January 25 / 18.15 Newcastle (AW)

18.15

Standard

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  • Prize money: £2983.38
  • 0m 5f 0y
  • Class 6
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £8.00
  • Place: £3.50

Form: 59308- CD

Last run: 76 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
C&D winner as a 2yo when trained by Bryan Smart; didn't really kick on for that yard in handicaps but he made an encouraging start for his new stable at Leicester in September; below that form twice afterwards but he's dropping in class here and, perhaps more significantly, he's had wind surgery since last seen; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(4)

28th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

17:20 Ripon

Herakles

9st 8lb

J: Mark Winn

T: Paul Midgley

C&D winner; consistent in defeat on AW before making a successful return to turf at Nottingham (5f, good) 19 days ago, with reopposing Dc Cogent and Marajito behind in third and fifth; did that quite comfortably but a 6lb rise puts him 3lb above his highest win mark of 66; has also yet to score back-to-back in his 41-race career.

2/1

1st

7

(9)

9th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 8y

Class 5

16:00 Nottingham

Herakles

9st 2lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Paul Midgley

Has reached the frame on AW in his last six starts including when a close second at Newcastle (5f; tongue-tie added) last month; record of 1-21 on turf but conditions should be fine back in this sphere and he had a close call off 1lb higher at Beverley last summer; interesting contender for yard that has won this race in the last two years.

3/1

2nd

5

(2)

13th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

20:30 Newcastle (AW)

Herakles

9st 1lb

J: Mark Winn

T: Paul Midgley

Three of his four wins have come over C&D; not beaten far at Southwell on his last two starts; dropped another 1lb and he's a leading contender back at this track; stable runs three here.

4/1

2nd
3 (5)
Rory

5/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 125-02 CD

Last run: 3 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
6f win here last month and followed that with a fast-finishing second over C&D (form solid); back to form when staying on for second here on Monday; the harder they go early the better for him at this trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(1)

6th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

Rory

8st 11lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Hold-up performer who needs the cards to fall right; losing run stretches back to July 2024 and others appeal more for win purposes.

14/1

6th

7

(11)

20th Jan 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

13:13 Newcastle (AW)

Rory

9st 9lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

7-91 but without a win since July 2024; didn't get the breaks when fifth at Southwell (6f) on penultimate start and was an encouraging third to an in-form pair over C&D (beaten under 2l) 11 days ago; a likely player under Mulrennan.

4/1

13

(13)

18th Nov 2025

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

19:15 Newcastle (AW)

Rory

9st 0lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Three-time course scorer; on a long losing sequence but holds a good chance off current mark, provided he takes well to first-time visor; has won in cheekpieces.

10/1

Form: 497-15 CD

Last run: 12 days

W: 8st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 50

Form & Verdict
Gained the eighth success of his career when readily accounting for ten rivals at Southwell three weeks ago; caught out wide at Wolverhampton last time but it was still a disappointing effort; needs a full revival in this field.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

8

(4)

27th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 6

20:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Street Life

9st 3lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Patrick Morris

Won twice on AW this winter, including C&D, and he is now 2lb lower than for the second win; has gone quiet more recently though and could prove vulnerable for win purposes once again.

12/1

6th

7

(7)

2nd Apr 2026

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 6

18:48 Southwell (AW)

Street Life

9st 5lb

J: Myla Coppins

T: Patrick Morris

Veteran who was recording the 14th win of his career when scoring off this mark over C&D in January; short of his best on his last four starts but the ability is there if his new rider can coax it out of him.

16/1

11th

10

(2)

28th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 6

17:00 Southwell (AW)

Street Life

9st 0lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Patrick Morris

Five-time course winner but finished behind Irish Dancer and Woodhay Whisper here last time, with no obvious excuses.

14/1

Form: 47713- CD BF

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 60

Form & Verdict
Ready winner over C&D in November and he ran another sound race when third here last month (Rory second); still has some handicapping potential and he's one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(2)

11th Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 8y

Class 6

16:52 Nottingham

High Opinion

9st 9lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Bryan Smart

Two C&D wins on soft and good ground; below best in the autumn and has needed both runs in 2026 but he's run two of his best races for Paul Mulrennan (1-3 on him) who is back up today; on a handy mark and a revival could be imminent.

7/1

5th

8

(3)

3rd Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

20:12 Ripon

High Opinion

8st 12lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Bryan Smart

Shaped as if in need of comeback run at Nottingham (5f, good; sixth of eight) in April; has some decent C&D form to his name and is 10lb lower (and claimer ridden) than when seeing off Our Absent Friends here in August 2024; foolish to discount hastily.

10/1

6th

5

(2)

18th Apr 2026

Good

0m 5f 8y

Class 6

17:45 Nottingham

High Opinion

9st 8lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Bryan Smart

More miss than hit in 2025 but back on a good mark as a result and a record of two wins and two seconds from his five outings over this C&D means a revival can't be ruled out back from four months off.

13/2

Form: 336-11 C

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
Routed his rivals over 6f here three weeks ago and followed up under a penalty at Chelmsford two weeks ago; another 6lb higher in his hat-trick bid but the drop to 5f could prove more troublesome than his mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

2

(9)

6th Jul 2026

Good

0m 7f 50y

Class 5

15:30 Ayr

The Gay Blade

9st 13lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Has risen to new heights this year, winning six times, the most recent three over 7f on turf (good and soft), but his charmed run ended at Musselburgh last week; runs off the same mark today and has ground to make up on Abduction; may need weight off his back now.

10/1

5th

5

(3)

30th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 15y

Class 4

16:00 Musselburgh

The Gay Blade

9st 0lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Arrives in the form of his life, completing a turf hat-trick at Ayr (7f, soft) 11 days ago; that made it six wins from his last nine starts and he is respected despite the 6lb rise and stronger opposition.

4/1

1st

7

(9)

19th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 50y

Class 5

18:40 Ayr

The Gay Blade

9st 5lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Resurgent 7yo who completed a 7f Carlisle double on Monday and has now won five times this year; has 4lb penalty to carry but he won't mind if the ground eases; commands respect in current mood.

11/2

7/2

Form: 443-32 CD

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 56

Form & Verdict
C&D winner; two fine efforts this month, most recently second to a progressive sprinter over C&D last week (blinkered first time); runs off the same mark here and should be in the thick of it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(6)

30th Oct 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

20:30 Southwell (AW)

Urban Dandy

9st 6lb

J: David Nolan

T: Tony Coyle & Kaine Wood

In consistent form in the spring when finishing a close second five times, including over C&D, as well as winning a 1m classified event at Newcastle; however, he hasn't been in the same form since back from a break, drastically so last time out; others are much preferred.

16/1

6

(6)

30th Oct 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

20:30 Southwell (AW)

Urban Dandy

9st 6lb

J: David Nolan

T: Tony Coyle & Kaine Wood

In consistent form in the spring when finishing a close second five times, including over C&D, as well as winning a 1m classified event at Newcastle; however, he hasn't been in the same form since back from a break, drastically so last time out; others are much preferred.

16/1

33/1

Form: 4008-6

Last run: 20 days

W: 8st 5lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 45

Form & Verdict
Showed some promise in novice events but she's struggled since moving into handicaps; mark has bottomed out but she's not easily recommended in a competitive race for the grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

11

(8)

24th Sep 2024

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

19:00 Newcastle (AW)

Candy Eye

9st 3lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Tom Tate

Bold effort from the front when upped to 1m on this track in March and she might have needed her first run since when dropping out over C&D this month; other front-runners could queer her pitch today.

25/1

13th

13

(6)

3rd Sep 2024

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

19:45 Newcastle (AW)

Candy Eye

9st 0lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Tom Tate

Ten-race maiden whose first nine starts came over sprint trips, but she ran much better than expected when third of eight over 1m here in March; that run suggested this trip could prove ideal, but she has been off for six months; market may be useful.

11/1

3rd

8

(3)

8th Mar 2024

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

20:30 Newcastle (AW)

Candy Eye

8st 11lb

J: Josephine Gordon

T: Tom Tate

took keen hold, led, alone and clear up the centre over 5f out, reduced lead over 1f out, headed and weakened final 110yds

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £23.30
Straight Forecast £22.07
Trifecta £231.00

Selections

RP RATINGS:

The Gay Blade

The Times:

Urban Dandy

SPOTLIGHT:

Herakles

The Sun:

High Opinion

POSTDATA:

Rory

The Guardian:

Urban Dandy

Daily Mail:

Urban Dandy

Daily Mirror:

Urban Dandy

Telegraph:

The Gay Blade

D Express:

The Gay Blade

The Star:

The Gay Blade

Daily Record:

The Gay Blade