September 26 / 20.30 Newcastle (AW)

20.30

Standard

Arc £1Million Bonus Bigger Than Ever Apprentice Handicap

  • Prize money: £3977.84
  • 1m 0f 5y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Arc £1Million Bonus Bigger Than Ever Apprentice Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Partly cloudy

20/1

  • Place: £6.90

Form: 251170 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Course specialist who completed a double over 7f here in March but he's finished tailed off at this track in both subsequent runs; may have needed his reappearance run last month but needs a major revival back up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

10

(12)

2nd Jun 2026

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 5

20:15 Newcastle (AW)

Cusack

8st 12lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: David Thompson

10-47 on AW, with all bar one of those wins coming at Newcastle (7f-1m2f); now sits 3lb below his last winning mark, and Tom Kiely-Marshall's 5lb claim is a bonus, but seems to have lost his way; may strip fitter for 7f course comeback run.

40/1

11

(2)

19th May 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

17:35 Newcastle (AW)

Cusack

8st 12lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: David Thompson

Nine course wins to his name, mainly in the early months of the year; 50-1 for his C&D return a month ago, when well behind a few of these, and needs a big step forward.

25/1

12th

12

(11)

20th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

Cusack

9st 0lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: David Thompson

Nine of his ten wins have come at this track (7f-1m2f) but last success was 13 months ago and he finished down the field here in his final two runs last year; looks opposable back from a break.

16/1

33/1

Form: 850670

Last run: 81 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Won a Wolverhampton novice (9.4f, Tapeta) last August but she's 0-9 since and has struggled in five runs for her current yard; on reduced mark but has plenty to prove after a break; hood removed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(3)

18th Aug 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 5

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Samra Star

9st 13lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Linda Perratt

Gave willingly to brush off a 5lb penalty at Musselburgh (1m1f, good) 11 days ago; steps up in grade (from 4lb higher) in pursuit of the hat-trick for an in-form trainer; no issue with this track, so obvious claims with Oisin Murphy aboard.

11/4

1st

2

(1)

7th Aug 2026

Good

1m 0f 208y

Class 6

13:50 Musselburgh

Samra Star

9st 9lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Linda Perratt

Came from off the pace to collar odds-on favourite and cause 25-1 surprise at Ayr (1m, good to firm) 11 days ago; only to due to go up 4lb for that but takes her chance under a 5lb penalty here and remains well handicapped on older form.

100/30

1st

7

(9)

27th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

15:45 Ayr

Samra Star

9st 4lb

J: Mark Winn

T: Linda Perratt

All three wins have been on AW (7f/1m); fair second to in-form rival at Musselburgh in May (1m1f, good) but a bit more needed.

8/1

Form: 951702 D

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Emphatic win on stable debut at Southwell (1m, Tapeta) early last month; disappointing in next two runs but he got back on track with a clear second at Kempton (hood reapplied) 11 days ago; on unchanged mark and has claims if he can back that up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(3)

18th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 5

17:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Ocean Odyssey

10st 4lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: James Owen

None too consistent and he has been well beaten on his last two starts; has the lowest BHA rating in the field and has to concede weight all round so he looks up against it.

7/1

3

(11)

10th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

20:15 Kempton (AW)

Ocean Odyssey

9st 13lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: James Owen

Blew hot and cold for his former stable and it has been a similar story for James Owen, his win at Southwell and second over 1m here surrounded by lesser efforts; chance if on one of his good days; cheekpieces added to usual accessories.

4/1

7th

7

(7)

26th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 5

20:30 Newcastle (AW)

Ocean Odyssey

9st 4lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: James Owen

Emphatic win on stable debut at Southwell (1m, Tapeta) early last month; disappointing in next two runs but he got back on track with a clear second at Kempton (hood reapplied) 11 days ago; on unchanged mark and has claims if he can back that up.

5/2

OUR TIP

Form: 42226

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Improved form when close second in Redcar maiden (7f, good to firm) last month but he's been beaten around 5l in two handicaps at Epsom since; still unexposed and has shaped as though this new trip could suit but he needs to find more on AW debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(3)

20th Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:11 Newmarket (July)

Valley Ofthe Kings

10st 2lb

J: Stevie Donohoe

T: Dylan Cunha

Drawn away from the action on his return to turf but was then said to have been unsuited by the undulations of Catterick last time, which would be a concern round here; 2lb above his last winning mark and has a bit to prove back from a short break.

16/1

100/30

Form: 838301 C

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Hold-up performer who made it 2-4 on AW when justifying favouritism over 1m2f here 18 days ago; 4lb higher on this drop back to 1m but that was a personal best and his penultimate win was over this trip; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

(14)

31st Aug 2026

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

15:17 Southwell (AW)

Izzari

9st 7lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Newcastle win this time last year came off a 7lb higher mark; well backed on the drop to this company at Carlisle a few weeks ago, when faring much better, and is one to consider (likely to be dropped in as usual from the outside stall).

5/1

2nd

3

(6)

11th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 173y

Class 6

14:45 Carlisle

Izzari

10st 0lb

J: Cara Tuke

T: Iain Jardine

A dual 1m/1m2f winner in 2025; largely below par this season though and only ninth of 12 in 1m Newcastle handicap last time; others appeal more.

10/1

9th

12

(14)

25th Jul 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 5y

Class 4

16:00 Newcastle (AW)

Izzari

8st 11lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Dual winner (including here) in 2025 but his more recent turf form is much less encouraging; needs to bounce back returned to Tapeta.

40/1

Form: 032321

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Made her breakthrough at the 13th attempt when landing a Wolverhampton handicap (8.6f; first-time blinkers) three weeks ago; up 5lb but that was a comfortable success and she's still unexposed on AW; key player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

(12)

3rd Oct 2025

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 4

18:45 Southwell (AW)

Bernalda

9st 5lb

J: Alexandra Egan

T: James Ferguson

Took a while to put her head in front but having got off the mark at Wolverhampton last month (8.6f; blinkers first time), she followed up in emphatic fashion at Newcastle last week; escapes a penalty for that win and she's due to be 9lb higher in the future; obvious claims.

15/8

3

(3)

26th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 5

20:30 Newcastle (AW)

Bernalda

9st 9lb

J: Alexandra Egan

T: James Ferguson

Made her breakthrough at the 13th attempt when landing a Wolverhampton handicap (8.6f; first-time blinkers) three weeks ago; up 5lb but that was a comfortable success and she's still unexposed on AW; key player.

11/4

1st

1

(3)

6th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 5

20:42 Wolverhampton (AW)

Bernalda

9st 9lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: James Ferguson

12-race maiden; regularly run well in defeat this year, going down narrowly over 1m at Thirsk three weeks ago; blinkers now replace cheekpieces; 2lb rise shouldn't prevent another big run.

9/2

Form: 257523 CD

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
0-10 this year but he's run well in defeat off this mark on his last two starts, including a near-miss at Pontefract (1m, good to firm) on his penultimate run; this return to Tapeta is no problem for this C&D winner and he should be in the mix again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(5)

3rd Sep 2026

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 4

19:10 Southwell (AW)

Hale End

10st 0lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Michael Dods

Gained his seventh success when winning at Ayr (1m, good to firm) in July and ran another solid race there last month off the same mark as today's; respected but he is yet to win off a mark this high.

7/1

4th

7

(5)

8th Aug 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

19:00 Ayr

Hale End

9st 4lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Michael Dods

Kept on well for a seventh career success over C&D 19 days ago but he's gone back up 5lb and has never won anything better than a Class 5; others preferred.

13/2

1st

1

(1)

20th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:00 Ayr

Hale End

9st 9lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Michael Dods

In good form in the spring, winning at Wetherby (1m, good to firm) before near misses at Thirsk and over C&D; not at his best on his last two starts but this is an ease in class and he's a major player in his bid to win this race for a second time (successful in 2024).

7/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £91.10
Straight Forecast £123.43
Trifecta £398.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Bernalda

RP RATINGS:

Izzari

Telegraph:

Ocean Odyssey

The Guardian:

Hale End

NEWMARKET:

Valley Ofthe Kings

POSTDATA:

Izzari

The Sun:

Izzari

The Times:

Bernalda

The Star:

Bernalda

Daily Record:

Bernalda

Daily Mail:

Ocean Odyssey

Daily Mirror:

Ocean Odyssey

D Express:

Hale End