March 26 / 16.05 Newcastle

16.05

Soft

quinnbet.com Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5650.67
  • 2m 4f 62y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
SKY
View Course
quinnbet.com Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

15/2 (Won)

  • Win: £6.10
  • Place: £2.50

Form: 534417 CD

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
In first-time tongue-tie/cheekpieces combination when beating three rivals over 2m3f at Carlisle (heavy) but he was a weakener when the visor was added at Kelso; takes on progressive opposition here and may struggle.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

14:15 Carlisle

Raffertys Return

11st 4lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Defied much higher marks twice, including over C&D, a couple of years ago; has failed to repeat the form since and ran particularly poorly last time.

16/1

10th

4

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 88y

Class 5

13:50 Doncaster

Raffertys Return

11st 13lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Rebecca Menzies

Five-time hurdle winner who continues to drop down the weights; however, it's a long time since this 11yo has been competitive.

33/1

7th

8

3rd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 4

15:35 Carlisle

Raffertys Return

11st 2lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Five-time winner, including over 2m3f here; hasn't been at his best in two runs this season and probably best watched in what looks a competitive event.

50/1

5/2

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 1-4122 D BF

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Ex-French; won easily at Lingfield (2m3f, good to soft) on second stable start and at least as good when runner-up to a well-handicapped horse at Kempton (2m5f, soft); strong form claims and he's Harry Derham's only runner on the card.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

16

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

15:30 Aintree

Joker De Mai

12st 0lb

J: Mr R James

T: Clive Boultbee-Brooks

7-1 when early faller at the Chair in this last year; this 7yo was an eye-catching third at Ludlow in February on penultimate start, having been hampered, but needs to step up on this season's handicap form if he's to threaten.

20/1

3rd

2

20th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

15:05 Warwick

Joker De Mai

11st 7lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Clive Boultbee-Brooks

Returned to form when finishing third at Ludlow (2m4f, soft) recently, when back up in trip on his third start for this yard; he came clear with two progressive opponents last time, despite being hampered in the back straight, and could have a big part to play today.

5/2

3rd

2

4th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 3

14:58 Ludlow

Joker De Mai

11st 13lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Clive Boultbee-Brooks

Won a hunter chase under former owner David Maxwell in March; sold for £90,000 in October; his quiet stable debut was at Cheltenham and he showed more at Newbury when about 11l off the winner (2m); returning to slower ground over further could be beneficial; respected.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 8-U3P6 C

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Has dropped to a good mark but he's been below par over fences this season and returning to hurdles failed to reignite the fire here last time; this is no easy race in which to rediscover some form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

17th Sep 2025

Good

2m 1f 14y

Class 3

18:30 Kelso

Pay The Piper

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Ann Hamilton

Won this 12 months ago on his reappearance when 4lb lower and then finished a 2l second to Primoz at Wetherby, the form of which could be reversed on these more favourable terms; consistent and should have every chance.

3/1

2nd

1

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:48 Perth

Pay The Piper

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ann Hamilton

Has consistent form figures and should give his running but this 10yo may have to settle for a supporting role off top weight; returns to fences after two runs over hurdles.

6/1

2nd

1

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:48 Perth

Pay The Piper

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ann Hamilton

Has consistent form figures and should give his running but this 10yo may have to settle for a supporting role off top weight; returns to fences after two runs over hurdles.

6/1

Form: 113 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Point and dual hurdle winner (narrowly; 2m4f, heavy; 2m5f, soft); had wind surgery prior to finishing a remote third in a Grade 2 at Haydock (3m; raced freely and didn't get home in the new tongue-tie); remains of interest; handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 2

15:10 Perth

Inox Allen

10st 7lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Easily made all in first-time visor over C&D (good to soft) last April; hard to fancy on his three runs this term but, given his previous reaction to new headgear, it's possible cheekpieces will garner a positive response.

9/1

7th

2

31st Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 3

16:11 Musselburgh

Inox Allen

11st 6lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Easily made all in first-time visor (retained since) at Perth (2m4f, good to soft) last April and he stays this far; however, pulled up/tailed off on his two outings this season and needs to turn things around.

14/1

Form: 33512F D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Won a Catterick novice (2m3f, good to soft) and then clear second on handicap debut at Doncaster (good); going the right way and he fell early when 16-1 for a strong Grade 2 at Kelso this month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

12th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 3

16:13 Wetherby

Rich Spirit

11st 1lb

J: Jack Power

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Fell twice in three chase starts and well held in the other; offered little on return to hurdling here 11 days ago.

25/1

13th

11

1st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 3

14:43 Wetherby

Rich Spirit

11st 4lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

midfield

16/1

13th

11

1st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 3

14:43 Wetherby

Rich Spirit

11st 4lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

midfield

16/1

Form: 3-1114 BF

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Completed a hat-trick over hurdles in a Listed race at Sandown (2m, heavy) and his handicap debut effort at Carlisle (2m3f, heavy; 5-6f) was too bad to be true; no surprise should he bounce back from that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

18

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Booster Bob

10st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Held by Madara and Will The Wise but running well when falling at final fence in the Plate at Cheltenham (2m4f, good to soft) last month; two wins during a progressive 2025 (2m4f/2m6f, soft/good to soft); each-way shout.

16/1

10

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 44y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Booster Bob

11st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Has a useful jumps strike-rate and a Newbury chase win (about 2m6f, good to soft) in November showed he was still improving; a 9lb rise appeared beyond him on the New course since but he travelled strongly for a long way and may yet show he hasn't exhausted the handicapping options.

14/1

5th

4

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

13:15 Cheltenham

Booster Bob

11st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Tends to finish strongly from off the pace and posted another personal best when winning at Newbury (2m6f, good to soft) at the end of November; a 9lb rise means he'll need another leap forward but he keeps progressing and it's certainly possible.

7/2

Non-runners

Impulsive One, Nab Wood

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.30
Straight Forecast £15.33
Tricast £231.13
Trifecta £145.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Joker De Mai

The Star:

Inox Allen

POSTDATA:

Rafferty's Return

Daily Mail:

Nab Wood

Daily Mirror:

Rich Spirit

Daily Record:

Inox Allen

RP RATINGS:

Joker De Mai

TOPSPEED:

Joker De Mai

LAMBOURN:

Joker De Mai

The Times:

Joker De Mai

Telegraph:

Joker De Mai

The Guardian:

Joker De Mai

D Express:

Joker De Mai