February 08 / 15.55 Newcastle (AW)

15.55

Standard To Slow

BetUK: It’s Where The UK Bets Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

  • Prize money: £7955.68
  • 1m 4f 99y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
SKY
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BetUK: It’s Where The UK Bets Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Cloudy

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.25
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 6/22-2 BF

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
4yo with progressive RPRs; demoted having wandered around under pressure when narrowly first past the post on his 1m4f Southwell handicap debut three weeks ago; that is solid form and he can make light of a 3lb nudge with further improvement on the cards.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(9)

13th May 2026

Good

1m 3f 188y

Class 2

14:20 York

Plage De Havre

9st 12lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Third in this race last year off 11lb lower; competitive almost every time last season, ending on a major high with 4l win at Haydock (1m4f, good) in July; however, there have been a couple of blips and last month's poor show in Listed race at Kempton was one of those; needs to bounce back.

7/1

6th

4

(6)

6th Apr 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 1f 219y

Class 1

14:55 Kempton (AW)

Plage De Havre

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Lightly raced 5yo who won twice last year, the latest a handicap at Haydock (1m4f, good) in July; never out of the first two in five completed starts on the AW, but not seen in nine months and there has to be a doubt over the suitability of a sharp 1m2f like this for him now.

11/2

1st

5

(6)

5th Jul 2025

Good

1m 3f 175y

Class 2

15:15 Haydock

Plage De Havre

9st 0lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Lightly raced 4yo who was progressive on AW prior to a blip at Newcastle in April, and he bounced back from that when third at York (1m4f, good to firm) in May; now 8lb better off with York runner-up Stressfree (who won next time) and he could be involved.

6/1

6/1

  • Place: £2.60

Form: 1-1143 C BF

Last run: 4 days

W: 9st 1lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who won his first three starts here (1m2f) after joining this yard in November, but two defeats since suggest the handicapper is winning the argument now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

14

(16)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 2

16:10 Newcastle (AW)

Midnight Lion

8st 8lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

24 visits to Newcastle have yielded nine wins, seven over C&D; the latest came on New Year's Day when beating five rivals; fifth of 12 at Southwell since and could better that performance now back here, but there's a suspicion today's contest will prove too competitive.

25/1

5th

6

(2)

20th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 3

19:00 Southwell (AW)

Midnight Lion

9st 6lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Enhanced his outstanding Newcastle record (all nine AW wins there) on New Year's Day when fending off five rivals; only 2lb higher and he'll probably be ridden positively as usual; has only raced twice here (unplaced).

13/2

Form: 643-13 D BF

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Gained his first win in handicaps over 1m4f at Lingfield last month and a tactical race over 1m2f may not have suited when only 7l third under a penalty back there six days later; this test should be more suitable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(6)

24th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 4

14:12 Newcastle (AW)

Knockbrex

9st 5lb

J: Jack Callan

T: Charlie Johnston

Narrow C&D winner (Class 4; 12-1) in November and, broadly speaking, has acquitted himself respectably since; stamina was likely overstretched at Wolverhampton (1m4f) latest; it's interesting that Jack Callan (1-1) returns to the saddle from just 1lb above that winning mark.

4/1

8th

3

(6)

30th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 4

17:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Knockbrex

9st 12lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Charlie Johnston

1m2f and 1m4f AW winner, including on Tapeta; backed up November's Newcastle success with a respectable third at Lingfield last month; was below that level at Chelmsford (1m2f, Polytrack) latest; drops 1lb and can be competitive if he acts at this track.

9/1

100/30

Form: 747-42 C

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 11lb

7 yo Colt

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Useful in his younger days when with William Haggas and very nearly ended his losing run when failing by a nose to catch an in-form rival in a 0-105 handicap at Kempton (1m3f, Polytrack) 17 days ago; respected from an unchanged mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(4)

1st Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 4

18:30 Kempton (AW)

Gaassee

10st 2lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Jack Morland

Has proved consistent since reappearing for Jack Morland in January (4243514) with the win coming at Haydock (10.5f, good to firm) in August; record around here (1m3f/1m4f) reads 123 and another big run would be no surprise.

5/1

4th

6

(12)

13th Sep 2025

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 3

16:00 Chester

Gaassee

9st 6lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Jack Morland

Mostly competitive off reduced marks for new yard this season and Haydock (1m2f, good to firm) five weeks ago saw him lead final 1f to break a long losing run, doing it in good style too; back up 5lb but he used to be effective on a range of ground and has returned to serious calculations.

7/1

OUR TIP

9/2

Form: 223-18 CD

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Nicely bred colt whose turf form (1m/1m2f) has worked out well; comfortably justified favouritism in C&D novice on yard debut last month but weakened quickly on 1m2f course handicap debut just nine days later; 5lb lower now and no surprise were he to get back on the up in cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

10

4th Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

14:20 Naas

Northern Ruler

11st 12lb

J: Conor Smithers

T: M D O’Callaghan

AW winner for Karl Burke early last year; regressive in turf handicaps; has struggled in two maiden hurdle starts.

100/1

12th

7

22nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

1m 7f 110y

14:00 Naas

Northern Ruler

11st 12lb

J: Conor Smithers

T: M D O’Callaghan

AW winner for Karl Burke early last year; regressive in turf handicaps and finished last of all on hurdling debut at 125-1 at Thurles last time; ruled out.

100/1

17th

8

5th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 34y

14:17 Thurles

Northern Ruler

11st 12lb

J: Ricky Doyle

T: M D O’Callaghan

AW winner for Karl Burke early last year; regressive in turf handicaps for this yard; no hurdling experience.

25/1

14/1

Form: 14825- C

Last run: 147 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Useful 1m2f Flat performer, including a course handicap win, but hasn't got anywhere near translating that ability to hurdles in three runs this winter; it remains to be seen whether a return to the Flat sparks a revival with a hood and tongue-tie combined.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

(8)

20th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 219y

Class 3

15:42 Redcar

Sea Legend

8st 4lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Two wins at Newcastle (1m, AW) this year, including on his latest start last month; 2lb out of the handicap today and he's 0-13 on turf, but has been placed a few times on grass and is not discounted.

6/1

1st

5

(9)

27th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 5

16:25 Newcastle (AW)

Sea Legend

9st 5lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Just 2-33 but both wins have come here, the latest over C&D last month; found to be lame when down the field two days later and 7f looked too sharp when third here three weeks ago; he's one to consider now back up in trip.

9/2

3rd

7

(6)

6th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

18:00 Newcastle (AW)

Sea Legend

9st 1lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Too strong for his rivals in a Class 6 over a mile here last month; reportedly finished lame when disappointing (13-8f) behind Golden Strike here four weeks ago; revised 3lb higher mark has now kicked in.

6/1

Form: 92845- D

Last run: 127 days

W: 9st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
His three wins for David Evans came on soft/heavy ground and down the field on both AW starts for that trainer; new connections acquired him for 11,500gns in December; a watching brief is advised unless the betting strongly hints otherwise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

16:05 Carlisle

Wind Your Neck In

11st 2lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Runner-up twice in February (including C&D on soft) before making it 14th time lucky over hurdles in 2m4f Sedgefield handicap (good) last month; he and the runner-up came well clear of the third so he should competitive off 6lb higher.

7/1

1st

5

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

14:18 Sedgefield

Wind Your Neck In

11st 8lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

0-13 over hurdles and becoming rather frustrating but came second twice over 2m3f last month (soft/good to soft) and seems very likely to be in the shake-up again here.

3/1

2nd

4

24th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 66y

Class 5

14:30 Catterick

Wind Your Neck In

11st 3lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Sam England

Last Flat win came in November 2023 and he's 0-12 over hurdles; however, he ran well when second off this reduced mark at Carlisle (2m3f, soft) last Monday and can be in the mix if backing that up.

5/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.10
Straight Forecast £9.80
Trifecta £27.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Plage De Havre

TOPSPEED:

Northern Ruler

NEWMARKET:

Gaassee

The Star:

Knockbrex

THE NORTH:

Northern Ruler

Daily Mail:

Northern Ruler

RP RATINGS:

Plage De Havre

POSTDATA:

Plage De Havre

The Times:

Plage De Havre

The Guardian:

Plage De Havre

D Express:

Plage De Havre

Daily Mirror:

Plage De Havre

The Sun:

Plage De Havre

Daily Record:

Plage De Havre

Telegraph:

Gaassee