October 31 / 16.45 Newcastle (AW)

16.45

Standard

BetMGM: It’s Showtime Nursery Handicap

  • Prize money: £3873.16
  • 0m 7f 14y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
BetMGM: It’s Showtime Nursery Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Showers

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £7.00
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 642 BF

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Has found improvement in each of his runs and was clear of the rest when chasing home a decent horse over C&D a month ago; this initial mark could be okay.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(2)

8th Aug 2026

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 4

19:40 Lingfield (AW)

Arantes Nascimento

9st 8lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Michael Attwater

Ended a long losing run at Kempton (7f, Polytrack) in April and he's held his form back on turf since, including a close call at Salisbury (6f, soft) and a 2l sixth in a big field at Ascot (7f, good to firm) last month; still looks on a workable mark and he could be a big factor back on AW.

4/1

6th

8

(3)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:20 Ascot

Arantes Nascimento

9st 11lb

J: Kieren Fox

T: Michael Attwater

Arrives in top form after a 7f win at Kempton and two second places over 6f; hard to knock and should be thereabouts.

13/2

2nd

2

(6)

9th Jun 2026

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

15:18 Salisbury

Arantes Nascimento

9st 8lb

J: Kieren Fox

T: Michael Attwater

Unraced on soft; 2-14 on the AW (wins over 7f) compared to 0-11 on turf but it was a good effort when second of ten at Newmarket (6f, good) 24 days ago; contender if handling conditions.

5/1

13/2

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 03933

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Competitive in both his nurseries, not helped by a slow start when a close third behind Master Franca at Lingfield (7f AW); looking handicapped about right but not dismissed lightly.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

(6)

26th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 6y

Class 5

11:45 Doncaster

Enpassant

9st 4lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Michael Herrington

Has gained last three wins on AW, including latest start; effective on turf but has never won away from Leicester in this sphere; something to prove back up in grade.

10/1

1st

2

(9)

4th Jun 2026

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 6

17:10 Lingfield (AW)

Enpassant

9st 7lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Michael Herrington

Three 7f wins on AW elsewhere, most recently at Southwell in April; a quick return didn't pay off there next time and he was always behind when returned to turf at Leicester last month; has run well over C&D in the past, though, so he may be more himself this time.

12/1

OUR TIP

9/2

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 433091 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Showed a willing attitude to edge home on his first AW start in a nursery at Lingfield (7f); 3lb rise is not the end of the world but this may take more winning.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

12

(3)

18th Aug 2024

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

14:20 Southwell (AW)

Master Franca

9st 8lb

J: Oliver Carmichael

T: Hugo Palmer

Not much luck round Chester since switched to blinkers, being drawn wide in June and then having his jockey lose an iron soon after the start last time; is 3lb lower than when winning a Polytrack nursery last October; one to consider.

5/1

5th

11

(1)

12th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 1y

Class 5

20:55 Chester

Master Franca

9st 6lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Hugo Palmer

Lingfield nursery winner (7f AW) last October; hasn't progressed this year, with newly applied blinkers seemingly not yielding initial improvement over 6f here (good; sixth of 12) last month; 2lb lower, and much better drawn on this occasion, so can potentially sit handier; possibilities.

6/1

6th

9

(12)

14th Jun 2024

Good To Soft

0m 6f 17y

Class 5

14:15 Chester

Master Franca

9st 4lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Hugo Palmer

Caused a 40-1 surprise when scoring at Lingfield (7f, AW) last October but he's not gone on from that and has been beaten 7l on Tapeta and turf in last two runs; continues to edge down the weights but he needs new headgear to make a difference back at this trip.

12/1

12/1

Form: 450

Last run: 96 days

W: 9st 8lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Shaped okay in his first two runs at top tracks and, although last at Sandown when last seen, that maiden was won by a subsequent Group winner; gelded during his absence and market should be helpful ahead of nursery debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

(1)

3rd May 2024

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:00 Goodwood

Never Sell

9st 7lb

J: Joshua Bryan

T: Archie Watson

led, headed 4f out, lost position and hung badly right 3f out, soon weakened and lost touch, tailed off

14/1

7th

4

(1)

3rd May 2024

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:00 Goodwood

Never Sell

9st 7lb

J: Joshua Bryan

T: Archie Watson

led, headed 4f out, lost position and hung badly right 3f out, soon weakened and lost touch, tailed off

14/1

11th

3

(11)

15th Apr 2024

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Never Sell

9st 9lb

J: Laura Coughlan

T: Archie Watson

Fourth in two of his four starts last year including on nursery debut at Newcastle (7f, Tapeta; first start since being gelded), but a well-beaten last of eight on his Wolverhampton return (8.6f, Tapeta) last month; blinkers replace cheekpieces, but the outside stall won't make things easy.

14/1

5/1

Form: 2754

Last run: 46 days

W: 9st 5lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Failed to progress from his debut second at Doncaster in June (7f), last time finishing midfield on nursery debut (6f, soft); has changed yards and he could yet turn things around.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

17th

6

(16)

28th Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

16:00 Thirsk

Novello Lad

9st 12lb

J: David Nolan

T: Paul Midgley

Landed a pair of 6f handicaps at Doncaster in early summer but he's been well below par both runs since, only 17th in 6f York handicap last time; lots more is needed.

25/1

17th

9

(7)

25th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:00 York

Novello Lad

9st 1lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Paul Midgley

Progressive sprinter in 2025 (following wind surgery) and he has carried on the good work this year, winning 6f handicaps at Doncaster in May (good to soft) and June (good to firm); well beaten at Thirsk 24 days ago, however, and this is a deeper race.

40/1

8th

3

(6)

1st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

16:10 Thirsk

Novello Lad

10st 1lb

J: David Nolan

T: Paul Midgley

Progressive sprinter in 2025 (following wind surgery) and he has carried on the good work this year, winning 6f handicaps at Doncaster in May (good to soft) and June (good to firm); up 4lb in a stronger race but he may not have finished progressing just yet.

100/30

Form: 13 BF

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 11lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Picked up well to win at Beverley in June (good to firm) and perhaps unsuited by the good to soft ground when beaten under a penalty at Catterick (7f; posted a much lower RPR); retains potential ahead of nursery debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(3)

17th May 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

17:40 Thirsk

Ribble Radiant

9st 8lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

0-10 since debut win over 7.4f in June 2023; only eighth of 13 here (7f) last month and now runs in a sprint for the first time; David Allan jumps ship; others preferred.

16/1

4

(3)

17th May 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

17:40 Thirsk

Ribble Radiant

9st 8lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

0-10 since debut win over 7.4f in June 2023; only eighth of 13 here (7f) last month and now runs in a sprint for the first time; David Allan jumps ship; others preferred.

16/1

8th

1

(13)

22nd Apr 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

20:00 Thirsk

Ribble Radiant

9st 9lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

0-9 and unable to threaten in the main since debut win in June 2023; however, off this reduced mark she dead-heated with Dandy Lichious for second of 14 on recent reappearance at Catterick (7f, good; albeit no match for winner) and she's on the shortlist.

7/1

7/2

Form: 217371 C

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 6lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Both wins have been here, latterly coming from off the pace to collect cosily over 6f despite them not going hard early; shouldn't be overly troubled by today's extra 1f; raised 5lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

19th

16

(20)

29th Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

16:50 Curragh

Im Spartacus

8st 10lb

J: Keithen Kennedy

T: Adrian McGuinness

On the go since June of last year; two wins in 2026, over 6f at Dundalk in March and over 6f at Fairyhouse (good) in June and runs off last winning mark; last couple of runs not his best, however, and others arrive in better form.

33/1

14th

7

(14)

23rd Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

16:30 Naas

Im Spartacus

9st 11lb

J: Adam Caffrey

T: Adrian McGuinness

All seven wins came over 6f (has run well at 5f) and six of them on AW; turf breakthrough in June when scoring at Fairyhouse (6f, good) by 2.5l off 3lb lower; moderate efforts since, including when beaten by 5.5l at Cork last time (6f, good to firm); others preferred.

16/1

Form: 533322 BF

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
0-6 but she's consistent and only just missed out on her return to 7f off 3lb lower at Leicester; runner-up here the time before; thereabouts once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

(3)

24th Sep 2024

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 6

16:45 Newcastle (AW)

Vintage Love

8st 10lb

J: Sam James

T: Grant Tuer

15-race maiden; coped well with the step up to this trip when a close fourth over C&D last week; that wasn't a searching examination of her stamina but this might not be either and she's one to consider.

7/2

4th

9

(9)

17th Sep 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 42y

Class 6

16:55 Newcastle (AW)

Vintage Love

9st 4lb

J: Oliver Stammers

T: Grant Tuer

midfield

7/1

6th

6

(1)

21st Aug 2024

Good To Firm

0m 6f 195y

Class 6

17:00 Carlisle

Vintage Love

9st 1lb

J: Oliver Stammers

T: Grant Tuer

midfield

6/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £27.00
Straight Forecast £20.16
Tricast £79.72
Trifecta £96.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

I'm Spartacus

The Times:

Enpassant

D Express:

Arantes Nascimento

The Guardian:

Vintage Love

LAMBOURN:

Never Sell

Daily Mail:

Ribble Radiant

POSTDATA:

Master Franca

RP RATINGS:

I'm Spartacus

Telegraph:

I'm Spartacus

The Sun:

I'm Spartacus

Daily Record:

I'm Spartacus

Daily Mirror:

Enpassant

The Star:

Enpassant