April 13 / 17.05 Newcastle

17.05

Heavy

Newcastle Flooring Company Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 2 Elim’) (GBB)

  • Prize money: £2450.7
  • 2m 0f 190y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Newcastle Flooring Company Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 2 Elim’) (GBB)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: NH Flat

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.70

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Changed hands for £25,000 after winning a point (soft/heavy) in December by a length from Traveling Soldier; new stable has an excellent strike-rate (33% during last two seasons) in bumpers; interesting contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:40 Perth

Gentleman Bill

12st 2lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Promising over hurdles last season and he's well handicapped on his chase form from the end of last year; however, he's finished down the field over fences/hurdles on his last two starts; blinkers replace cheekpieces.

12/1

5th

3

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 3

13:37 Bangor-on-Dee

Gentleman Bill

11st 11lb

J: Ben Smith

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Dual 2m hurdle winner (once here) last season who showed considerable promise over fences towards end of last year; suffered a fall and a heavy defeat last month but now reverts to hurdling on a tempting mark; completely unexposed over this sort of trip under rules; interesting.

5/1

8th

10

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

13:28 Haydock

Gentleman Bill

11st 1lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Fairly useful bumper/hurdles scorer who shaped well on his chasing debut when third in 2m Aintree handicap in October; has failed to build on it though in three subsequent outings, falling at the ninth fence at Doncaster (2m4f) nine days ago; has something to prove now.

8/1

OUR TIP

7/4

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 3

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Attracted some support and shaped well when a close third of 12 over C&D (heavy; 100-30) in March, losing second only near the finish; should improve and has leading claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Battle Born Lad

11st 8lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Fended off subsequent Grade 1 runner-up Wendigo to make all on hurdling debut at Hexham (2m, soft; front pair clear) in October and again dominated from the front when upped to 3m for Haydock Grade 2 in February (good to soft); may not be entirely straightforward but could take some catching.

11/2

2

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Battle Born Lad

11st 8lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Fended off subsequent Grade 1 runner-up Wendigo to make all on hurdling debut at Hexham (2m, soft; front pair clear) in October and again dominated from the front when upped to 3m for Haydock Grade 2 in February (good to soft); may not be entirely straightforward but could take some catching.

11/2

2

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 1

15:50 Haydock

Battle Born Lad

11st 2lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Placed in all three bumpers (heavy/good) and won on hurdle debut at Hexham (2m, soft) in October, pulling clear with Wendigo who has since finished second in a Grade 1; the Hexham form probably shouldn't be taken literally (Wendigo was making his seasonal/hurdle debut) but it was certainly a promising run and he's bred to stay this much longer trip; interesting.

10/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
£20,000 3yo; by Blue Bresil; dam unraced sister to a point winner, half-sister to winners Stormyisland Ahead (2m-3m hurdle/chase), Sara's Smile (2m-2m1f hurdle) and Amzac Magic (2m4f/2m5f hurdle); yard has the odd bumper winner (4-38 last five seasons); watch the market.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

21st Apr 2026

Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

18:12 Ffos Las

Aeroplane Blonde

11st 7lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Has a tendency to race too freely and is usually held up at the back; struggled to get competitive at Chepstow in February and now 0-6 over hurdles but interesting if judged on some of his form towards the end of last year; not out of this if first-time cheekpieces have positive effect.

14/1

8th

9

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 3

16:13 Chepstow

Aeroplane Blonde

10st 3lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Samuel Drinkwater

0-5 over hurdles and his tendency to race too freely remains a nagging concern but his fourth of 15 on handicap debut at Cheltenham (2m, soft) in November was a good effort, and he caught the eye making a big forward move from the rear before his effort petered out at Doncaster (2m, good) in December; hood removed; tongue-tie added; shortlisted.

8/1

1

16th Oct 2025

Good

2m 1f 33y

Class 4

14:32 Carlisle

Aeroplane Blonde

11st 0lb

J: Mr Sam Burton

T: Samuel Drinkwater

First-flight unseat on hurdle debut but showed ability in bumpers and did likewise when fourth of nine at Uttoxeter (2m, good) in May on his second hurdle start; probably needs a bigger run today but not ruled out.

10/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Mahler half-brother to winners Silk Run (2m3f-2m7f hurdle), Asian Prince (2m4f chase) and Empty The Tank (2m hurdle); bought for £40,000 after a promising second of 15 to Gentleman Bill in a point (soft/heavy) in December; has joined a stable that has always done well (22% strike-rate last five seasons) in bumpers; another to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

2nd Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

15:00 Southwell

Traveling Soldier

11st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Sole success over fences came at Market Rasen (2m1f, soft) last July off this mark; has been pulled up on his last two starts and a first-time visor replaces tongue-tie and cheekpieces; could have a say if the new headgear works.

7/2

5

14th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 20y

Class 5

16:55 Perth

Traveling Soldier

10st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Didn't jump well when pulled up in first-time blinkers at Plumpton last November when last seen; however, he was in good form previously in cheekpieces and they go back on today; could have a big say.

7/2

3

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:07 Worcester

Traveling Soldier

11st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Four good runs over fences this season, the most notable a win at Market Rasen (2m1f, soft) two starts ago; also suited by this C&D and good ground; leading contender.

5/2

8/1

Form: 4

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed something to build on (raced freely; faded) when 22l fourth of six at Ayr (heavy; 7-1) in February; improvement needed but certainly possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

13th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

15:43 Perth

Jirko

11st 0lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Yet to win (0-12) but consistent enough since introduced to fences (32333U); this easing mark is helpful from a handicapping perspective but he needs to brush up his jumping - last two efforts in cheekpieces unconvincing - to threaten the principals.

6/1

11

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

17:15 Perth

Jirko

10st 4lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

11-race maiden; placed on all five starts over fences this term, although was disappointing when last of three with cheekpieces tried at Ayr last time (2m4f, soft; didn't jump well); headgear retained; each-way chance.

11/1

3rd

3

6th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 4

14:20 Ayr

Jirko

10st 6lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

0-10 under all codes but made the frame in four consecutive chases this season, the last three over 3m here (soft/heavy); interesting to see whether combination of drop back in trip and first-time cheekpieces pays dividends.

15/8

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
20,000euros foal, £1,500 3yo; Youmzain half-brother to winners Dangan Des Champs (3m1f chase) and Heydour (point); dam unraced half-sister to useful winners Venture Capital (bumper/2m2f hurdle) and Movewiththetimes (bumper and 1m7f-2m7f hurdle/chase); trainer 0-8 in bumpers but has a fair strike-rate otherwise and Brian Hughes (2-6 for the yard) is a positive booking.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

6th Jun 2024

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

14:13 Uttoxeter

Bold Yeoman

11st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Toby Bulgin

Tailed off in a Newcastle bumper (heavy) and maiden hurdle at Ffos Las (2m4f, good); blinkers soon turned to.

100/1

13th

1

15th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:00 Ffos Las

Bold Yeoman

11st 4lb

J: Jordan Nailor

T: Toby Bulgin

Tailed off in a Newcastle bumper (2m1f, heavy; 18-1) last month and is best watched on this switch to hurdling.

50/1

13th

1

15th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:00 Ffos Las

Bold Yeoman

11st 4lb

J: Jordan Nailor

T: Toby Bulgin

Tailed off in a Newcastle bumper (2m1f, heavy; 18-1) last month and is best watched on this switch to hurdling.

50/1

Form: 5

Last run: 121 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
From a family that has served these connections well, and he showed some promise when 7l fifth of eight over C&D (heavy; 17-2) in December, green but keeping on; should improve and make more of an impact this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

15th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 5

16:20 Wetherby

Tees Comps Clive

10st 5lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Gillian Boanas

0-11 over hurdles but comes here after making the frame on consecutive appearances at Perth (2m4f/3m, good) this summer and is not yet fully exposed at about 3m; each-way claims at least.

7/1

4th

12

16th Aug 2025

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

17:35 Perth

Tees Comps Clive

10st 7lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Gillian Boanas

No wins in 12 but ran his best race since wind surgery when beaten only half a length over 2m4f here recently; could build on that and should stay this far.

13/2

3rd

7

3rd Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

15:50 Perth

Tees Comps Clive

10st 9lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Gillian Boanas

Unplaced all nine hurdling starts, albeit he ran well when fourth on soft ground at Newcastle (2m6f) during the winter; recent efforts have been underwhelming; needs to raise his game.

16/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.60
Straight Forecast £7.66
Trifecta £34.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Battle Born Lad

Daily Mail:

Traveling Soldier

The Star:

Aeroplane Blonde

RP RATINGS:

Battle Born Lad

TOPSPEED:

Battle Born Lad

POSTDATA:

Battle Born Lad

The Times:

Battle Born Lad

Telegraph:

Battle Born Lad

The Guardian:

Battle Born Lad

D Express:

Battle Born Lad

Daily Mirror:

Battle Born Lad

Daily Record:

Battle Born Lad