October 17 / 18.30 Newcastle (AW)

18.30

Standard

Central – A Decade Running Purely Belta Selling Stakes

  • Prize money: £3888
  • 1m 0f 5y
  • Class 5
  • 6 runners
SKY
View Course
Central – A Decade Running Purely Belta Selling Stakes

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Mostly cloudy

Form: 331521 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Twice successful on turf since August, though his win at 1-3 in a four-runner seller at Musselburgh (1m1f, soft) 16 days ago doesn't add up to much; twice runner-up in four visits here and respected despite 15lb worth of penalties.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

11

(8)

25th Jul 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 5y

Class 4

16:00 Newcastle (AW)

Empirestateofmind

9st 1lb

J: Dougie Costello

T: John & Sean Quinn

A fair 1m1f winner in 2025 but arrives out of sorts, beating one in 1m handicap at Pontefract eight days ago; others are preferred.

40/1

5th

5

(2)

17th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 6y

Class 4

19:42 Pontefract

Empirestateofmind

9st 3lb

J: James Sullivan

T: John & Sean Quinn

A dual winner (around 1m) in 2025 but he's yet to fire this season, only ninth of 11 in 1m Redcar handicap four weeks ago; others appeal more.

20/1

9th

11

(3)

19th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 219y

Class 3

15:25 Redcar

Empirestateofmind

9st 2lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

Has dropped 8lb lower than when last winning a handicap for good reason; his last two starts didn't suggest a return to winning ways was imminent.

14/1

OUR TIP

10/1

Form: 741088 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Winner of nine races including three on AW (6f/7f); won twice on turf (6f/7.6f) in the summer, but not very consistent and this stiff mile may just find him out; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

(5)

21st Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 6y

Class 4

19:15 Hamilton

Abduction

9st 8lb

J: Jake Dickson

T: Jim Goldie

A dual 7f winner early in 2026 and he's holding his form well, beaten a nose when second of five in 7f Ayr handicap 25 days ago; this C&D scorer can make his presence felt.

13/2

2nd

2

(6)

27th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 50y

Class 4

15:15 Ayr

Abduction

10st 0lb

J: Jake Dickson

T: Jim Goldie

Has won twice over 7f this year, the first at Newcastle in January, the latest at Musselburgh in April (good); creditable third on last three starts, latest over C&D three weeks ago; each-way chance.

7/1

3rd

1

(10)

6th Jul 2026

Good

0m 7f 50y

Class 5

15:30 Ayr

Abduction

10st 2lb

J: Jake Dickson

T: Jim Goldie

Multiple wins include three over C&D earlier in his career; has run well on occasions since a narrow Musselburgh win (7f, good) in April off this mark and a recent never-nearer third of eight there under Jake Dickson puts him in this picture; yard runs three.

5/1

Form: 676976

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Both wins have come over 7f (Polytrack/good ground) and has finished out of the frame in his last seven starts; didn't enjoy much luck in a 0-85 handicap over C&D last time, but may find a couple too good on these terms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

(1)

9th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 6y

Class 4

17:05 Doncaster

Stanage

9st 10lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

Won over C&D in March of 2025 off 11lb higher; 0-12 in the meantime and quiet so far this term.

12/1

12th

9

(5)

26th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 5y

Class 4

18:18 Newcastle (AW)

Stanage

9st 11lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

He's 9lb lower than when winning at Doncaster last March and may have needed his comeback run there this March, when mid-division; however, his form went the wrong way as last year developed and he needs to get back on track.

14/1

Form: 193390 CD

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 3lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Multiple winner in his young days including over C&D, but has only managed to win two of his last 31 starts, one of which was on Jersey; may find a couple too strong.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(9)

29th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

18:30 Kempton (AW)

Tempus

9st 8lb

J: William Cox

T: Archie Watson

1lb lower than when scoring in an amateur riders' event at Goodwood (1m, good) in June, but hard to win with these days and latest close third of six came in a Newcastle seller (1m, Tapeta); look elsewhere.

11/1

6

(9)

29th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

18:30 Kempton (AW)

Tempus

9st 8lb

J: William Cox

T: Archie Watson

1lb lower than when scoring in an amateur riders' event at Goodwood (1m, good) in June, but hard to win with these days and latest close third of six came in a Newcastle seller (1m, Tapeta); look elsewhere.

11/1

4

(2)

17th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 5

18:30 Newcastle (AW)

Tempus

10st 3lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

Multiple winner in his young days including over C&D, but has only managed to win two of his last 31 starts, one of which was on Jersey; may find a couple too strong.

7/1

Form: 063906 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Not at his best in handicaps lately, but 10-29 on the AW and 2-2 over C&D in January 2022 when trained by Charles Hills; stable doesn't run many here and he's interesting on these terms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

6

(10)

30th Jul 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 6

17:10 Wolverhampton (AW)

Cephalus

9st 8lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Chelsea Banham

11-time AW winner, the latest a Newcastle seller for the Moores (1m, Tapeta) last October; regressive for this yard in the meantime despite plummeting in the weights; best watched unless the market suggests otherwise.

11/1

10th

7

(12)

7th Jul 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 5

18:10 Wolverhampton (AW)

Cephalus

9st 4lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Chelsea Banham

11-time AW winner; quiet for Chelsea Banham this year but dropping down the weights and he is one of four runners on the card for connections that all require close market surveillance.

9/1

9th

13

(1)

20th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Cephalus

9st 2lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Chelsea Banham

11-time AW winner but he's been out of sorts for new yard since December and was last of eight over C&D last time; mark is tumbling but he has lots to prove and needs a major revival.

66/1

Form: 726434 C

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
0-16 since winning the Spring Mile at Doncaster (1m, soft) in March last year, but running well in handicaps lately while her record here reads 6231; major player on these terms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(8)

18th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 14y

Class 6

15:50 Chepstow

Look Back Smiling

9st 9lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Neil Mulholland

Has done his winning at trips between 6f and 1m; losing run goes back to March 2024 but, following a spell in the doldrums for previous yard and this one, he's been back in better form of late, doing some good late work on the AW at Kempton (1m) and Wolverhampton (about 1m1f); can be involved with Tom Marquand up for the first time

11/4

7th

10

(9)

21st Jul 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 5

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Look Back Smiling

9st 4lb

J: Alexandra Egan

T: Neil Mulholland

Better with each of his three runs for this yard and wasn't beaten far at Kempton a fortnight ago, despite hanging right; stays this far and is quite happy on Tapeta, so he's one to consider.

6/1

3rd

3

(5)

8th Jul 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

20:55 Kempton (AW)

Look Back Smiling

9st 8lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Neil Mulholland

Not the most reliable and winless since March 2024 for Gemma Tutty; hinted at a revival though on just second run for his new yard with fourth of eight in 1m1f handicap at Goodwood last month; not without interest off a tumbling mark with Oisin Murphy up for the first time.

11/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £23.20
Straight Forecast £23.24
Trifecta £101.20

Selections

POSTDATA:

Empirestateofmind

TOPSPEED:

Cephalus

SPOTLIGHT:

Look Back Smiling

LAMBOURN:

Tempus

RP RATINGS:

Look Back Smiling

The Times:

Look Back Smiling

The Guardian:

Cephalus

Daily Mail:

Cephalus

The Star:

Cephalus

Telegraph:

Empirestateofmind

D Express:

Empirestateofmind

Daily Mirror:

Empirestateofmind

Daily Record:

Empirestateofmind