February 16 / 15.55 Newcastle

15.55

Good

Will Pugh 21st Birthday Celebration Handicap Chase (Go North Red Rum Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £6231.58
  • 2m 7f 91y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Will Pugh 21st Birthday Celebration Handicap Chase (Go North Red Rum Series Qualifier)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.88

Form: -43146 C

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Course hurdles winner (2m4f, good to soft) who scored on his chase debut at Wetherby (3m, good to soft) on Boxing Day; unable to reproduce that form the next twice, when coming under early pressure each time, but it's possible he'll benefit from the first-time blinkers (replacing cheekpieces).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

9th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 4

16:30 Hexham

Court At Slip

11st 2lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Tim Easterby

Pulled up over 4m here last time (soft); plenty of decent placed efforts in 3m chases before that; has an each-way chance.

8/1

8

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 7f 199y

Class 4

15:41 Hexham

Court At Slip

10st 12lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Tim Easterby

Without a win since December 2023 but this consistent sort has finished second at Catterick (3m1f/3m, soft) on his last two starts and ran well over 3m6f there in January 2024; each-way claims.

8/1

Form: -31144 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Made it two convincing wins in a row when scoring over C&D (good) in November and on that evidence this 5lb higher mark shouldn't be beyond him; hasn't run badly in fourth the last twice but has to better those runs here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

14th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

15:48 Hexham

Return Fire

11st 11lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

midfield, lost ground 4th, detached after 5th, struggling when pulled up before 15th

10/1

2

14th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

15:48 Hexham

Return Fire

11st 11lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Bagged a second C&D victory in November but his more recent form is less encouraging, only sixth over C&D last time; handily weighted if getting back on track, though.

10/1

6th

3

13th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

16:22 Hexham

Return Fire

11st 9lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell

Resumed winning ways over C&D in November and posted a respectable sixth of ten in 3m Musselburgh handicap chase following month; much respected for his in-form yard after a break.

6/1

Form: 2115P3 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 11lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Won two in a row in the autumn (2m6f/3m7f, good/good to soft) and this 11yo returned to form when third at Southwell (3m2f, good) last time; this front-runner is capable of another bold bid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

9th May 2023

Good

3m 5f 24y

Class 3

16:20 Fakenham

Flying Verse

11st 2lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: David Dennis

midfield

6/1

2nd

3

27th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

14:30 Perth

Flying Verse

12st 0lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: David Dennis

Ran out a clearcut winner at Doncaster (3m, good) but he reminded us of his inconsistency when failing to give his running at Wincanton; goes without Ned Fox's claim here and he'll need to be right on it.

7/2

6th

6

27th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

15:00 Wincanton

Flying Verse

11st 4lb

J: Ned Fox

T: David Dennis

Not that predictable but capable on his day as he showed when a clearcut winner at Doncaster (3m, good); clear claims off 5lb higher with Ned Fox again on board, but wouldn't want the ground any easier than good to soft.

4/1

Form: 5U-2P4 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Reappeared with good second at Sedgefield (3m3f, soft) in November and bounced back from Kelso flop with fair fourth at Southwell (3m2f, good) recently; however, he was about 10l behind third-placed Flying Verse last time so needs something extra this afternoon.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

28th Feb 2024

Heavy

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

14:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Dragonfruit

11st 13lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

prominent, lost position 5th, dropped to rear and niggled along briefly 6th, outpaced 8th, lost touch 10th

7/1

4th

3

9th Nov 2023

Soft

3m 2f 202y

Class 4

13:35 Sedgefield

Dragonfruit

11st 8lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

jumped right on occasions, led, overjumped 10th, headed 4 out, outpaced before 2 out, overjumped and pecked on landing 2 out, hung left and weakened approaching last

2/1

OUR TIP

Form: 5-4432

Last run: 18 days

W: 12st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
6yo who has run well in defeat on his last three starts, the last two over fences at Sedgefield (2m5f/2m3f, soft/good to soft); there's every chance he'll stay this far and he's a player if the trip and forecast good ground aren't issues.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:55 Ayr

Twoshotsoftequila

11st 4lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

Won two small-field chases (3m1f/2m7f) about two years ago but was pulled up last month, after a long absence, and might need another run or two before he's of interest again.

14/1

5

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

13:28 Haydock

Twoshotsoftequila

11st 6lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

On the up when last seen out in the spring of 2024, bagging a pair of handicap chases (around 3m) at Catterick and Newcastle; has a 23-month absence to overcome here but yard is among the winners so he's no forlorn hope.

10/1

Form: 11-31P D

Last run: 22 days

W: 12st 1lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
In good form in December after a long absence, winning at Ayr (3m, good to soft) on his second start back; the soft ground and sharp track were nominated as excuses when he was pulled up at Catterick last time (albeit he's won on soft in the past) but it's hard to be confident on the back of that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

3rd Mar 2023

Good

2m 7f 214y

Class 3

15:10 Doncaster

Hitman Fred

11st 1lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Rose Dobbin

Soft ground and the sharp track were nominated as excuses when he was pulled up at Catterick last time (albeit he's won on soft in the past); won at Ayr (3m, good to soft) in December on second start back from a long absence and he's a major player if rediscovering that form.

7/1

2

16th Feb 2023

Good

2m 7f 91y

Class 4

15:55 Newcastle

Hitman Fred

12st 1lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Rose Dobbin

In good form in December after a long absence, winning at Ayr (3m, good to soft) on his second start back; the soft ground and sharp track were nominated as excuses when he was pulled up at Catterick last time (albeit he's won on soft in the past) but it's hard to be confident on the back of that.

6/1

6

25th Jan 2023

Soft

3m 1f 54y

Class 4

13:45 Catterick

Hitman Fred

11st 5lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Rose Dobbin

prominent

11/4

Form: -3142P

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Won at Hexham (2m4f, good) last June on second chase start and runner-up there (1m7f, soft) in November; not discounted but he has a patchy profile and was pulled up at Catterick (2m3f, good) just a fortnight ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

11th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 133y

Class 5

13:55 Hexham

Follow Your Arrow

10st 7lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

Record of 1-20 over fences and was disappointing last time, but he was placed three times in a row here (1m7f-2m4f, good to soft) in the spring; had wind surgery since his last run and could be dangerous back at this track on his return; cheekpieces reapplied.

14/1

11

21st Jul 2025

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

16:50 Cartmel

Follow Your Arrow

10st 12lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

Has modest 1-19 strike-rate over fences and fell here when last in action but was placed three consecutive times off today's mark at Hexham (1m7f-2m4f, good to soft) in the spring; considered each-way.

6/1

Form: 224058

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Didn't jump well in November on his last runs over fences but he's well treated on his chase form last May/June and he produced a fairly encouraging run over hurdles three weeks ago in reapplied cheekpieces and a first-time tongue-tie (both retained); interesting contender now back over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

14th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

16:48 Hexham

Loughermore

11st 12lb

J: Miss Natasha Cookson

T: Simon Waugh

A fair winning 3m1f chaser in 2022; has his first run back under rules for almost two years here but he won a point last month so is no forlorn hope.

9/1

4th

4

14th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

16:48 Hexham

Loughermore

11st 12lb

J: Miss Natasha Cookson

T: Simon Waugh

A fair winning 3m1f chaser in 2022; has his first run back under rules for almost two years here but he won a point last month so is no forlorn hope.

9/1

3rd

6

17th May 2023

Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

21:00 Perth

Loughermore

11st 7lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Simon Waugh

prominent, led after 1st, joined 5th

16/1

Non-runners

Twoshotsoftequila, Hitman Fred, Follow Your Arrow, Loughermore

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.10
Straight Forecast £5.51
Trifecta £11.50

Selections

RP Ratings:

Twoshotsoftequila

The Guardian:

Return Fire

Telegraph:

Hitman Fred

TOPSPEED:

Follow Your Arrow

POSTDATA:

Court At Slip

SPOTLIGHT:

Loughermore

The Times:

Twoshotsoftequila

D Express:

Twoshotsoftequila

Daily Mirror:

Twoshotsoftequila

The Star:

Twoshotsoftequila

Daily Record:

Twoshotsoftequila

Daily Mail:

Return Fire

The Sun:

Hitman Fred