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

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

1st

6

(6)

19th Jun 2026

Good

1m 3f 218y

Class 4

18:55 Goodwood

Damascus Steel

9st 1lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Gihan Arnolda

Two 1m4f AW wins for Denis Quinn in the winter and a respectable fifth at Lingfield (1m4f, AW) in April on sole starts for John Ryan; left the impression he's still in form at Thirsk 19 days ago on his first start for this yard and cheekpieces now go on.

14/1

6th

10

(3)

31st May 2026

Good

1m 4f 8y

Class 4

17:15 Thirsk

Damascus Steel

8st 11lb

J: William Carson

T: Gihan Arnolda

Two 1m4f AW wins last winter for Denis Quinn and respectable fifth of 15 at Lingfield (1m4f, AW) last month on sole run for John Ryan; however, it's a long time since he ran well on turf and has something to prove back on grass; stable debut.

12/1

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

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

6th

5

(5)

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:45 Goodwood

Appier

9st 1lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: Richard J Bandey

Recorded his tenth win when scoring at Wolverhampton (2m, Tapeta) in January; held his form with creditable efforts in next three starts but his good spell came to a halt at Lingfield last month; has bit to prove again after that heavy defeat and his last turf win was in 2022.

10/1

13th

10

(11)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

14:05 Lingfield (AW)

Appier

9st 5lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Richard J Bandey

Three course wins have come over 1m4f, but he has won over this sort of trip elsewhere; finished half a length behind St Faz when third of four at Southwell (1m6f, Tapeta) and now 11lb better off; each-way claims.

18/1

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

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

2nd

5

(5)

20th May 2026

Good To Soft

1m 6f 17y

Class 5

19:10 Yarmouth

Saratoga Gold

9st 5lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Kevin Frost

Losing run stretches back to July 2023 but he ended 2025 in good form and his reappearance at Doncaster (1m4f, good to firm) 18 days ago was a positive one; stepping back up in distance is a positive but he could do with the ground drying out.

5/1

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

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

1st

1

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 2f 148y

Class 4

17:50 Stratford

Machete Beach

11st 7lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Lightly raced 5yo who scored twice on Flat over 1m2f in 2024 for Harry Charlton; returned from a 359-day break to open his account over hurdles in a weak Hereford maiden (2m, good) 25 days ago; has clearly had issues but possesses plenty of talent and should go close.

7/4

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