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

11th

10

(10)

4th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Newmarket (July)

Fierce Fortitude

8st 13lb

J: David Egan

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

Lightly raced 4yo who scored from Ammes at Redcar when upped to 1m2f in April; creditable third of ten in the Zetland Gold Cup there (again 1m2f on good to firm) in May off this mark; very useful dam stayed 1m6f, so this new trip for her son could be within reach; may have more to give.

12/1

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

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

1st

3

(6)

17th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 80y

Class 4

19:15 Ffos Las

Great Dream

9st 12lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: William Haggas

Won a Newcastle maiden (7f, AW) for the Crisfords last September; having been gelded he has only managed midfield finishes in both starts since returning for this yard last month, albeit he met trouble on the first occasion; could fare better with cheekpieces given a go.

11/2

9th

7

(18)

12th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

13:50 York

Great Dream

9st 9lb

J: Harry Burns

T: William Haggas

Won an AW maiden at Newcastle (7f) last September and ended his 3yo campaign for the Crisford stable with a good of 13 in a Yarmouth handicap (7f, good to soft) in October; having been gelded he was sent off favourite to make a winning start for William Haggas over 1m at Salisbury three weeks ago, but failed to pick up having had to switch to get a run; quickly reverts to 7f and remains with potential for his new yard; stall 18 not ideal, though.

15/2

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

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

1

(3)

9th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 3y

Class 5

19:15 Epsom

Potomac River

9st 9lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: T J Kent

Five-race maiden; struggled on soft ground on seasonal/handicap debut but shaped with significant promise before fading into seventh at Newmarket (7f, good) three weeks ago and will appreciate this ease in grade.

11/2

7th

7

(10)

19th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:55 Newmarket (July)

Potomac River

9st 5lb

J: George Wood

T: T J Kent

Poor handicap debut last month, having been gelded and undergone wind surgery, when beaten a long way at Yarmouth; maybe that was down to the rain-softened ground but it leaves him something to prove; would want to see some market support.

20/1

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

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