December 21 / 17.30 Newcastle (AW)

17.30

Standard

Win £1M With BetMGM’s Golden Goals Handicap

  • Prize money: £4972.3
  • 1m 0f 5y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Win £1M With BetMGM’s Golden Goals Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Showers

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 146526 CD

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Three wins (AW/turf) for David O'Meara this year and he went close over C&D on final run for that yard; no impact here on recent stable debut but that was after a short break and he made some encouraging late headway; now drops back in grade and has claims if this sets up for his closing style.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(4)

5th Sep 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

14:20 Kempton (AW)

Nikovo

9st 6lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Michael Herrington

Consistent type who arrives on a high after coming from the rear to win convincingly off lower turf mark at Newmarket (7f) in July; 7lb higher here but he's just as effective at 1m and not ruled out.

8/1

1st

4

(9)

31st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

19:32 Newmarket (July)

Nikovo

9st 9lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Michael Herrington

In-form 7yo who has reached the frame in his last three runs including when third of 11 in a C&D handicap (good to firm) three weeks ago; finished ahead of Exposure in that race and he has each-way claims again.

4/1

3rd

5

(6)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

17:10 Newmarket (July)

Nikovo

9st 11lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Michael Herrington

Gained last three wins on Newcastle AW; ran respectably back there on latest start; has bits of encouraging turf form this term but it's over two years since his last success in this sphere.

8/1

8/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 472126 CD

Last run: 12 days

W: 8st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Prolific winner who scored over C&D last month and went very close on his return visit nine days later; didn't really pick up from off the pace here (sixth of 12) last time but he still looks on a workable mark and is not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

8

(2)

27th Aug 2026

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 5

14:00 Carlisle

Jewel Maker

10st 2lb

J: Miss Rebecca Burley

T: Tim Easterby

On the downgrade these days but his latest fourth of 13 at Musselburgh (1m, good) was a fair effort on Monday; will need more from the same mark but this stiffer test should suit.

10/1

4th

4

(4)

24th Aug 2026

Good

1m 0f 2y

Class 6

16:45 Musselburgh

Jewel Maker

9st 6lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

Generally struggled this season and the years look to be catching up now; an easy 1m such as this would have been a bare minimum even in his pomp and Thats My Boy Luke may be his yard's best chance.

12/1

6th

6

(5)

11th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 173y

Class 6

14:45 Carlisle

Jewel Maker

9st 6lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Tim Easterby

Veteran who is a dual winner (including over C&D) here but his recent form is not so encouraging, just seventh of 13 in 1m2f Newcastle handicap 17 days ago; needs to get back on track.

16/1

8/1

  • Place: £3.80

Form: -63756

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Kempton novice winner (7f) for the Crisfords as 2yo; hasn't built on a promising debut for this yard and cheekpieces didn't make a difference at Lingfield (sixth of seven) last time; mark continues to fall but he still has something to prove at this trip and others are more convincing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(3)

1st Sep 2026

Good

0m 6f 210y

Class 5

18:45 Brighton

Serenity Dream

10st 0lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Tony Carroll

Reliable 5yo who was too strong for Dion Baker here last month and now bids for a hat-trick off 4lb higher; solid chance.

6/4

1st

4

(6)

6th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 210y

Class 5

17:30 Brighton

Serenity Dream

9st 4lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Tony Carroll

Fairly reliable 5yo who kept on well for narrow success at Chepstow (6f, good to firm) three weeks ago; subsequent 2lb rise is manageable and this longer trip also suits; probably won't be far away.

3/1

1st

1

(1)

16th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 16y

Class 5

17:00 Chepstow

Serenity Dream

9st 9lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Tony Carroll

Won a 6f handicap at Kempton in January and he has run several good races since, notably a narrow defeat back at Kempton two weeks ago; Billy Loughnane retains the ride; as this 5yo showed at Ascot in May, he's a strong contender back on fast turf.

5/2

9/4

Form: 3-7152 D BF

Last run: 61 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Dual turf winner, who was well backed on AW debut at Southwell (1m, Tapeta) in October and he made a bold bid before finishing a close second; only 1lb higher after a short break and he should have more to offer in this sphere; key player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(8)

28th Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 80y

Class 5

14:35 Ffos Las

Lerwick

9st 10lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Mark Loughnane

Only 3-31 but won comfortably over C&D (good) earlier this month with a first-time eyeshield joining reapplied blinkers and that was from the same stall as today; back up 7lb but has coped with this mark in the past.

4/1

1st

1

(8)

4th Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 80y

Class 6

15:30 Ffos Las

Lerwick

10st 1lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Mark Loughnane

Both wins at around 1m when trained by Ed Bethell; his losing run is mounting up and a first-time eye-shield is now applied along with returning blinkers; now on a career-low mark but doesn't look ready to take advantage.

7/1

OUR TIP

9/2

Form: 242708 CD BF

Last run: 147 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Last two wins have been over C&D but he was a disappointing favourite here in his final run during the summer; has bit to prove after 147 days off but he's on a workable mark and has claims if he can get back near best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(8)

5th Sep 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

14:20 Kempton (AW)

Dingle

9st 2lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Julie Camacho

All seven wins have been on the AW, two of them over C&D, but his last three runs have been abysmal; perhaps he'll be freshened up by ten weeks off but he's difficult to recommend.

33/1

10th

7

(11)

25th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 5y

Class 2

15:47 Newcastle (AW)

Dingle

8st 10lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Julie Camacho

All seven wins have been on AW and latest was over C&D in January; found more progress when a close third off this mark at Lingfield (1m, Polytrack) in April but he's been tailed off back on turf in last two runs; now returns to scene of his last success but he needs to bounce back near best.

16/1

22th

7

(22)

15th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

13:45 York

Dingle

9st 9lb

J: David Egan

T: Julie Camacho

Seven-time AW scorer, mainly over 1m, most recently in January; latest effort (failed to beat a rival) took turf record to 0-16; enough to prove back over 7f for first time in five years.

33/1

Form: 141028 CD BF

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Won here (7f/1m) in two of his first three runs for David O'Meara; bounced back from a Doncaster blip when going close over C&D last month but he was disappointing over 7f here last time; still unexposed on AW but he's not easy to predict and needs to rebound again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

(8)

2nd Jun 2026

Good

1m 2f 5y

Class 5

16:48 Pontefract

The Cookstown Cafu

9st 4lb

J: Oisin McSweeney

T: Fionn McSharry

Campaigned only over 7f-1m; justified favouritism at Newcastle (AW) on seasonal debut, registering a first win since joining current yard; back up 5lb but remains well treated on peak form and he's 2-3 at Pontefract; should remain competitive, provided he stays the new trip.

5/1

1st

1

(10)

13th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

The Cookstown Cafu

9st 9lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: Fionn McSharry

Way down the weights now but hasn't won since October 2024 (C&D) and had a quiet end to last season.

14/1

Form: 50-428 D

Last run: 49 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Has had only one run on AW and that was a win at Wolverhampton in April 2022; long absence before his three runs this year, which include a close second at Leicester (7f, heavy) in October but a heavy defeat at Newmarket (1m, soft) last time; remains well treated on old form but he needs to bounce back again after that last run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(7)

30th Jun 2025

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:15 Ffos Las

Encourageable

10st 0lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Michael Appleby

Placed on stable debut at Yarmouth (1m, good to firm) in early May but two lesser efforts have followed and he remains without a win since 2022; raced too freely in a visor on latest outing; cheekpieces tried here.

14/1

6th

4

(2)

12th Jun 2025

Good

1m 0f 75y

Class 4

15:25 Nottingham

Encourageable

9st 7lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Michael Appleby

Losing run goes back to 2022; did make a positive start for new yard when third (A Major Payne fifth) at Yarmouth (1m, good to firm) last month but a subsequent no-show at Leicester needs forgiving; now sports a combination of a refitted tongue-tie and first-time visor.

12/1

6th

6

(7)

26th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 53y

Class 4

16:50 Leicester

Encourageable

9st 5lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Michael Appleby

Losing run goes back to 2022 but he has course form (7f) and new yard has inherited one who's dropped a long way in the weights; looked to be on the way back when third at Yarmouth (1m, good to firm) this month; good claims.

100/30

20/1

Form: -25490

Last run: 12 days

W: 8st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Won on handicap debut at Leicester (7f, good to firm) last August but he's had only five runs since and has been disappointing in last four; now only 1lb higher than for his win but he was beaten 14l over C&D on recent stable debut and others are preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

2

(3)

10th Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

16:45 Ayr

Royal Blaze

10st 1lb

J: David Nolan

T: Ewan Whillans

In-form 5yo who won twice over C&D last month (good/good to firm); probably doesn't have much margin for error after latest 4lb rise but ought to be on the premises again.

4/1

1st

1

(9)

27th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

17:20 Ayr

Royal Blaze

9st 9lb

J: Greg Fairley

T: Ewan Whillans

Triple turf winner who made it 2-2 over C&D when bouncing back with a comfortable success (good) three weeks ago; remains feasibly treated off only 3lb higher and he won't mind if the forecast rain arrives; key player.

4/1

1st

7

(1)

6th Jul 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

15:00 Ayr

Royal Blaze

9st 11lb

J: David Nolan

T: Ewan Whillans

Needs to rebound from a substandard AW run ten days ago but made the frame on two of three turf starts in the spring (both times over 1m1f) and this longer trip probably suits better; can't be ignored off current mark.

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £36.10
Straight Forecast £44.40
Tricast £668.70
Trifecta £360.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Lerwick

The Guardian:

Nikovo

TOPSPEED:

The Cookstown Cafu

NEWMARKET:

Encourageable

RP RATINGS:

Lerwick

The Times:

Lerwick

Telegraph:

Lerwick

Daily Mail:

Lerwick

D Express:

Lerwick

Daily Mirror:

Lerwick

The Star:

Lerwick

Daily Record:

Lerwick

The Sun:

Nikovo

POSTDATA:

The Cookstown Cafu