February 08 / 14.30 Newcastle

14.30

Heavy

Virgin Bet A Good Bet Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5446
  • 2m 4f 62y
  • Class 4
  • 11 runners
SKY
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Virgin Bet A Good Bet Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

Form: 0300

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 5

14:57 Carlisle

Au Plaisir

11st 11lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

Placed in big-field Irish bumper in September; unable to get seriously competitive in three maiden/novice hurdles for new stable this year but there was some promise at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft) last time, and he should have more improvement to come in handicaps.

7/1

5th

2

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 4

13:05 Newcastle

Au Plaisir

11st 7lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Definite promise in two Irish bumpers but nothing like so good in a bumper and two hurdle runs for current yard.

50/1

5th

5

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

14:00 Kelso

Au Plaisir

11st 0lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: Rebecca Menzies

Definite promise in two Irish bumpers but nothing like so good in a bumper and maiden hurdle for current yard.

200/1

Form: 670

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
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No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

8th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 4

15:20 Carlisle

Big Jon

11st 5lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Offered little in a pair of bumpers and it's been a similar story in 2m novice hurdles at Newcastle and Kelso this year; significantly more is required from this son of Elusive Pimpernel.

66/1

10th

6

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

14:00 Kelso

Big Jon

11st 0lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

No impact in either bumper (soft/good to soft) and tailed off at 150-1 on last month's hurdle debut at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft).

200/1

OUR TIP

Form: P

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 4

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 44

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 75U-0P

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

14:35 Cartmel

King Kodiak

10st 12lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

0-11 over hurdles and prone to clumsy jumping; belied 33-1 odds when second at Perth (2m, good) last month and didn't run badly over 2m4f there 16 days ago but others look less risky.

12/1

7th

8

2nd Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

15:50 Perth

King Kodiak

10st 10lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

Ran one of his best races since going handicapping when second to Betteryouthanme (who's now 4lb worse off for just over 1l) over 2m at Hexham last time (good; 33-1); has run creditably at this trip; a possible.

8/1

2nd

11

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

14:42 Perth

King Kodiak

10st 10lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

Placed off 5lb higher at Carlisle (2m3f, good to soft) in April but has very mixed record over hurdles and is sometimes a clumsy jumper; safely held on last two outings; others look much safer.

20/1

Form: 8423

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 7

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 9

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 3

Last run: 75 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 1149/P BF

Last run: 60 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

23rd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 110y

Class 4

14:25 Ayr

Union Avenue

11st 9lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: James Moffatt

Two bumpers wins in late 2023 (good to soft/soft) and mid-division in the Champion Bumper later that season; then absent until December 2025, when pulled up on hurdle debut; however, he was sent off favourite and may have needed that outing; wears first-time cheekpieces; not written off.

11/1

9th

19

13th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

17:30 Cheltenham

Union Avenue

11st 7lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: James Moffatt

Edged home at Kelso (good to soft) and Aintree (soft) before coming up short in a Listed race won by Royal Infantry on heavy ground at Newbury; perhaps a future flagbearer for the yard but an unlikely winner of this.

100/1

Verdict

With his course form (on similar ground last time) setting the standard, this looks a good opportunity for LOULOU MADRIK. Johnny Moonshine, Finbarr and Malayalam are feared in that order of preference, though a back-to-form Union Avenue would make them all go.[Alistair Jones]