March 14 / 16.00 Newcastle

16.00

Good To Soft

Smirnoff At Spy Bar Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £6337.2
  • 2m 0f 190y
  • Class 3
  • 4 runners
SKY
View Course
Smirnoff At Spy Bar Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Qualifier)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.50

Form: 1-642P D

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Poached a nice advantage but unable to hold off a progressive rival at Haydock (2m, good; in added cheekpieces) on penultimate start; pulled up in deep in a Premier Handicap at Newbury (50-1) latest; chance back in calmer waters.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

3

9th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 144y

Class 1

13:15 Haydock

Bucephalus

11st 8lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Neil Mulholland

Front-runner who regularly gives his all and was beaten off only on the run-in when third to Dance And Glance over C&D (good) five weeks ago; should make another bold bid but several of these look less exposed.

20/1

3rd

2

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 144y

Class 2

14:12 Haydock

Bucephalus

11st 13lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Neil Mulholland

Front-runner who was second over C&D (good) in December and bounced back from being pulled up in the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury (heavy) to make all in four-runner handicap at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft); has a career-high mark in this hotter race but he did it comfortably last time; could make a bold bid.

8/1

1st

2

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 3

16:00 Newcastle

Bucephalus

11st 13lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Neil Mulholland

Poached a nice advantage but unable to hold off a progressive rival at Haydock (2m, good; in added cheekpieces) on penultimate start; pulled up in deep in a Premier Handicap at Newbury (50-1) latest; chance back in calmer waters.

4/1

Form: 2-1125 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Won back to back at Aintree & Hexham (both 2m4f) last summer, rising to a career-high mark of 134; kicked off 2026 with a solid effort at Doncaster (2m4f, soft; runner-up) and he's capable of bouncing back from a lesser effort at Kelso since.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

15th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

18:20 Aintree

Fingals Hill

11st 5lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Peter Atkinson

5lb higher than when a 6l winner of this last year, beating Ike Sport; returns on the back of two solid efforts at Newcastle; chance.

6/1

2nd

1

31st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 3

16:00 Newcastle

Fingals Hill

12st 0lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Peter Atkinson

This race was one of the three he won last season, all of them on good or good to soft at this trip; on his last winning mark and, after his running-on second over 2m1f here last time, should go well again.

2/1

2nd

1

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 3

16:00 Newcastle

Fingals Hill

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Peter Atkinson

Won back to back at Aintree & Hexham (both 2m4f) last summer, rising to a career-high mark of 134; kicked off 2026 with a solid effort at Doncaster (2m4f, soft; runner-up) and he's capable of bouncing back from a lesser effort at Kelso since.

5/1

Form: 7-1362 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Made all to win novice at Perth (2m, good to soft) in September and resumed his progression when second over C&D (good to soft) three weeks ago; leading claims for yard in a rich vein of form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

16:10 Perth

The Hatchet

11st 11lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Winner of a C&D novice hurdle in September (good to soft); mainly fair form since, although only third of four at 1-2 in a Newcastle handicap last time (2m1f, good to soft); tongue-tie now tried; each-way chance.

8/1

3rd

5

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 3

16:00 Newcastle

The Hatchet

10st 12lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Made all to win novice at Perth (2m, good to soft) in September and resumed his progression when second over C&D (good to soft) three weeks ago; leading claims for yard in a rich vein of form.

9/4

2nd

8

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 3

15:20 Newcastle

The Hatchet

11st 7lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

In two 2m novices he won at Perth before a rallying third at Ayr; handicap debut was underwhelming but that was over 2m4f and perhaps this is his trip.

13/2

Form: U-3015

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 112

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

Non-runners

Haarar, Smokeringinthedark

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £15.70
Straight Forecast £24.06
Trifecta £39.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

The Hatchet

Telegraph:

Haarar

TOPSPEED:

Fingal's Hill

The Times:

Smokeringinthedark

RP RATINGS:

Bucephalus

POSTDATA:

The Hatchet

The Guardian:

The Hatchet

D Express:

The Hatchet

The Sun:

The Hatchet

The Star:

The Hatchet

Daily Record:

The Hatchet

Daily Mail:

Haarar

Daily Mirror:

Fingal's Hill