March 05 / 16.20 Newcastle

16.20

Heavy

Vickers.Bet And LHS Champion Racing Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3247.81
  • 2m 4f 62y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
SKY
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Vickers.Bet And LHS Champion Racing Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 9-293

Last run: 12 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Placed in two of this three qualifying races, more recently when third behind the two market principals in Lingfield maiden (2m3f, heavy) 12 days ago; open to improvement in handicaps and one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

2nd Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

17:15 Southwell

Ballyvaughan Bay

11st 13lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: D J Jeffreys

Made all off today's mark over C&D (good) in spring 2024 and ran well in defeat over C&D this April; sure to be suited by the return to this track but has quite a bit to prove after three disappointing efforts.

8/1

4

5th Sep 2025

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

14:30 Bangor-on-Dee

Ballyvaughan Bay

11st 12lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: D J Jeffreys

Gained sole success over 3m so may not be crying out for this drop back in distance and he has a question mark over current form anyway; cheekpieces added.

16/1

9th

2

17th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

19:50 Worcester

Ballyvaughan Bay

11st 13lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: D J Jeffreys

Ran poorly on chasing debut at Southwell and needs to bounce back from that but was clear second over hurdles there (3m, good) two starts ago and is a big player if judged on that performance.

8/1

Form: 6289

Last run: 52 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner; runner-up in modest Carlisle novice (2m3f, good to soft) on hurdling debut in December but well beaten twice since and needs to up his game on this handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

26th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 7f 149y

Class 5

17:05 Newcastle

Askmore

11st 9lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Point winner (3m); slightly disappointing since finishing runner-up on hurdles debut at Carlisle (2m3f novice; 11-8 favourite) in December; had seemingly run his race - on the retreat on handicap debut - in the voided race over 2m4f here this month; still low mileage.

9/1

2

5th Mar 2024

Heavy

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

16:20 Newcastle

Askmore

12st 0lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

led, headed 3 out, lost second 2 out, soon flagged down, race voided

7/1

Form: 0-F2

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Only third best on merit when remote second in Ayr maiden (2m4f, soft) three weeks ago but that piece of form represented significant improvement, and he could plausibly have more to offer in handicaps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

7th Jun 2024

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

14:18 Market Rasen

Didnt Ask

12st 0lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Maurice Barnes

0-5 over hurdles but his two runs over 2m7f at Hexham (good) this spring were both perfectly respectable, and his Irish point win in 2022 bodes well for his prospects on this chasing debut.

10/1

4th

1

21st May 2024

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

17:25 Hexham

Didnt Ask

12st 0lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Maurice Barnes

Lightly raced 7yo; was fitted with a tongue-tie when a creditable third to an odds-on favourite over C&D (maiden, good, beaten 5l) recently; makes the switch to handicapping at a realistic level; a probable contender.

4/1

4th

1

21st May 2024

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

17:25 Hexham

Didnt Ask

12st 0lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Maurice Barnes

Lightly raced 7yo; was fitted with a tongue-tie when a creditable third to an odds-on favourite over C&D (maiden, good, beaten 5l) recently; makes the switch to handicapping at a realistic level; a probable contender.

4/1

Form: 8/U034

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Placed over C&D (soft; first-time tongue-tie) on handicap debut in January and his subsequent fourth over 2m6f here (heavy) was very respectable; behind Glory Hights in both those races and needs to find something extra today but still enters calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

11th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 5

16:20 Ayr

Scalloway Bay

11st 2lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Ten-race maiden; creditable fourth on chase debut here in November (2m5f, good) but too free when well beaten at Hexham last time (2m4f, soft); needs to settle better now stepped up to 3m for the first time.

8/1

4th

6

11th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 5

16:20 Ayr

Scalloway Bay

11st 2lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

travelled strongly, midfield

8/1

9th

14

11th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 4

14:50 Hexham

Scalloway Bay

10st 6lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

towards rear

10/1

Form: 448434 BF

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Beaten favourite when well-held fourth at Kelso (2m, soft) in January and now 0-15 over hurdles but was placed off mark 4lb higher than today's here (2m1f, heavy) two starts ago and is probably better suited by this trip; can't be ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

17

2nd Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 5

13:40 Ayr

Ballyquin Bay

11st 0lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Alison Hamilton

He's on a competitive mark on last winter's form but has been pulled up on both starts this term and is now 0-17; not easy to fancy.

25/1

9th

17

2nd Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 5

13:40 Ayr

Ballyquin Bay

11st 0lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Alison Hamilton

He's on a competitive mark on last winter's form but has been pulled up on both starts this term and is now 0-17; not easy to fancy.

25/1

7

15th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 5

13:00 Carlisle

Ballyquin Bay

11st 2lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Alison Hamilton

in touch with leaders, hit 7th

14/1

Form: 4-8850

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Well beaten when upped to 3m for handicap debut in January but was not disgraced in any of his three qualifying races (2m-2m3f) and may benefit from today's drop back in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

11

24th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:37 Kelso

Knacker Trapper

10st 8lb

J: William Maggs

T: Andrew Crook

Didn't seem to stay 2m7f when below-par at Hexham last time, having run creditably on his two previous starts; could go well but on a long losing run.

10/1

9th

14

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

20:15 Hexham

Knacker Trapper

10st 9lb

J: William Maggs

T: Andrew Crook

Only win came in a Southwell novice handicap in May 2024 (2m4f, good); good run when second at Sedgefield last time (2m4f, good); stamina to prove, but could be in the mix.

12/1

2nd

7

1st Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

16:40 Sedgefield

Knacker Trapper

10st 12lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Andrew Crook

It's now 11 outings since his last success but he's been lightly raced this term and comes here on the back of a good third of 15 in 2m4f Newcastle handicap hurdle 18 days ago; can make his presence felt off the same mark.

7/1

Form: 679247

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Outran 50-1 odds when second of 14 on handicap debut at Sedgefield (2m5f, soft) in November but two lesser efforts have followed (2m2f/3m) and it's hard to know what to expect from her here; had wind op in January.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

5th Mar 2024

Heavy

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

16:20 Newcastle

Line In The Sand

11st 3lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

in touch with leaders, pulled up quickly just after 4th, fatally injured, race voided

14/1

7th

10

13th Jan 2024

Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 4

13:40 Wetherby

Line In The Sand

10st 10lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

Placed in 3m points and good second at 50-1 on handicap debut at Sedgefield (2m5f, soft) in November; of interest on that evidence but tailed off at Kelso (2m2f, heavy) recently and has to leave that well behind.

20/1

4th

6

29th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 2f 25y

Class 4

14:28 Kelso

Line In The Sand

10st 6lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

prominent, lost position after 4 out

5/1

Form: 35-F54

Last run: 82 days

W: 11st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Beaten about 24l when fourth over C&D (heavy) on handicap debut in December but subsequent events have shown that the clear front pair in that race were both very well handicapped; this fellow has dropped 2lb in the meantime and still has potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

21st May 2024

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

17:58 Hexham

Greenhill Gardens

11st 2lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Likely to have had a major say in the outcome but for the late voiding of a race at Newcastle (2m4f, heavy) in March; let down by his hurdling both subsequent starts; tackles a new trip but is capable of being involved from an easing mark, in a newly applied tongue-tie, if hurdling slicker.

13/2

6th

4

21st May 2024

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

17:58 Hexham

Greenhill Gardens

11st 2lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Likely to have had a major say in the outcome but for the late voiding of a race at Newcastle (2m4f, heavy) in March; let down by his hurdling both subsequent starts; tackles a new trip but is capable of being involved from an easing mark, in a newly applied tongue-tie, if hurdling slicker.

13/2

6th

12

13th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

15:25 Newcastle

Greenhill Gardens

11st 1lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell

in rear

12/1

Form: 65-523

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Close second over C&D (soft) on handicap debut in January and again ran well when third here (2m6f, heavy) later that month; may yet have a bigger run in him; likely contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

31st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

17:00 Newcastle

Glory Hights

11st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Chris Grant

Only win in 17 runs over hurdles was at Carlisle in November 2024 (3m, good to soft); back on the same mark and two good runs over C&D on last two starts so could go well.

7/1

4th

11

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:45 Newcastle

Glory Hights

11st 0lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Chris Grant

Sole win from a similar mark at Carlisle (3m) in November 2024; runner-up over C&D latest, one of many solid efforts at this track (22242P2); still in front - looking the likeliest winner - in void race over C&D two-years ago; entitled to respect.

5/1

2nd

12

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

13:35 Newcastle

Glory Hights

10st 13lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Chris Grant

Only previous win was over 3m but off this mark; stopped the rot when beaten 5l in first-time cheekpieces at Wetherby and he's effective at this trip.

12/1

Non-runners

All Ways And Ever

Selections

POSTDATA:

Glory Hights

The Times:

Didnt Ask

Telegraph:

Ballyvaughan Bay

THE NORTH:

Askmore

SPOTLIGHT:

Greenhill Gardens

RP RATINGS:

Knacker Trapper

Daily Mirror:

Scalloway Bay

Daily Mail:

Glory Hights

The Sun:

Glory Hights

The Star:

Glory Hights

Daily Record:

Glory Hights

The Guardian:

Didnt Ask

D Express:

Ballyvaughan Bay