark here on Wednesday; upped in grade but likely to give another good account.

5/1

Form: 5085-0

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 61

Form & Verdict
Best effort came in a 7f turf maiden when trained by Charles O'Brien; 13-2 on his first start for this trainer over C&D recently, when he raced freely and finished last of 12; tongue-tie now accompanies hood; bit to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

(11)

19th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

1m 0f 6y

Class 6

18:45 Pontefract

Lope De Rueda

9st 4lb

J: David Nolan

T: Rebecca Menzies

Market springer when an eyecatching fifth at Ayr (1m, good) 12 days ago but that was in a classified event and this is tougher back in a competitive handicap; has some work to do and he's still a maiden after 11 starts.

10/1

5th

4

(14)

7th Jul 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

15:35 Ayr

Lope De Rueda

9st 9lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Rebecca Menzies

slightly awkward start, soon switched left, held up in last

16/1

OUR TIP

9/1

Form: 85351- D

Last run: 161 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Triple turf winner at up to 1m1f; unexposed on AW but has been well below his best turf form in just two previous attempts; more needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

(4)

6th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

1m 4f 104y

Class 5

15:10 Musselburgh

Bulls Aye

8st 9lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Has done most racing this year over 1m and hasn't looked to see it out in a couple of runs over middle distances; long odds-on to blow the start and there are risks involved from 2lb out of the handicap.

14/1

8th

8

(4)

6th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

1m 4f 104y

Class 5

15:10 Musselburgh

Bulls Aye

8st 9lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

steadied start, always behind

14/1

8th

7

(4)

14th Oct 2024

Good

1m 0f 2y

Class 5

13:50 Musselburgh

Bulls Aye

9st 12lb

J: Miss Hannah Crawford

T: Iain Jardine

slowly away, in rear, some headway over 3f out, weakened over 1f out

15/2

10/1

Form: 65588- CD

Last run: 107 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 58

Form & Verdict
Sole AW win was in this race last year, when 4b higher; went into that race in better form than he does this time around but he's not one to write off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(1)

22nd Jul 2025

Good

0m 7f 15y

Class 5

17:00 Musselburgh

Code Purple

9st 4lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Ben Haslam

Not one to trust and had the run of things up front when posting a better performance over 1m1f here recently; not sure to back that up.

11/2

3

(7)

1st Jul 2025

Good

1m 0f 208y

Class 6

16:00 Musselburgh

Code Purple

9st 7lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Ben Haslam

C&D winner last summer; seemingly back in good form when second of 13 here (1m, good) in April, but disappointed on both outings last month and has become hard to predict.

9/2

4

(2)

19th Jun 2025

Good

1m 1f 170y

Class 5

15:15 Ripon

Code Purple

9st 7lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Ben Haslam

Enters calculations on the form of his second in 1m Musselburgh handicap in April but he beat only one over 7f there 12 days ago; he needs to get back on track.

14/1

14/1

Form: 33427-

Last run: 132 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 57

Form & Verdict
Maiden who has been placed in 5-13 starts; best effort came on Tapeta at Wolverhampton (8.5f) last October; left Roger Varian after that; well below that level on first start for this trainer; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

(6)

12th Aug 2025

Good

1m 0f 68y

Class 6

20:40 Hamilton

Pacos Pride

9st 4lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Daragh Bourke

0-28 over various distances; no match for the odds-on winner over 1m1f at Carlisle last week but was 7l clear of the third.

6/1

2nd

8

(6)

4th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 1f 0y

Class 6

20:45 Carlisle

Pacos Pride

9st 0lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Daragh Bourke

27-race maiden; creditable third over 1m4f at Hamilton in June (good) but well beaten since; drop to 1m1f may not be ideal.

16/1

1

(5)

29th Jul 2025

Good

1m 4f 23y

Class 6

14:45 Beverley

Pacos Pride

9st 10lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Daragh Bourke

A longstanding maiden who has performed moderately the last twice, but with a good few places to her name she can't be dismissed.

5/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £17.40
Straight Forecast £18.24
Tricast £81.24
Trifecta £91.30

Selections

The Guardian:

Water Of Leith

POSTDATA:

Martin's Brig

SPOTLIGHT:

Ratafia

RP RATINGS:

Code Purple

Daily Mirror:

Spartan Fighter

The Times:

Ratafia

Daily Mail:

Water Of Leith

D Express:

Water Of Leith

The Star:

Water Of Leith

Telegraph:

Martin's Brig

The Sun:

Martin's Brig

Daily Record:

Martin's Brig