March 08 / 18.00 Newcastle (AW)

18.00

Standard

Find More Big Deals At BetUK Apprentice Handicap (Div II)

  • Prize money: £7013.56
  • 0m 6f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Find More Big Deals At BetUK Apprentice Handicap (Div II)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Mostly cloudy

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 5-1052 CD

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
One of a number of success stories for Linda Perratt this winter and he bounced back from a couple of quieter runs when a close second over C&D two weeks ago; now 2lb higher but shouldn't be discounted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

(7)

20th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

17:30 Newcastle (AW)

Nazca

9st 0lb

J: Oliver Carmichael

T: Linda Perratt

Three of his six wins have been over C&D but last one was back in March 2024; has been out of sorts on his last two starts.

20/1

6th

10

(4)

21st Mar 2026

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

20:30 Newcastle (AW)

Nazca

8st 9lb

J: Oliver Carmichael

T: Linda Perratt

Runner-up in a classified event over C&D last month but he's hard to predict and was last of eight in a handicap here two weeks ago; finished behind three of today's rivals in that race and that took his losing run up to 18; others preferred.

12/1

8th

8

(5)

6th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

Nazca

8st 10lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: Linda Perratt

His handicap mark has bottomed out and there have been more encouraging signs on his last two starts, second in a 0-50 classified over C&D 15 days ago; more required today.

14/1

7/2

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 42565- CD

Last run: 140 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Ended last season with a couple of underwhelming turf runs but he's well treated on his 2023 best and he can boast an AW record of 1311, two of the wins coming over C&D; returns from a break but he has to come into the reckoning.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

(6)

3rd Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

19:42 Ripon

Blazing Son

9st 6lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Bryan Smart

More productive on AW (5-17) than on turf (2-28) and was only run out of it inside the final furlong at Newcastle (7f Class 5; 9-1) in March; less effective since (0-2) but is slowly easing in the weights, and is perhaps best suited by 6f.

11/1

9th

4

(3)

20th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

Blazing Son

9st 7lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Bryan Smart

Seven-time winner who scored off 1lb higher over C&D in September; has been hit and miss since but he finished second here (7f) on his penultimate run and wasn't disgraced after an awkward start at Southwell last time; usually races prominently and he's not ruled out back at this track.

10/1

9/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 7175-7 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Prominent racer with three turf wins to his name, all at Hamilton on ground slower than good; should be sharper with last month's return to action behind him and a big run looks on the cards.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

(7)

20th Jun 2024

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

14:40 Ripon

Burj Malinka

9st 10lb

J: Paddy Mathers

T: Adrian Nicholls

led against near rail

11/2

3rd

11

(11)

6th Jun 2024

Good

0m 5f 7y

Class 5

14:55 Hamilton

Burj Malinka

9st 3lb

J: Paddy Mathers

T: Adrian Nicholls

Extended his run of creditable efforts last time, when he divided Huddle Up and Count d'Orsay at Carlisle; no problems with ground/track/trip and likely to give it his best shot again.

5/1

3rd

6

(9)

30th May 2024

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

17:55 Carlisle

Burj Malinka

10st 12lb

J: Mr Jack Nicholls

T: Adrian Nicholls

Back to winning form at Thirsk (6f, heavy) last month and has twice run well since, fourth of nine on ground that would have been quick enough at Beverley (5f) last time; considered under his promising amateur.

7/2

9/2

Form: 2-3664 C

Last run: 5 days

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
No problem with a stiff 6f and there have been several good runs since returning to AW last October; could prove better drawn today than has been the case of late and he's one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

(6)

20th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 50y

Class 5

16:12 Ayr

Novak

9st 3lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Beaten 13 times since last win at Newcastle (7f, AW) last September but close fifth of seven at Ayr (1m, good to firm) recently and he may appreciate the return to 7f; his mark continues to fall and he might not be far away.

15/2

5th

6

(6)

5th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:00 Ayr

Novak

9st 2lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Has done his winning over 6f/7f, the last five times on AW (hasn't scored on turf since 2023); kept mostly to Newcastle since last September; not the percentage call in this scenario.

12/1

10/1

Form: 960-75 C

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Slipping to a good mark and today's conditions shouldn't be an issue; not seen to best effect here last time and could go well if getting a strong pace to aim at.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(8)

8th Feb 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

17:00 Newcastle (AW)

Ballyare

9st 9lb

J: David Nolan

T: Lucinda Russell

One-time useful sprinter but his powers are on the wane; showed he could still cut it at this level when a close fourth over C&D last month but he'll need the pace to collapse if he's to end his barren spell.

8/1

7th

2

(8)

8th Feb 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

17:00 Newcastle (AW)

Ballyare

9st 9lb

J: David Nolan

T: Lucinda Russell

One-time useful sprinter but his powers are on the wane; showed he could still cut it at this level when a close fourth over C&D last month but he'll need the pace to collapse if he's to end his barren spell.

8/1

5th

7

(1)

18th Jan 2025

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 6

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Ballyare

9st 1lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Lucinda Russell

midfield

15/2

OUR TIP

4/1

Form: 111162 CD

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 11lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Began 2024 wth four 7f wins on Tapeta; flopped in his bid for a five-timer but this admirable 10yo was back on the up when second over 7f here last week; 2lb well in but this is his first 6f run since August 2019.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

9

(9)

20th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

Bobby Joe Leg

9st 1lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Ruth Carr

11-time course winner who defied this mark over C&D in December; some creditable efforts since but he has been a bit up and down and was only sixth behind Anthropologist here last time; others preferred.

16/1

6th

5

(9)

27th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

17:30 Newcastle (AW)

Bobby Joe Leg

9st 7lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

11-time course winner, the latest over C&D in December, and he twice finished placed over C&D last month; certainly of interest on that form but this 12yo has gone off the boil on his last two starts.

14/1

11th

1

(7)

14th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

18:00 Southwell (AW)

Bobby Joe Leg

9st 9lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Failed to fire at Newcastle last week but this veteran had run two fine races in defeat beforehand; fully effective at this track too so no great surprise were he to rebound quickly.

12/1

Form: /2212- BF

Last run: 190 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Steadily progressive for Chris Fairhurst, winning a 7f maiden at Redcar last summer before a good second in a Carlisle handicap six months ago; capable of better this year and interesting to see what the market makes of her on this stable debut; promise in two AW runs here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(1)

1st Nov 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

16:00 Newmarket

Vixey

9st 12lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Simon West

Four wins in a productive 2025, the latest over 7f (good) in September; good third of 21 at York (7f, good) three weeks ago; likely to go well again.

11/4

2

(1)

1st Nov 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

16:00 Newmarket

Vixey

9st 12lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Simon West

Four wins in a productive 2025, the latest over 7f (good) in September; good third of 21 at York (7f, good) three weeks ago; likely to go well again.

11/4

3rd

6

(3)

10th Oct 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:00 York

Vixey

9st 9lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Simon West

Won at Southwell (7f, AW) and Beverley (7.4f, good to firm) in the spring and has added two wins at Chester (7.5f/7f, good); she needs to transfer her recent improvement at unique Chester back to a regulation track but she's clearly thriving and her latest win has received a strong boost.

9/1

40/1

Form: 65008- D

Last run: 126 days

W: 8st 11lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
Could do little wrong in 2022, winning four times and recording an RPR of 91 at her best; bleak time of things last year though and she may need this return from four months off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

(6)

15th Sep 2024

Good

0m 7f 15y

Class 6

17:35 Musselburgh

Sound Of Iona

9st 7lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Jim Goldie

Only 12th at Ayr (6f) two runs back but running well otherwise and came from behind off a strong pace to win here last night over 5f; has the penalty but as big a worry is that she's 0-7 beyond 6f.

5/1

1st

4

(11)

14th Sep 2024

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 6

19:18 Musselburgh

Sound Of Iona

9st 6lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Jim Goldie

in touch with leaders, switched right 1f out, headway to lead inside final furlong, kept on

9/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £18.60
Straight Forecast £25.68
Tricast £203.24
Trifecta £151.80

Selections

The Times:

Nazca

Daily Mail:

Bobby Joe Leg

POSTDATA:

Novak

SPOTLIGHT:

Burj Malinka

The Sun:

Blazing Son

The Star:

Ballyare

Telegraph:

Novak

The Guardian:

Nazca

Daily Record:

Nazca

RP RATINGS:

Burj Malinka

D Express:

Bobby Joe Leg

Daily Mirror:

Bobby Joe Leg