January 16 / 14.45 Newcastle

14.45

Good To Soft

Download The At The Races App Handicap Hurdle (Go North Cab On Target Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £3247.81
  • 2m 4f 62y
  • Class 5
  • 10 runners
SKY
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Download The At The Races App Handicap Hurdle (Go North Cab On Target Series Qualifier)

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £14.70
  • Place: £2.50

Form: /0F/16

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 9lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Won a Southwell maiden hurdle on stable debut in May (2m, good); never featured when fair sixth in a 2m4f handicap on same track last month; others stronger.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

2

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:35 Newcastle

Aquitaine Boy

11st 11lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ruth Jefferson

Has a patchy profile but he got hampered when unseating over C&D last month and is now only 2lb higher than when winning this race (good to soft) last year; that was a brave success and he's a player if he can recapture that form.

10/1

4th

5

20th Apr 2025

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 5

16:20 Market Rasen

Aquitaine Boy

11st 8lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Ruth Jefferson

raced in third

5/1

4th

5

20th Apr 2025

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 5

16:20 Market Rasen

Aquitaine Boy

11st 8lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Ruth Jefferson

raced in third

5/1

8/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 8P03P2 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Won twice over 2m4f at Perth in 2023 (good/soft); mixed form since but fair run when second at Sedgefield on Boxing Day (2m4f, good to soft) and worth considering.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

2nd Jul 2026

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

17:00 Perth

Prince Nino

10st 10lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Had tumbled down the weights, with no win since September 2023, until springing a 66-1 surprise over 2m4f here (good to soft) in May; retains handicapping scope from this mark (5lb higher) but it remains to be seen if he's in the same fettle over 3m; chance.

7/2

1st

10

13th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:55 Perth

Prince Nino

10st 3lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Dual C&D winner in 2023 and is considerably lower in the weights now; raced lazily, tailed off, in a division of this last year (good; 5-1); missing from action since so it's tough to know how he'll fare; market check advised.

25/1

11/4

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 094-11 C

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Two out of two this season, winning over 2m1f here (good to soft) and 2m at Wetherby (good to soft); has gone up 12lb (3lb higher than last time) but shapes as though a return to this trip will suit and should go well again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

18th Mar 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:00 Wetherby

Mister Smarty

11st 7lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Tina Jackson

held up in rear, headway after 4 out, outpaced after 3 out, kept on

11/4

2nd

8

22nd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 5

17:05 Newcastle

Mister Smarty

11st 2lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Tina Jackson

His defeat of Double Oban at Wetherby on Boxing Day now reads really well and he's since finished right on the scene in two visits here; remains on a good mark and has a lot less to prove than many of these; trip/ground ideal.

11/4

3rd

10

13th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 5

14:15 Newcastle

Mister Smarty

10st 10lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Tina Jackson

held up in rear

6/1

Form: -0P065

Last run: 30 days

W: 10st 12lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Placed in a couple of soft-ground handicaps with a visor on last season (2m3f/2m2f); best of her recent efforts came with cheekpieces in a mares' handicap at Catterick last time (2m3f, good) last time; more needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

5th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

15:35 Sedgefield

Bridgetjoans

10st 12lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Simon Waugh

held up in midfield, went remote fourth run-in

7/2

4th

7

5th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

15:35 Sedgefield

Bridgetjoans

10st 12lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Simon Waugh

held up in midfield, went remote fourth run-in

7/2

4th

12

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:45 Newcastle

Bridgetjoans

10st 12lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Simon Waugh

in touch with leaders

9/1

Form: 730

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish; just over 18l third in a Kempton novice in November (2m, good); not so good next time; tongue-tie tried; shapes as though 2m4f will suit and he's an interesting contender on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

18th Mar 2026

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

14:15 Huntingdon

Call Your Bluff

10st 13lb

J: Cameron Johnstone-Baker

T: Emma Lavelle

0-8 but he's dropped 11lb since tackling handicaps and took steps forward on last two starts when third of 11 at Hereford (3m2f, soft) and second of nine at Doncaster (extended 3m, good to soft); ridden all season by Cameron Johnstone-Baker; again in serious each-way contention.

7/2

2nd

7

5th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 5

12:40 Doncaster

Call Your Bluff

11st 2lb

J: Cameron Johnstone-Baker

T: Emma Lavelle

0-7 but he's dropped 11lb since tackling handicaps and took a step forward when third of 11 at Hereford (3m1f, soft) in December, having been upped in trip; could be involved.

5/2

Form: 4P0-0P D

Last run: 240 days

W: 10st 11lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Won a Hexham handicap hurdle in April 2023 (2m4f, soft); mainly disappointing since (second run over fences last time); plenty to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

5th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 149y

Class 5

12:55 Newcastle

Noble Affair

10st 13lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Jane Walton

in touch with leaders on inner, prominent 3rd, lost position before 3 out, weakened from 2 out

9/1

4th

7

5th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 149y

Class 5

12:55 Newcastle

Noble Affair

10st 13lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Jane Walton

in touch with leaders on inner, prominent 3rd

9/1

7th

11

25th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

14:20 Hexham

Noble Affair

10st 5lb

J: William Maggs

T: Jane Walton

led

14/1

20/1

Form: 038P4U

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
0-15 over hurdles; these conditions suit and he has run well enough on occasions to suggest he could go well here; unseated rider when ducking left last time (a hood is now tried); lacks consistency.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

16th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 5

15:00 Musselburgh

Agilulf

11st 3lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Adam Nicol

Longstanding maiden who was soundly beaten at Newcastle last time in a first-time hood (retained); however, he's run pretty well on both previous visits to Musselburgh and the tongue-tie is back on today, which he wore when a fair fourth over C&D (good to soft) in November; interesting contender.

8/1

7th

7

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:45 Newcastle

Agilulf

11st 1lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Adam Nicol

in touch with leaders

20/1

7th

7

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:45 Newcastle

Agilulf

11st 1lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Adam Nicol

in touch with leaders, mistake 5th

20/1

Form: 226446

Last run: 59 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Ex-Fergal O'Brien; point winner; yet to win over hurdles but was runner-up in three handicaps at up to 2m7f last year; not in quite such good form since (over fences last two outings); stable debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

5

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:45 Newcastle

Faha Belle

11st 6lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

prominent

11/1

8th

5

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:45 Newcastle

Faha Belle

11st 6lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

prominent, not fluent 5th

11/1

Form: 860P3-

Last run: 344 days

W: 11st 2lb

12 yo Mare

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Veteran; good third at Sedgefield (3m3f, soft) in February last year; absent since and perhaps best watched for now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

6th Jun 2025

Good

2m 7f 32y

Class 5

16:40 Bangor-on-Dee

On We Go

10st 7lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Gillian Boanas

Five-time hurdle winner but not since February 2023; hinted at possible return to form when third at Carlisle (3m1f, good) in April but didn't build on that performance last time; not the percentage call.

25/1

5th

9

3rd May 2025

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

19:40 Hexham

On We Go

10st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Gillian Boanas

On long losing run but she showed signs of a revival when third of six at Carlisle (3m1f, good) last month; 4lb out of the weights this time but she could get involved if she can build on that last run.

12/1

5th

9

3rd May 2025

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

19:40 Hexham

On We Go

10st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Gillian Boanas

On long losing run but she showed signs of a revival when third of six at Carlisle (3m1f, good) last month; 4lb out of the weights this time but she could get involved if she can build on that last run.

12/1

Form: /1P-2P C

Last run: 33 days

W: 10st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Won off a 7lb lower mark over 2m1f here in May 2023 (2m1f, good); best effort since when second at Sedgefield in May (2m1f, good); bled from the nose and pulled up on previous start to that and last time, so not easy to fancy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

15

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:45 Newcastle

Penpal

10st 10lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Micky Hammond

towards rear

12/1

10th

15

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:45 Newcastle

Penpal

10st 10lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Micky Hammond

towards rear

12/1

11

14th Dec 2024

Good

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

11:42 Newcastle

Penpal

10st 12lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Micky Hammond

midfield

13/2

Non-runners

Balking, Didntgotwenty, Foreva Alfie, Monklaw, Moroccan Moon, Wearelongterm, Westerdale, You Say Its Over

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £109.50
Straight Forecast £83.05
Tricast £103.72
Trifecta £206.10

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Mister Smarty

SPOTLIGHT:

Westerdale

Telegraph:

Westerdale

POSTDATA:

Mister Smarty

The Times:

Mister Smarty

The Guardian:

Mister Smarty

Daily Mail:

Mister Smarty

D Express:

Mister Smarty

Daily Mirror:

Mister Smarty

The Sun:

Mister Smarty

The Star:

Mister Smarty

Daily Record:

Mister Smarty