January 01 / 16.10 Newcastle (AW)

16.10

Standard

BetMGM: It’s Showtime Handicap

  • Prize money: £13189.68
  • 1m 0f 5y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
BetMGM: It’s Showtime Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Sleet

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £2.40

Form: 32333- C

Last run: 60 days

W: 8st 6lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
0-6 since debut success but is proving very consistent; ran creditably off this mark at Southwell (1m) most recently, taking handicap form figures to 32333; again likely to give his running.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(2)

1st May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

17:30 Ascot

Storm Star

10st 0lb

J: Alfie Redman

T: Andrew Balding

All four wins have been on the AW at Newcastle, including a hat-trick early last year; back on his last winning mark and he did chase a strong pace last time (in a race he won 12 months earlier) before folding late on; lightly raced on turf.

8/1

10th

7

(6)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 2

15:00 Newcastle (AW)

Storm Star

9st 1lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Andrew Balding

He was completing a C&D hat-trick when winning the corresponding race 12 months ago off a 3lb lower mark; not at his best in two runs this year (following a gelding operation) and he needs to raise his game.

12/1

6th

4

(1)

7th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 1

19:30 Southwell (AW)

Storm Star

9st 2lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Andrew Balding

Three 1m wins at Newcastle last year, including the 1m handicap on Good Friday; disappointing finishing effort when sixth behind Witch Hunter back there three weeks ago; needs to raise his game upped in class.

12/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 43941- CD

Last run: 26 days

W: 8st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Only 1-12 on turf; however, proved suited by the switch to AW in C&D contest last month (scored by a neck for career-best performance) and could well have more to offer in this sphere; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(15)

2nd May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 218y

Class 2

14:40 Thirsk

Apiarist

9st 7lb

J: Jack Callan

T: Kevin Ryan

Three fine efforts on AW to start the year but his run of good form came to a halt when well behind Blue Rc at Newcastle over Easter; acts on turf but has a much better strike-rate on AW; drawn widest.

20/1

12th

6

(1)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 2

15:00 Newcastle (AW)

Apiarist

9st 2lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Kevin Ryan

Finished a good third in this race 12 months ago when rated 2lb lower; arrives in good form, having beaten Popmaster at Lingfield (1m) before a good third at Kempton (7f) 16 days ago; chance if stall 1 proves no hindrance.

10/1

3rd

4

(3)

18th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

18:30 Kempton (AW)

Apiarist

9st 4lb

J: Jack Callan

T: Kevin Ryan

Beat very good yardstick in Popmaster for fourth AW win from just eight tries at Lingfield 19 days ago (1m; ridden by Jack Callan for the first time); up just 3lb, and no issue with this shorter trip, but he's never been to Kempton and trainer is just 1-14 here last five years.

3/1

4/1

Form: 60023-

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Creditable efforts over 1m at Kempton (handicap/Listed) since returned to AW; however, bit to prove back at Newcastle (below par sole run here) and still seeking first win beyond 7f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

7

(2)

9th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

14:20 Ascot

Popmaster

9st 7lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Ed Walker

Campaigned on AW since December, proving consistent until coming up a tad short on finals day last time; has loads of Ascot form but three defeats in this race (finishing positions 074) suggest he can be opposed, especially now aged eight.

33/1

7th

4

(2)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 2

15:00 Newcastle (AW)

Popmaster

9st 2lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: Ed Walker

Arrives in fine form, beating The Lost King at Kempton in February and runner-up on his two runs since; sneaking back up the weights and he was only fifth in this race 12 months ago off today's mark.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: /2260- D

Last run: 230 days

W: 9st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
0-7 for current yard but finished second off 2lb higher in this corresponding race last year; changed ownership since last run; fighting chance provided he's in top form on return from layoff.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

2

(10)

18th Apr 2025

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 2

15:00 Newcastle (AW)

Symbol Of Light

9st 9lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Julie Camacho

Belatedly back in winning form the last twice, readily beating Cracking Gold at Southwell (1m) then holding on narrowly in notable handicap at Wolverhampton (8.5f); looks better than ever.

14/1

10th

2

(10)

18th Apr 2025

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 2

15:00 Newcastle (AW)

Symbol Of Light

9st 9lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Julie Camacho

Belatedly back in winning form the last twice, readily beating Cracking Gold at Southwell (1m) then holding on narrowly in notable handicap at Wolverhampton (8.5f); looks better than ever.

14/1

1st

2

(10)

8th Mar 2025

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 2

14:45 Wolverhampton (AW)

Symbol Of Light

9st 11lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Julie Camacho

dwelt start, midfield, raced wide and rushed up to lead after 3f

6/1

Form: 80166- D

Last run: 20 days

W: 8st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Regained the winning thread on turf in October; 0-5 on AW but ran respectably (beaten only 2l) at Chelmsford last month; however, doesn't look the percentage call in this field.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(1)

4th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

16:42 Wetherby

Empirestateofmind

9st 7lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

Prolific winner at 1m-1m1f on good or slower; inconsistent this season but has slipped to a workable mark and, if in the same form as at Ripon on penultimate start, he could have a say.

10/1

11th

13

(5)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 218y

Class 3

16:47 Thirsk

Empirestateofmind

8st 13lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

Multiple wins at 1m and 1m1f (good or softer) include two over C&D; quite favourably treated now and he was a very respectable fourth at Ripon recently, when just behind a subsequent winner; needs a bit more here.

16/1

4th

2

(6)

16th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:25 Ripon

Empirestateofmind

9st 12lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: John & Sean Quinn

Two wins last year (1m/1m1f, good/soft); the last of them came in a seller and he was well beaten on last month's reappearance at Doncaster, but that was the competitive Spring Mile and he may have needed the run; won this in 2022 and he's not discounted off a handy mark.

10/1

7/4

Form: 1/11- D

Last run: 50 days

W: 8st 12lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Made all and held on narrowly in Southwell handicap (upped to 1m) last time, taking record to 3-3 (all on AW); upped further in class but looks open to further progress and is a must for the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

(3)

20th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 50y

Class 5

16:42 Ayr

Qazaq

9st 6lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Iain Jardine

0-15 since winning his first three starts; however, he went close at Musselburgh (7f, good) two starts ago despite trouble in running and was again denied a clear run when sixth there (7f, good) last time; could be in the mix if getting the breaks.

5/1

6th

7

(10)

29th Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 15y

Class 5

15:50 Musselburgh

Qazaq

9st 1lb

J: Greg Fairley

T: Iain Jardine

Drawn a blank since winning first three starts for Roger Varian but surely would have put that right over C&D (good) last time with more luck in running, going down by only a head despite being repeatedly denied a run in the penultimate furlong; might need the breaks if he's dropped in from the outside stall but still has to be high on the list.

4/1

2nd

12

(1)

12th Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 15y

Class 4

18:15 Musselburgh

Qazaq

8st 11lb

J: Greg Fairley

T: Iain Jardine

Won his first three starts over 7f/1m on the AW for Roger Varian, but placed just once in 13 outings since; 24lb lower than when last on turf, but he still has plenty to prove.

16/1

7/1

Form: 13045- C

Last run: 20 days

W: 8st 11lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Tough sort; has done his winning over 6f/7f but ran creditably (beaten just under 2l) upped to 1m at Chelmsford most recently; however, bit to prove over this stiffer test at the trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

(9)

6th May 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Blue Prince

9st 7lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: David Evans

Only won one of his last 25 starts and regressed last year; now 11lb lower than when beaten a nose over C&D last spring but there's nothing to suggest he's best caught fresh; others have more pressing claims.

16/1

1

(8)

3rd Oct 2025

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 4

18:45 Southwell (AW)

Blue Prince

9st 13lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: David Evans

Struggled on his last four starts but he has dropped 9lb as a result; fully effective around here and he's likely to bounce back soon; 7f perhaps his optimum trip though.

16/1

11

(3)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:25 Newbury

Blue Prince

9st 3lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: David Evans

Defied a higher mark at Glorious Goodwood last season and placed a few times on AW this year (up to April); not in top form since returning from a break and needs to stage a revival.

25/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.60
Straight Forecast £14.36
Trifecta £58.10

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Qazaq

SPOTLIGHT:

Apiarist

TOPSPEED:

Storm Star

POSTDATA:

Storm Star

The Times:

Qazaq

The Guardian:

Qazaq

D Express:

Qazaq

Daily Mirror:

Qazaq

The Sun:

Qazaq

The Star:

Qazaq

Daily Record:

Qazaq

Telegraph:

Apiarist

Daily Mail:

Apiarist