October 28 / 15.35 Newcastle (AW)

15.35

Standard To Slow

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  • Prize money: £3716.14
  • 2m 0f 56y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
SKY
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Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 562182 C BF

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 4lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Successful at this level on turf in August but latest effort (below-par favourite in 12.5f seller) tempers enthusiasm and he has never won beyond 1m6f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

(2)

31st May 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

16:25 Nottingham

Bulldog Spirit

9st 6lb

J: Harry Vigors

T: Bernard Llewellyn

Scored over C&D last May for Brian Ellison; yet to fire for his new yard in handicaps at Wolverhampton (1m4f) and Lingfield (2m) this spring though.

14/1

5th

4

(1)

12th May 2026

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 5

17:15 Lingfield (AW)

Bulldog Spirit

9st 10lb

J: Shay Farmer

T: Bernard Llewellyn

A fair 1m6f scorer for Brian Ellison in 2025; beat only one for his new handler after seven months off in 1m4f handicap at Wolverhampton last month; needs to take a big step forward.

16/1

6th

7

(3)

4th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 4

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Bulldog Spirit

8st 10lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Bernard Llewellyn

Debuts for a fourth yard having been picked up from Brian Ellison last autumn for 7,500gns; won first time out as a 2yo and on his comeback last spring, which gives hope, but there's not much room for manoeuvre off this mark.

20/1

Form: 2-4567

Last run: 39 days

W: 10st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner; ran encouragingly on Flat debut but has failed to progress, latterly in handicaps; another 3lb drop may enable a bigger effort, admittedly.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(5)

31st May 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

16:25 Nottingham

Little Peter

9st 6lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: John Berry

A fair 2m winner at his best but he came in last in 2m Newcastle handicap in December; won a point last month though so is no forlorn hope.

14/1

6th

5

(3)

9th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 7f 209y

Class 4

17:10 Ascot

Little Peter

9st 5lb

J: Harry Burns

T: John Berry

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, weakened over 1f out

10/1

6th

5

(3)

9th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 7f 209y

Class 4

17:10 Ascot

Little Peter

9st 5lb

J: Harry Burns

T: John Berry

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, weakened over 1f out

10/1

Form: 255225

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Still a maiden on the Flat but has some encouraging form for current yard and soft ground was a possible excuse last time; creditable second off this mark over C&D in early September; could go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

(1)

19th Feb 2026

2m 0f 57y

Class 3

17:00 Newcastle (AW)

Weddell Sea

8st 12lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Mike Sowersby

Three Class 5 C&D wins, the latest by a nose on penultimate start; ran respectably in a Class 2 C&D contest (fourth, 16-1) latest; likely to give his best, although others make more appeal.

12/1

4th

11

(7)

16th Jan 2026

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

14:15 Newcastle (AW)

Weddell Sea

8st 2lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Mike Sowersby

Behind New York Minute at Southwell before edging home in a Class 5 over C&D; will do well to follow up in this higher grade.

20/1

Form: 936764

Last run: 90 days

W: 9st 12lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Still seeking first Flat win but is favourably treated on 2024 spring form which included third-place finishes off 6lb higher on AW; returns from three-month break and gets another change of headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

25th Aug 2025

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

14:55 Cartmel

Star Legend

11st 2lb

J: Nathan Howie

T: James Owen

Has been running well under both codes for most of this year and was clear of the rest behind a lightly raced winner at Worcester a month ago (2m7f, good); just 3lb higher.

2/1

2

24th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

17:17 Worcester

Star Legend

12st 0lb

J: Mr Conal Kavanagh

T: James Owen

Won three in a row on the Flat in the spring (1m6f-2m) and was placed over hurdles on next two outings (2m/2m2f); has won over 2m7f before and could plausibly still have untapped potential as a stayer over jumps.

9/2

5th

2

(6)

9th Jul 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 4

19:20 Kempton (AW)

Star Legend

9st 8lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: James Owen

Completed Flat hat-trick when winning by a neck at Lingfield (2m, Polytrack) on June 5; solid efforts when third over hurdles the next twice and he has to be respected off a mark just 2lb higher than at Lingfield.

9/2

Form: /90006

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Two turf wins in 2022 for previous yard; not solid on 2024 form but showed a glimmer of promise here (12.5f) last time with regard to another rise in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

5

(6)

28th Oct 2024

Standard To Slow

2m 0f 56y

Class 5

15:35 Newcastle (AW)

Sound Pressure

9st 10lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Sam England

in touch with leaders, weakened 4f out, tailed off

25/1

Form: 752444 CD

Last run: 44 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 60

Form & Verdict
Consistent efforts on turf of late and shaped better than bare result on hurdles debut most recently; has form figures of 231221 in 2m events on AW, including here; solid chance returned to this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(4)

30th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 189y

Class 6

15:35 Catterick

Zephlyn

9st 7lb

J: Greg Fairley

T: Ewan Whillans

In good form on the Flat this time last year, following up 2m win at Newcastle by winning twice over this C&D in May (good/good to firm); not been in top form on AW this year, but better run over hurdles last time; 5lb lower than last Flat win and is one with a chance.

9/2

4th

1

24th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:25 Perth

Zephlyn

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Ewan Whillans

Easily best effort in four maiden/novice hurdles last season when second at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft); did manage back-to-back wins over 2m on the Flat at Catterick last May but more recent AW Flat efforts have been no more than respectable.

11/1

Form: 473212 CD

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Steadily improving 3yo who has form figures of 3212 (all at Newcastle) since wearing visor and upped to 2m, good second off just 1lb lower most recently (Catalan King only fifth but had a plausible excuse); may rate higher still in these circumstances; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

(4)

12th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 7f 189y

Class 5

14:47 Catterick

Unique Spirit

9st 8lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: R Mike Smith

A break may have helped and he's just 1lb higher than when winning at Newcastle (2m, AW) last October; however, he was down the field there in December on his first two runs for this yard; something to prove on return.

20/1

7th

4

(4)

12th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 7f 189y

Class 5

14:47 Catterick

Unique Spirit

9st 8lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: R Mike Smith

towards rear

20/1

7th

8

(8)

20th Dec 2024

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 4

15:27 Southwell (AW)

Unique Spirit

8st 12lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: R Mike Smith

Record of 32123 over 2m at Newcastle in his final five runs for D O'Meara; struggled on recent stable debut but the drop back to 1m4f was against him and he now takes a big step back up in trip; has claims if he can recapture his spark and he's not ruled out; visor the headgear of choice today.

16/1

Form: -75464

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 58

Form & Verdict
Successful on Flat and over hurdles in Ireland; 0-11 for current stable but ran with some promise over 12.5f here most recently while leaving the impression this step back up in distance will suit; that race is working out well and he's on a very attractive mark; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

(1)

25th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

17:30 Newcastle (AW)

Flying Scotsman

9st 8lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Ben Haslam

Scored over C&D in January off just 1lb lower; absent since a heavy defeat over hurdles in May but the January win came after a 95-day break; visor the headgear of choice today; more appealing than many.

4/1

1

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

18:40 Cartmel

Flying Scotsman

12st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Seen only once over hurdles since 2023, when pulled up last summer, and his AW win in January came in a low-grade handicap; needs to prove he can still be competitive off a mark this high over jumps.

20/1

1

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

18:40 Cartmel

Flying Scotsman

12st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Seen only once over hurdles since 2023, when pulled up last summer, and his AW win in January came in a low-grade handicap; needs to prove he can still be competitive off a mark this high over jumps.

20/1

Form: 58825 BF

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Unexposed 3yo who has started favourite in both handicap attempts, close second under hold-up tactics at Ayr (1m7f) then less effective when switched to front-running over C&D (finished behind Unique Spirit); best to forgive the latest effort and he remains of interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

2nd Nov 2025

Good

2m 3f 137y

Class 5

15:30 Huntingdon

Catalan King

10st 11lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Alex Hales

Six-race maiden on Flat and a beaten long way in three starts over hurdles; up in trip for his handicap debut after nine months off and major improvement is needed.

25/1

10

2nd Nov 2025

Good

2m 3f 137y

Class 5

15:30 Huntingdon

Catalan King

10st 11lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Alex Hales

Six-race maiden on Flat and a beaten long way in three starts over hurdles; up in trip for his handicap debut after nine months off and major improvement is needed.

25/1

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Unique Spirit

The Times:

Catalan King

SPOTLIGHT:

Flying Scotsman

NEWMARKET:

Little Peter

Daily Mail:

Zephlyn

Daily Mirror:

Weddell Sea

The Guardian:

Catalan King

The Star:

Catalan King

POSTDATA:

Unique Spirit

Telegraph:

Unique Spirit

The Sun:

Unique Spirit

Daily Record:

Unique Spirit

D Express:

Flying Scotsman