September 19 / 18.15 Newcastle (AW)

18.15

Standard

Border Minstrel Maiden Stakes (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £3888
  • 0m 7f 14y
  • Class 5
  • 6 runners
SKY
View Course
Border Minstrel Maiden Stakes (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

Form: 43

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Stepped up to 7f on Kempton AW recently and went down by under 2l after racing prominently; this may require more from him but he's having only his third start.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

(7)

25th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 1y

Class 2

16:07 Redcar

Fierce Fortitude

9st 9lb

J: David Egan

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

Lightly raced 4yo who bagged some valuable course experience in winning narrowly over C&D last month; the runner-up had been jumping, but this 145,000euros yearling had a bit in hand and surely has more to give off a 4lb higher mark.

100/30

1st

3

(9)

30th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 1y

Class 3

16:30 Redcar

Fierce Fortitude

9st 5lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

Off the mark at the fourth attempt in a maiden at Brighton (7f, good to firm) last September and he reappeared with a close second on last month's handicap debut at Wolverhampton (9.4f, AW); that latest form reads well and this unexposed 4yo is a major player up 2lb.

5/2

2nd

5

(1)

20th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 4

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Fierce Fortitude

9st 8lb

J: David Egan

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

Progressive form in his four maidens, culminating in September in his second at Newcastle (7f, Tapeta) and his win in a four-runner race at Brighton (7f, good to firm); gelded since; likely to stay and bring potential to this handicap debut and his strength in the market can prove instructive.

8/1

Form: 8-344

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Good pedigree; has advanced his RPRs with each start, last time appearing not to quite last home over 1m on handicap debut at Southwell; 7f could be a better fit for now and he has strong form claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(5)

23rd May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

18:15 Salisbury

Great Dream

9st 10lb

J: Harry Davies

T: William Haggas

Won an AW maiden at Newcastle in September before coming up short in a Listed contest at Redcar; finished off the year with a third in a York handicap (7f, good to soft) in October; has since left the Crisfords and has been gelded; must come into consideration on his debut for an in-form yard.

3/1

3rd

3

(6)

21st Oct 2025

Good

0m 7f 3y

Class 4

15:10 Yarmouth

Great Dream

9st 12lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Steadily progressive on AW, enjoying the run of the race when beating a subsequent winner in a 7f maiden at Newcastle last month; pitched into a Listed race at Redcar last time and came up well short; this should be more manageable and he still has time on his side.

8/1

9th

7

(8)

4th Oct 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:56 Redcar

Great Dream

9st 0lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Has a steadily progressive profile, coming good in a 7f Newcastle maiden 15 days ago, but a big step forward will be needed if he's to follow up in this much higher grade; first turf start since his debut.

33/1

Form: 52

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Both races to date were won by the same horse and he finished closer at Doncaster (7f) last time, beaten 2.5l in a first-time tongue-tie; may need to find more again but that's feasible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

(8)

13th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 3y

Class 4

16:28 Yarmouth

Potomac River

9st 6lb

J: George Wood

T: T J Kent

Showed ability in each of his three starts last year, most recently when a 1l third of six at Newcastle (7f, AW) in September; has since undergone wind/gelding operations and he's open to further progress now switched to handicap company.

7/1

3

(6)

19th Sep 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

18:15 Newcastle (AW)

Potomac River

9st 7lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: T J Kent

Both races to date were won by the same horse and he finished closer at Doncaster (7f) last time, beaten 2.5l in a first-time tongue-tie; may need to find more again but that's feasible.

8/1

2

(6)

16th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 6y

Class 5

16:50 Doncaster

Potomac River

9st 4lb

J: George Wood

T: T J Kent

Well backed into 6-1 at Leicester (7f, good) last month but he faded into fifth and was 5l behind Release The Storm; tongue-tie is now added and he needs a major step forward on his second start.

10/1

Form:

Last run: 33 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Completely tailed off over 1m at Southwell one month ago when 80-1.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(1)

19th Sep 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

18:15 Newcastle (AW)

The Grand

9st 7lb

J: Grace McEntee

T: John Butler

Completely tailed off over 1m at Southwell one month ago when 80-1.

200/1

12

(1)

17th Aug 2025

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 5

15:22 Southwell (AW)

The Grand

9st 4lb

J: Grace McEntee

T: John Butler

Half-brother to winners Anner Castle (1m4f; RPR 93), Fumata (1m4f; 90), Royal Free Hotel (1m4f; 90), King Chaos (1m3f AW; 84) and Lion City (bumper); dam unplaced (74), sister to 1m2f winner, half-sister to 1m Group 1 winner Simply Perfect; from a successful family, but best watched on debut unless market suggests otherwise.

66/1

50/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
45,000euros yearling; second foal; half-sister to 1m2f winner Dolce Far Niente (RPR 60); dam unplaced 6f (54), sister to 5f 2yo Group 2 winner Sir Prancealot; would be a surprise winner on debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(8)

18th Oct 2025

Good

0m 5f 212y

Class 5

11:28 Catterick

Nanyuki

9st 1lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Ann Duffield

Beaten over 8l in two outings over 7f on AW in recent weeks; improvement needed switching to turf.

25/1

8

(3)

3rd Oct 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

18:15 Southwell (AW)

Nanyuki

8st 13lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Ann Duffield

Modest form in a 7f maiden at Newcastle on her debut two weeks ago; a big step forward is required to feature.

50/1

5

(3)

19th Sep 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

18:15 Newcastle (AW)

Nanyuki

9st 2lb

J: David Nolan

T: Ann Duffield

45,000euros yearling; second foal; half-sister to 1m2f winner Dolce Far Niente (RPR 60); dam unplaced 6f (54), sister to 5f 2yo Group 2 winner Sir Prancealot; would be a surprise winner on debut.

50/1

Form: 38-3

Last run: 120 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
First-time hooded when close third in a 7f novice at Haydock in May; has been off for a while but clearly up to winning a race of this nature.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(4)

13th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

18:10 Kempton (AW)

Thaisa

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Fair Invincible Spirit filly who wasn't disgraced after four months off under a patient ride when fourth of six in 7f Newcastle maiden 24 days ago; she can build on it now and rates a player.

3/1

6

(5)

19th Sep 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

18:15 Newcastle (AW)

Thaisa

9st 2lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

First-time hooded when close third in a 7f novice at Haydock in May; has been off for a while but clearly up to winning a race of this nature.

2/1

6

(2)

22nd May 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 212y

Class 4

16:52 Haydock

Thaisa

9st 2lb

J: David Probert

T: Andrew Balding

Close third on debut at Kempton (1m, AW) last November; underwhelming there (7f) in December but the subsequent break may have helped and this well-bred filly remains of interest; wears a first-time hood.

6/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £6.30
Straight Forecast £6.77
Trifecta £17.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Great Dream

Telegraph:

Fierce Fortitude

D Express:

Thaisa

Daily Mail:

Fierce Fortitude

The Star:

Thaisa

RP RATINGS:

Great Dream

POSTDATA:

Great Dream

NEWMARKET:

Great Dream

The Times:

Great Dream

The Guardian:

Great Dream

Daily Mirror:

Great Dream

The Sun:

Great Dream

Daily Record:

Great Dream