February 08 / 16.28 Newcastle (AW)

16.28

Standard To Slow

Gamble Responsibly At BetUK Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

  • Prize money: £4972.3
  • 1m 2f 42y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Gamble Responsibly At BetUK Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Cloudy

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £6.50
  • Place: £2.60

Form: 81-6 CD

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Looked a nice prospect when winning a novice on his return from six months off over C&D in December, but blew out completely under a penalty back here last month (no explanation offered); a player if returning to the form of his win, but he does have something to prove on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

30th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 80y

15:16 Listowel

Royal Approval

11st 12lb

J: Ricky Doyle

T: Gordon Elliott

Three-time AW winner on the Flat; okay efforts in maiden hurdles at Navan and Limerick last autumn without really threatening to win; will qualify for a handicap mark after this.

6/1

11

18th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 70y

13:45 Limerick

Royal Approval

11st 7lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

Triple AW winner over 1m2f for Andrew Balding before being sold for 48,000gns; was beaten 26l on debut over hurdles at Navan and has to improve loads.

25/1

9

20th Sep 2025

Yielding

1m 7f 165y

13:25 Navan

Royal Approval

11st 10lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Three-time Newcastle winner for Andrew Balding; 48,000gns recruit to a top stable; AW rating of 86, has to taken seriously.

4/1

4/1

  • Place: £3.40

Form: 51-122 CD

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Four wins over 1m2f/1m4f here, the latest when beating three rivals last month; closely matched with Charlie's Choice on recent Southwell running (1m4f, Tapeta), but is off a new career-high mark so a bit more will be needed; often misses the break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

13

(5)

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 39y

Class 2

13:30 Carlisle

Humble Spark

8st 3lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Tough 6yo with seven wins to his name; beaten favourite at Hamilton (1m3f, good) last time but shaped quite nicely, keeping on into second place after a slow start and meeting trouble; place possibilities again at the very least.

10/1

2nd

6

(7)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 3f 15y

Class 3

19:15 Hamilton

Humble Spark

8st 5lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Jim Goldie

Held up; exposed 6yo who is 6-27 on AW surfaces but 1-13 on turf; however, that solitary turf win was over C&D (2024) and he wasn't far away back on turf for last three outings; case can be made.

7/2

OUR TIP

9/2

Form: 47753- C

Last run: 50 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
0-8 last year after winning his sole start here (7f) as a 2yo, but having dropped in the weights he ran well when third of ten at Wolverhampton (9.5f, Tapeta) in December; down another 1lb and could play a part if taking another step forward.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

14

(7)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

18:10 Newbury

Yokohama

9st 2lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: John Butler

Has slipped to a career-low mark and well-backed fifth of 15 when returned to turf at Doncaster (1m2f) in March last time wasn't too bad; however, his record over that sort of trip is far more appealing than his two runs at 1m4f and his turf tally is 0-11.

10/1

5th

3

(13)

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 2f 43y

Class 5

16:40 Doncaster

Yokohama

9st 13lb

J: Donagh Murphy

T: John Butler

Drawn a blank since AW debut success but was placed over this trip on turf (good/good to firm) off higher marks last season; hard to get too excited by this winter's AW efforts but it's possible an eight-week break could have had a reviving effect; one to note in the betting.

10/1

10th

8

(10)

30th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 4

17:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Yokohama

9st 2lb

J: Donagh Murphy

T: John Butler

7f Tapeta winner but has not won since that debut in 2023; was a close second on turf from a higher mark last season but needs to be much better than his latest AW effort.

25/1

Form: 841-63 CD

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Took his record over C&D to 2111 when winning by a length in December; latest third of ten at Southwell (1m4f, Tapeta) has since been boosted by the fourth horse and he is very much of interest returned here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(4)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 3

14:32 Newmarket

Asgards Captain

9st 8lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Dylan Cunha

Did well to win at York (good to firm) off just 1lb lower in August but only fourth of five in the Great Metropolitan at Epsom (also 1m4f, good, Topteam behind) 17 days ago; that was a shade underwhelming given he'd won the race in 2025 but was a little weak in the market so maybe better can be expected this time.

12/1

4th

3

(4)

28th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 6y

Class 3

15:50 Epsom

Asgards Captain

9st 4lb

J: J F Egan

T: Dylan Cunha

Last year's winner (good) who ran well in two other appearances over C&D; did well to win at York (1m4f, good to firm) under John Egan in August and arrives here fit after three creditable efforts at Meydan; firm contender.

4/1

3rd

4

(2)

28th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 3

16:30 Newcastle (AW)

Asgards Captain

9st 12lb

J: J F Egan

T: Dylan Cunha

Had a busy 12 months but right on the money when staying on best last time at York (1m4f) and this stiff finish will suit him well, as it has done before; only 3lb higher.

5/1

16/1

Form: 34430-

Last run: 250 days

W: 9st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Often in the frame but just 1-17, the win coming at Pontefract (1m, good to firm) in May 2023; off 250 days since running poorly at Ayr last June and the market may indicate what is expected on his return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

14th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 4

13:51 Market Rasen

Westernesse

11st 4lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Bought for 20,000gns out of the O'Meara yard for which he won three times at up to 1m2f; made a quiet stable debut at Chester but was no doubt bought with hurdling in mind.

9/1

1

(9)

13th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 4

17:05 Chester

Westernesse

11st 9lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Bought for 20,000gns out of the O'Meara yard for which he won three times, the latest over 1m2f at Ripon in June; well held at York since then; unraced over this far which is a worry.

10/1

Form: 212-41

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Consistent sort who has won twice on the Southwell Tapeta during the winter, the latest when beating Humble Spark by half a length over 1m4f nine days ago; 3lb rise not the end of the world, but he may need a good pace over this trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

(8)

18th May 2026

Good

1m 3f 99y

Class 4

19:40 Windsor

Charlies Choice

9st 2lb

J: Taryn Langley

T: David Simcock

All eight wins have been on AW but he's lost his way with heavy defeats at Newcastle (12.4f, Tapeta) and Lingfield (2m, Polytrack) in last two runs; still lightly raced on turf but he needs a major revival back in this sphere.

20/1

11th

2

(5)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

14:05 Lingfield (AW)

Charlies Choice

9st 9lb

J: Taryn Langley

T: David Simcock

Three-time winner over 1m4f/1m5f here and Taryn Langley gets on well with him, but he has never attempted this far before and he must put an uncharacteristically poor effort at Newcastle 13 days ago behind him.

16/1

7th

4

(5)

21st Mar 2026

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 4

17:00 Newcastle (AW)

Charlies Choice

9st 7lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: David Simcock

Reliable 6yo, who won three times (1m4f/1m5f) during a busy spell this winter and he ran another solid race when runner-up at Wolverhampton (1m6f) last Friday; should go well again on this drop back in trip and he's respected with Hollie Doyle booked.

9/2

Form: U2470-

Last run: 107 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Twice runner-up on turf in six completed starts for Peter Chapple-Hyam, but not seen since well held on her AW debut at Wolverhampton (1m4f, Tapeta) in October; changed hands for 25,000gns soon afterwards and worth a market check on debut for new yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(3)

15th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:50 Salisbury

Beatrice Shilling

9st 9lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

0-11, including four defeats for this yard; late interference didn't cost her the race at Windsor (1m, good to firm) but it was a respectable effort in a first-time tongue-tie and cheekpieces are now added; likely to race prominently.

4/1

2

(4)

2nd Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 31y

Class 5

20:45 Windsor

Beatrice Shilling

9st 8lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

0-7 for Peter Chapple-Hyam and 0-3 this year for current yard; on dangerous mark and was runner-up at Wolverhampton (9.4f, AW) in March but she didn't match that back on turf at Wetherby (1m2f, good to firm) last time; tongue-tie is now added and she needs to find more back at this trip.

6/1

2

(4)

2nd Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 31y

Class 5

20:45 Windsor

Beatrice Shilling

9st 8lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

0-7 for Peter Chapple-Hyam and 0-3 this year for current yard; on dangerous mark and was runner-up at Wolverhampton (9.4f, AW) in March but she didn't match that back on turf at Wetherby (1m2f, good to firm) last time; tongue-tie is now added and she needs to find more back at this trip.

6/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £64.30
Straight Forecast £64.39
Trifecta £267.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Asgard's Captain

TOPSPEED:

Yokohama

The Times:

Humble Spark

NEWMARKET:

Charlie's Choice

The Guardian:

Yokohama

D Express:

Yokohama

Daily Mirror:

Yokohama

Daily Record:

Charlie's Choice

RP RATINGS:

Asgard's Captain

POSTDATA:

Asgard's Captain

The Sun:

Asgard's Captain

The Star:

Asgard's Captain

Telegraph:

Humble Spark

Daily Mail:

Humble Spark