December 28 / 15.20 Newcastle (AW)

15.20

Standard To Slow

SCU Selects Expert Tips By BetUK Handicap

  • Prize money: £4536
  • 1m 2f 42y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
SKY
View Course
SCU Selects Expert Tips By BetUK Handicap

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Light rain

Evs (Won)

  • Win: £2.00
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 555511

Last run: 2 days

W: 9st 11lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Failed to win for Jamie Osborne but made it 2-2 both for his new yard and in Tapeta handicaps when winning at Wolverhampton on Monday (about 1m1f); needs to settle better on this second quick start under the penalty but the hat-trick is very much on the cards otherwise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(7)

28th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

15:30 Epsom

Dream Harder

10st 2lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Ian Williams

Good second off this mark in better race over C&D on Derby day, having scored at Chester the time before; not in the same form since and suffered a heavy defeat last Sunday.

16/1

4

(11)

21st Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 4f 14y

Class 3

17:40 Southwell (AW)

Dream Harder

9st 12lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Ian Williams

Has only won over 1m4f at Chester in his last 26 starts; feasibly handicapped but he hasn't threatened in last four runs and others are more persuasive; 0-2 here.

11/1

10/1

  • Place: £3.50

Form: 3-9018 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 8st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 61

Form & Verdict
Two AW wins came on Polytrack and his nine efforts on Tapeta, aside from one near-miss over C&D, have been poor; returned from over a year off with two no-shows before he popped up from nowhere on turf in October; well held back on AW since and hard to know what to expect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(9)

18th Sep 2025

Good

1m 2f 5y

Class 6

15:22 Pontefract

Contrast

9st 12lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

Veteran who picked up the latest of his eight wins when scoring at Ripon (1m2f, good) last May; hasn't threatened in three starts this year, latterly in cheekpieces, and his powers of destruction may finally be on the wane; blinkers back on for the first time in over four years.

20/1

10

(7)

4th Sep 2025

Good

1m 3f 140y

Class 5

14:00 Haydock

Contrast

10st 11lb

J: Miss Serena Brotherton

T: Michael & David Easterby

Veteran who has picked up a race or two up to 1m2f in most seasons but has had just two runs this term, well beaten; won off 1lb higher last May; now tries cheekpieces (first headgear since 2021) and he's only once been over this sort of trip (2019).

25/1

OUR TIP

11/2

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 461755 CD

Last run: 6 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Goes well here and is only 2lb higher than when winning over C&D in October; hasn't stayed longer trips the past twice, hanging left under pressure each time, and is one to consider returned to 1m2f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

(10)

26th Aug 2023

Good To Firm

1m 2f 1y

Class 5

16:28 Redcar

Freak Out

10st 0lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: Gemma Tutty

The standout in-form candidate after front-running efforts on last three starts brought two 1m2f Beverley wins and a short-head defeat off this mark in blanket finish over Musselburgh's 1m4f; should go very well again.

3/1

2nd

3

(3)

11th Aug 2023

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 5

14:20 Musselburgh

Freak Out

9st 7lb

J: Sam James

T: Gemma Tutty

Prominent racer; feasibly weighted seeking a hat-trick after back-to-back Beverley wins (1m2f; has risen a combined total of 5lb); the stable is going really well, he's versatile ground wise, and this sharp track should suit; enthusiasm is tempered by inconclusive stamina over 1m4f.

7/2

11/2

Form: 353024

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Maiden who's had plenty of chances; better since switched to Tapeta in blinkers (runs in a visor today) but he's going beyond 1m for the first time and will need to settle better if he's to stay this far.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

(1)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 6y

Class 6

20:15 Doncaster

Al Baahy

9st 4lb

J: William Pyle

T: Kevin Frost

Prominent racer who won classified events at Wolverhampton (9.4f) and Lingfield (1m2f) in January but he's found things tough back in handicaps in his last three runs; has something to prove again and his sole turf win was in May 2023.

25/1

5th

2

(2)

5th May 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 6

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Al Baahy

9st 6lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: Kevin Frost

Won twice in January, including over 9.4f here, and he is back to a winning mark after three disappointing runs this spring; not a solid option.

8/1

8th

9

(2)

29th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 6y

Class 6

17:08 Pontefract

Al Baahy

8st 10lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Kevin Frost

Turf winner back in May 2023 who found classified company his thing when going back-to-back on AW (9.5f/1m2f) in January; forced out of that grade subsequently and has found handicaps a stretch on last three starts.

14/1

20/1

Form: 0860

Last run: 63 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
Achieved little in four turf starts for Joseph O'Brien, all over further, latterly when eased and tailed off on her handicap debut; looks best watched for her new yard unless there's good money around.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(4)

18th Feb 2023

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

16:55 Newcastle (AW)

Rockabill Angel

9st 6lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Ed Dunlop

dwelt start, in rear, ridden 3f out, headway from 2f out, ran on and led final 110yds, faced challenge towards finish, all out

9/2

6th

8

(8)

4th Feb 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 5

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Rockabill Angel

9st 1lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Ed Dunlop

Failed to trouble the judge in Ireland for Joseph O'Brien but more positive signs for her new stable when 2l second of 12 at Southwell (1m3f) in first-time cheekpieces (retained) 11 days ago; one to consider from an unchanged mark.

11/2

2nd

7

(6)

24th Jan 2023

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 6

19:30 Southwell (AW)

Rockabill Angel

9st 7lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Ed Dunlop

in touch with leaders

10/1

Form: 222120 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 9st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Knows how to win, including twice on Tapeta, but has run poorly in three previous runs here; not much room for manoeuvre off this mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

(1)

21st Dec 2023

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 6

17:45 Southwell (AW)

Billy Roberts

9st 9lb

J: Phil Dennis

T: Simon Whitaker

prominent, outpaced and lost position over 3f out, no impression from 2f out

20/1

5

(8)

13th Nov 2023

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 5

16:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Billy Roberts

9st 10lb

J: Zak Wheatley

T: Simon Whitaker

Veteran who has finished second a few times on turf this season, without being particularly consistent; scored twice over C&D in December 2021 but is harder to fancy on his 2022 AW form.

20/1

14th

7

(3)

7th Oct 2023

Good

1m 2f 1y

Class 5

14:10 Redcar

Billy Roberts

9st 9lb

J: Mark Winn

T: Simon Whitaker

Veteran who has finished second three times this season, most recently behind Dogged at Ripon in August; often amateur ridden; suspicion one or two will prove stronger.

14/1

Form: 504854

Last run: 47 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Three-time 1m Polytrack winner for the Johnstons in the summer, latterly off a 1lb higher mark; has run fairly in two starts here for his new yard, both in cheekpieces, and will be happier back down from 1m4f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

(3)

19th Aug 2023

Good

1m 1f 170y

Class 6

16:25 Ripon

Cabinet Maker

9st 5lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Rebecca Menzies

in touch with leaders on inner

6/1

1st

1

(2)

12th Aug 2023

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

20:37 Ayr

Cabinet Maker

9st 9lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Rebecca Menzies

prominent on inner, went second over 3f out, pushed along to lead under 2f out, ridden and kept on well inside final furlong, reduced lead towards finish, always doing enough

8/1

3rd

3

(7)

25th Jul 2023

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 6

14:30 Musselburgh

Cabinet Maker

9st 2lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Rebecca Menzies

Triple 1m AW scorer for previous yard; 0-5 for current stable and doesn't look as effective on turf.

6/1

16/1

Form: 5-934

Last run: 57 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Three defeats at short prices for Joseph O'Brien before sold for £10,000 in the summer; this is more realistic now handicapping but she pulled hard and finished well held on 7f debut for new connections in November.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

(3)

16th Oct 2023

Good

0m 7f 33y

Class 6

15:35 Musselburgh

Flash Bulb

9st 4lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Katie Scott

in touch with leaders

40/1

9th

6

(8)

3rd Oct 2023

Soft

0m 7f 50y

Class 6

16:32 Ayr

Flash Bulb

9st 9lb

J: Sam James

T: Katie Scott

Ex-Irish maiden who holds weak claims judged on form for current yard; had a second wind surgery since last run; it needs to help.

40/1

11th

3

(3)

17th Jul 2023

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

15:10 Ayr

Flash Bulb

9st 9lb

J: Phil Dennis

T: Katie Scott

took keen hold, prominent

33/1

20/1

Form: 281604 D

Last run: 84 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Winner off this mark for Marco Botti on turf in the summer but struggled in three more starts before sold for 9,000gns in October; has something to prove back from a break for his new yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

(2)

3rd Feb 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 4f 98y

Class 5

16:30 Newcastle (AW)

Saigon

9st 12lb

J: Connor Murtagh

T: Barry Murtagh

Winner off 3lb higher for Marco Botti on turf (1m2f) last summer but he struggled in final three runs for that yard and was the same story on his stable debut here in December; has plenty to prove and he needs a major revival back up in trip; tongue-tie removed.

33/1

9th

2

(5)

28th Dec 2022

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 42y

Class 5

15:20 Newcastle (AW)

Saigon

9st 10lb

J: Connor Murtagh

T: Barry Murtagh

Winner off this mark for Marco Botti on turf in the summer but struggled in three more starts before sold for 9,000gns in October; has something to prove back from a break for his new yard.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £15.40
Straight Forecast £21.65
Tricast £54.91
Trifecta £58.80

Selections

RP Ratings:

Dream Harder

POSTDATA:

Cabinet Maker

SPOTLIGHT:

Freak Out

TOPSPEED:

Dream Harder

The Times:

Dream Harder

Telegraph:

Dream Harder

The Guardian:

Dream Harder

Daily Mail:

Dream Harder

D Express:

Dream Harder

Daily Mirror:

Dream Harder

The Sun:

Dream Harder

The Star:

Dream Harder

Daily Record:

Dream Harder