October 03 / 17.05 Newcastle (AW)

17.05

Standard

Arc Weekend On Sky Sports Racing Handicap

  • Prize money: £4972.3
  • 1m 4f 98y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Arc Weekend On Sky Sports Racing Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Mostly cloudy

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £29.20
  • Place: £6.70

Form: 320010 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Two wins in 1m4f handicaps at Kempton this year, the latest in August; well beaten last time at Southwell but this is less competitive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

(12)

31st Aug 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

15:35 Epsom

Damascus Steel

11st 3lb

J: Mr Fletcher Yarham

T: Gihan Arnolda

2-4 for new stable, winning at Goodwood (1m4f, good; cheekpieces first time) before getting the better Epictetus over C&D last month; came unstuck at York in his hat-trick bid and this looks a competitive race in which to get back on track.

20/1

8th

8

(3)

25th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 188y

Class 3

16:17 York

Damascus Steel

9st 1lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Gihan Arnolda

Represents a new trainer in excellent form and has won at Goodwood (1m4f, good) and Epsom (1m4f, good to firm) on his last two outings, proving himself better than ever; edging up the weights only gradually and in the mix again.

10/1

1st

4

(8)

16th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

19:30 Epsom

Damascus Steel

10st 6lb

J: Miss Becky Smith

T: Gihan Arnolda

Did well on AW last winter and even better form when the cheekpieces replaced a visor at Goodwood (1m4f, good) four weeks ago, leading over 1f out to score with rather more authority than the half-length winning margin suggests; used to act on good to firm; up 3lb but firmly in the picture.

5/1

7/1

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 700303 CD

Last run: 68 days

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Not the best of strike-rates; good third over C&D on latest start (Applier behind in fifth); back from a break; each-way chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

(8)

25th Oct 2024

Heavy

1m 4f 0y

Class 3

16:01 Newbury

Thundering

9st 6lb

J: Sam James

T: Kevin Ryan

Two wins from 24 starts; heavy defeats in four of seven races this term but also now placed in three of his last four; more to prove on soft or heavy.

8/1

2nd

5

(8)

3rd Oct 2024

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 4

17:05 Newcastle (AW)

Thundering

9st 10lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Kevin Ryan

held up in rear, smooth headway on outer over 2f out, led narrowly over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on

7/1

3rd
3 (4)
Appier

4/1

Form: 122553 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Has won on turf but last four wins have been on the AW, two over this C&D; creditable third at Lingfield (AW) last time when back from a short break; one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

(7)

29th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:20 Goodwood

Appier

9st 8lb

J: David Probert

T: Tony Carroll

Eleven wins include one over C&D (soft; equally effective on good to firm) on yard debut in June; back up 6lb but has won off slightly higher marks on the AW and his latest Sandown third, where he kept persevering, suggests he should be on the premises again.

10/1

3rd

1

(5)

24th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

18:20 Sandown

Appier

9st 9lb

J: Neil Callan

T: Tony Carroll

Career win number 11 when coming clear at Goodwood (1m6f, soft) on his debut for Tony Carroll; effective on faster ground and a 6lb rise might not stop him if he's turned a corner.

3/1

1st

8

(2)

12th Jun 2026

Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

18:39 Goodwood

Appier

9st 2lb

J: Neil Callan

T: Tony Carroll

Mainly seen on the AW these days, but he did win three times on turf as a 3yo; interesting to see how he fares in the market on debut for Tony Carroll (same owner).

10/1

Form: 595432 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Dual AW winner; in fair form on turf recently (second over 1m4f at Pontefract last time) and not without a chance on this switch to Tapeta.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

(8)

8th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 218y

Class 6

16:57 Redcar

Saratoga Gold

9st 13lb

J: William Pyle

T: Kevin & Lauren Frost

Began this season with two good efforts in May (1m4f/1m6f) and is well handicapped if judged on those but was soundly beaten on last two starts and comes here with a point to prove; blinkered last time; usual cheekpieces now refitted.

10/1

6th

2

(1)

4th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 6

19:30 Nottingham

Saratoga Gold

9st 8lb

J: William Pyle

T: Kevin & Lauren Frost

Winless in three years and has regressed for this yard; consisent run came to an end when below-par at Kempton a few weeks ago but he won't mind the return to turf off a career-low mark.

6/1

6th

4

(6)

10th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 5

17:08 Kempton (AW)

Saratoga Gold

9st 8lb

J: Matthew Lloyd Slater

T: Kevin & Lauren Frost

Multiple winner at up to 1m6f, including here but hasn't won for almost three years; even so, has been placed on five successive occasions and is capable of going close from this mark now back on this surface.

3/1

Form: 112

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced; won Lingfield maiden (1m2f, AW) and Windsor novice (1m2f, good to firm); creditable second of four on handicap debut over 1m4f at Kempton; unexposed; major player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

28th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 178y

Class 4

18:05 Sedgefield

Machete Beach

12st 2lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Won maiden/novice hurdles in May, both at around 2m on good ground; left poor run on handicap debut behind when runner-up at Uttoxeter last time (2m, good); one with a chance.

5/2

2nd

4

15th Jul 2026

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 4

15:48 Uttoxeter

Machete Beach

11st 6lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Back-to-back hurdle wins in May (2m-extended 2m2f) on good or quicker ground, but was most disappointing when a remote third of three on handicap debut at Stratford last month; that effort was too bad to be true and he's not ruled out if bouncing back.

3/1

3rd

1

16th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 3

15:50 Stratford

Machete Beach

11st 10lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Useful on the Flat in 2024 and a dual hurdle winner last month, latterly here (2m2f, good to firm); ought to make a bold bid from the front on this handicap hurdle debut.

15/8

Form: 3-3095 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Won twice on AW in the French provinces early last year and has since won twice on turf in France; bought for 54,000 euros in July; ran as though needing the race at Thirsk on stable debut; quite interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

30th Aug 2025

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 4

14:45 Newton Abbot

Haptics

11st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

Four Flat wins in France where he also pulled up only previous hurdle start; respectable Flat form for David O'Meara but has been below his best in that scene for current yard (two runs).

6/1

1

(2)

19th Aug 2025

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 5

20:40 Wolverhampton (AW)

Haptics

10st 2lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: James Owen

Four wins in France, two on the AW; failed to win in seven runs for David O'Meara, best effort when runner-up at Hamilton in June (1m5f, good); tailed off at Chepstow this month on stable debut (1m4f, good to soft; 22-1); cheekpieces are now tried; best watched.

7/1

12th

8

(4)

7th Aug 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 3

20:00 Chepstow

Haptics

8st 13lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: James Owen

Four French wins (10.5f-1m4f) but failed to win in seven attempts for David O'Meara, the latest when fourth of five at Hamilton three weeks ago; has joined another stable which does really well with new recruits but others arrives with more pressing claims.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 902-96 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Both wins have been at Wolverhampton and best of his more recent form has been on the dirt at Meydan (runner-up over 1m3f there in December when visored); off 249 days before latest start; cheekpieces back on here; chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(1)

3rd Oct 2024

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 4

17:05 Newcastle (AW)

Big Team

10st 4lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Saeed bin Suroor

Both wins have been at Wolverhampton and best of his more recent form has been on the dirt at Meydan (runner-up over 1m3f there in December when visored); off 249 days before latest start; cheekpieces back on here; chance.

5/1

6th

2

(6)

17th Sep 2024

Good To Firm

1m 2f 1y

Class 4

16:43 Redcar

Big Team

9st 13lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Saeed bin Suroor

Godolphin runner who is well treated on the pick of his Tapeta/dirt form; lacks recent match practice and has something to prove back on turf but market confidence should be heeded.

9/1

Non-runners

Furzig

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £147.90
Straight Forecast £124.98
Tricast £648.14
Trifecta £504.50

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Appier

SPOTLIGHT:

Machete Beach

RP RATINGS:

Thundering

Daily Mail:

Machete Beach

D Express:

Machete Beach

The Star:

Machete Beach

Daily Record:

Machete Beach

Daily Mirror:

Thundering

The Sun:

Thundering

POSTDATA:

Appier

NEWMARKET:

Appier

The Times:

Appier

Telegraph:

Appier

The Guardian:

Appier