October 09 / 20.30 Newcastle (AW)

20.30

Standard

ARC All-Weather £1Million Bonus Returns Apprentice Handicap

  • Prize money: £3245.08
  • 1m 0f 5y
  • Class 6
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
ARC All-Weather £1Million Bonus Returns Apprentice Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 145798 CD

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
Four-time AW winner, twice here (7f/1m); struggled off his revised rating since winning at Southwell (1m, Tapeta) in April but there were signs he was on the way back when not getting the breaks over C&D in late August and he sat too close to a hot pace back here three weeks ago; could go under the radar.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

5

(10)

29th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

17:15 Southwell (AW)

Spirit Of Bowland

9st 5lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Tony Culhane & Stella Barclay

Readily landed a division of this race last year and sole win since came in C&D classified contest 34 days ago; should go well, for all that he might be vulnerable to younger legs.

7/1

1st

12

(4)

26th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

15:07 Southwell (AW)

Spirit Of Bowland

9st 9lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Tony Culhane & Stella Barclay

Dual C&D handicap winner who's run respectably on his last five starts (all classifieds); beaten just 1l (7f; first-time blinkers, now removed) at Newcastle one week ago and he'll likely be on the premises once more.

8/1

5th

8

(10)

19th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

Spirit Of Bowland

9st 9lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Tony Culhane & Stella Barclay

C&D winner who has finished third in classified events on three of his four starts this year; first-time blinkers won't need to give him too much extra.

7/1

Form: 0-7011 CD

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 7lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 48

Form & Verdict
0-14 in Ireland but landed a gamble at Hamilton (8.5f, soft) last month and was unpenalised when following up under Aiden Brookes over C&D eight days later; that made it 2-2 for the yard and the hat-trick looks a distinct possibility.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

(4)

17th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 68y

Class 5

21:00 Hamilton

Second Fiddle

9st 6lb

J: Cara Tuke

T: Iain Jardine

Six wins last September-December (including C&D) and she's gone very close to adding to that tally on her last two outings, beaten just a neck over C&D (good) last Saturday despite being badly hampered; lots to like.

2/1

2nd

1

(4)

11th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 68y

Class 6

20:20 Hamilton

Second Fiddle

10st 1lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Iain Jardine

Enjoyed a remarkable 2025 when a six-time winner, including over C&D; below par this season until third of seven in 1m1f handicap at Musselburgh 11 days ago but very much one to consider off a reduced mark now.

9/2

3rd

4

(2)

30th Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 208y

Class 6

14:00 Musselburgh

Second Fiddle

9st 6lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Iain Jardine

Form of her yard is a positive but she hasn't shown much of late and a revival is more likely to come on AW.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 899-4

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 54

Form & Verdict
All starts at about 1m; modest form in three qualifying runs (AW); switch to handicaps and first-time cheekpieces didn't prompt improvement at Musselburgh (good to soft) last month; might build on that first start for 260 days, though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

(2)

15th Jul 2026

Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 6

16:01 Bath

Blue Siam

9st 9lb

J: Charlie Tucker

T: Syd Hosie

16-race maiden (0-11 on the Flat) who failed to threaten over hurdles last time; however, she ran okay in that code two starts ago and was runner-up on the Flat in February (1m6f, AW); not ruled out each-way in a first-time visor (replacing cheekpieces).

6/1

Form: 731437 CD

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 4lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 50

Form & Verdict
C&D winner one year ago; soft-ground Carlisle handicap (1m) win in May was followed by two respectable efforts in July; may have just needed it when back from a small break here (7f) one month ago; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

(6)

4th Jul 2026

Good

0m 7f 173y

Class 6

18:39 Carlisle

Wheres The Crumpet

10st 0lb

J: Lexie Clarkson

T: David Thompson

Two runs here feature a defeat of Top Gun Tina over C&D (good to soft) last May and a fourth in a division of this race last year; return to this venue will need to prompt a revival after some moderate efforts, however.

33/1

9th

10

(10)

2nd Jun 2026

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 6

18:15 Newcastle (AW)

Wheres The Crumpet

9st 9lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: David Thompson

Scored at Carlisle (1m) last May but her more recent form is much less encouraging, beating just one in 1m2f Redcar handicap eight days ago; this C&D scorer needs to take a major step forward.

25/1

11th

9

(2)

25th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 1y

Class 6

17:18 Redcar

Wheres The Crumpet

9st 0lb

J: Barry McHugh

T: David Thompson

Creditable third at Southwell in January (1m) but not so good since; seems to stay 1m2f and wouldn't rule out.

16/1

Form: 066079

Last run: 154 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 52

Form & Verdict
Regularly switched stables across a 13-race career in France, including when under the care of Phil Kirby in the early part of this year; only one third-placed finish to shout about, when beaten just under 2l in 6.5f claimer (very soft) over a year ago; best watched on British debut unless the market suggests otherwise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

9

(8)

4th Jul 2026

Good

0m 7f 173y

Class 6

18:39 Carlisle

Shoptilyoudrop

10st 0lb

J: Miss Venetia Thompson

T: Philip Kirby

22-race ex-French maiden; might have needed her first start since February when down the field at Hamilton (6f, good to soft) last month but that will need plenty of building on.

25/1

5th

9

(7)

10th Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 6y

Class 6

18:30 Hamilton

Shoptilyoudrop

10st 7lb

J: Miss Venetia Thompson

T: Philip Kirby

Exposed 21-race maiden; ran one of her better races when fourth at Wolverhampton in February when last seen but still easy enough to swerve.

25/1

4th

11

(5)

6th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 6

15:17 Wolverhampton (AW)

Shoptilyoudrop

9st 0lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Philip Kirby

Little to shout about for some time and now 0-20.

33/1

Form: 454804 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 45

Form & Verdict
Seven-time C&D winner, including this race last year and most recently in April; long way below that in two starts last month and isn't easy to recommend at present.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

(8)

13th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

17:37 Bath

Pop Favorite

8st 9lb

J: Tyler Heard

T: Scott Dixon

Eight times an AW winner but he has run just three times on turf and offered little on each occasion; plenty to prove.

33/1

8th

10

(6)

29th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

17:15 Southwell (AW)

Pop Favorite

9st 0lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Scott Dixon

Hasn't troubled the judge since returning in December from a short break and finished well behind Spirit Of Bowland over C&D last time.

33/1

9th

8

(5)

26th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

15:07 Southwell (AW)

Pop Favorite

9st 9lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Scott Dixon

Last win away from Newcastle was in 2021; slow starts have been holding him back so both classified fourths over C&D this month can arguably be upgraded; chance rests largely on the start.

20/1

Form: 62-090

Last run: 75 days

W: 9st 0lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 45

Form & Verdict
4yo maiden; some fair efforts last term, including here, but this season's campaign has been a write off and wind surgery will need to have worked wonders.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(5)

9th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

20:30 Newcastle (AW)

Showmethewayhome

9st 0lb

J: Morgan Cole

T: Ewan Whillans

4yo maiden; some fair efforts last term, including here, but this season's campaign has been a write off and wind surgery will need to have worked wonders.

25/1

11

(7)

26th Jul 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

16:50 Newcastle (AW)

Showmethewayhome

9st 0lb

J: Harry Russell

T: Ewan Whillans

4yo maiden who has been tailed off in both her races this season; now tongue tied.

33/1

9th

10

(1)

6th Jul 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

14:55 Ayr

Showmethewayhome

9st 9lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Ewan Whillans

4yo maiden; record of 442 at classified level includes a respectable fourth in this race last year; needs to bounce back from a dismal reappearance effort.

16/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.60
Straight Forecast £9.74
Trifecta £26.40

Selections

Telegraph:

Second Fiddle

SPOTLIGHT:

Spirit Of Bowland

Daily Mail:

Blue Siam

The Times:

Wheres The Crumpet

POSTDATA:

Pop Favorite

The Guardian:

Second Fiddle

D Express:

Second Fiddle

Daily Mirror:

Second Fiddle

The Sun:

Second Fiddle

The Star:

Second Fiddle

Daily Record:

Second Fiddle

RP RATINGS:

Spirit Of Bowland