March 21 / 18.30 Newcastle (AW)

18.30

Standard

Read Meg Nicholls’ Blog At betmgm.co.uk Handicap

  • Prize money: £3768.48
  • 1m 0f 5y
  • Class 6
  • 9 runners
SKY
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Read Meg Nicholls’ Blog At betmgm.co.uk Handicap

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Cloudy

14/1 (Won)

  • Win: £65.10
  • Place: £5.40

Form: 5134-9

Last run: 43 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
Won a Wolverhampton nursery (7f, Tapeta) on his penultimate run for Richard Hughes but he's been out of sorts in two runs for new yard this winter; had wind surgery last month but he needs a major revival back up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

10

(4)

6th Jul 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 5

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Smartanck

9st 2lb

J: Harry Russell

T: Antony Brittain

Recorded his second success, at Newcastle (1m, AW) in March off this mark, but has been beaten 43l, 58l and 27l since; first-time blinkers need to have a significant impact.

50/1

12th

6

(4)

25th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

14:02 Newcastle (AW)

Smartanck

9st 8lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Antony Brittain

50-1 winner over 1m here (first start since wind surgery) in March; has failed to beat a rival in two subsequent starts, tailed off (beaten 58l) at Doncaster six weeks ago; difficult to know what to expect.

33/1

14th

4

(9)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 213y

Class 6

19:40 Doncaster

Smartanck

9st 9lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Antony Brittain

Dual Tapeta winner, including at 50-1 in March on his first start since wind surgery; tailed off on turf at the same price early last month, since when he's been gelded; a shock to see him take this.

50/1

15/2

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 236-25

Last run: 43 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Eight-race maiden who has finished runner-up in two of his handicaps but his form has been up and down so far and he didn't fire when stepped up to 1m here (3-1) last month; others are more convincing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

(6)

16th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

16:52 Ripon

Sailor Batt

9st 7lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: David & Nicola Barron

Remains a maiden after nine starts but he's been runner-up in two handicaps (including on turf) and was a close third at Newcastle (1m, AW) most recently; every chance he'll be thereabouts once more.

5/1

OUR TIP

Form: 028-24

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
20-1 second on handicap debut at Southwell (1m, Tapeta) in January but that was behind an emphatic winner and he was only fourth of seven here (7f) last month; remains unexposed after only five runs but he needs improvement back up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(7)

9th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 213y

Class 6

16:30 Doncaster

Norcross Brow

9st 9lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Charlie Clover

First run for this yard when third in a Class 5 at Newmarket (1m) and then comfortably justified odds of 8-11 in a Class 6 at Brighton (7f, good to firm); 5lb higher here even with a 6lb penalty and probably the one to beat.

Evs

1st

4

(6)

30th Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 210y

Class 6

17:15 Brighton

Norcross Brow

9st 6lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Charlie Clover

Bounced back to form when third of seven on his stable debut at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) last Friday; should go well again.

7/4

3rd

9

(6)

26th Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

18:25 Newmarket (July)

Norcross Brow

8st 13lb

J: George Wood

T: Charlie Clover

0-7 but he's shown enough at 1m on the AW to think there's a race in him and perhaps the first-time hood (now discarded) allied to good to soft ground combined against him back on turf at Ripon in April; sold for 8,000gns since; worth a look on debut for new yard.

9/2

Form: 476-1 C

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
Well held in three novice/maiden events at Kempton in the autumn but he returned after a gelding operation with a comfortable win on handicap debut here (7f) two weeks ago; up 4lb but he justified favouritism with that success and is open to more progress back up in trip; big player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

(7)

17th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 80y

Class 6

18:45 Ffos Las

Kingofthecarnival

9st 6lb

J: Harry Vigors

T: Archie Watson

Made a successful reappearance/handicap debut at Newcastle (7f, AW) in March, but hasn't really kicked on since; something to prove now making his turf debut in first-time cheekpieces.

12/1

11th

8

(9)

20th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

19:00 Kempton (AW)

Kingofthecarnival

9st 6lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

Returned from five months off to make a successful handicap debut at Newcastle (7f, Tapeta) in March, but hasn't built on it albeit not disgraced when fourth of 12 here (7f) last month; return to this trip not sure to suit.

9/1

4th

6

(12)

30th Apr 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

17:45 Kempton (AW)

Kingofthecarnival

9st 7lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Archie Watson

Emphatically got off the mark at Newcastle (7f) on his return but he went too freely when only seventh (6-5 favourite) in 1m handicap there later in March; he's worth another chance dropped back in trip.

11/1

Form: 88701- C

Last run: 135 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 60

Form & Verdict
Struggled in first four runs but he found lots of improvement when winning by a nose in 7f handicap here (50-1) in November; 4lb higher on this step back up in trip but he still has potential and needs a close look on his return; didn't wear headgear last time but blinkers are now reapplied.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

(3)

19th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

14:50 Redcar

Secret Testimony

9st 6lb

J: Zak Wheatley

T: Declan Carroll

50-1 when narrowly landing a Newcastle nursery (7f, AW) in November, but not matched that form in three starts since returning in April, including when attracting market support over C&D last month.

12/1

7th

1

(4)

18th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

16:43 Redcar

Secret Testimony

9st 9lb

J: Zak Wheatley

T: Declan Carroll

Handed a 4lb rise for his shock Tapeta winner late last year (only decent effort thus far) and has finished well held in two runs back; will need to improve a deal on last year's turf work but this is easier.

8/1

10/1

Form: 81516- C

Last run: 149 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
Has a patchy profile but he scored twice on AW last year including an emphatic win here (1m2f) on his penultimate run; returns after five months off but he still has scope for further progress and his first win was over 7f; tongue-tie is added and he's not ruled out on this drop back in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

(3)

29th Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 6y

Class 6

17:30 Pontefract

Captain Bruce

8st 10lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Andrew Crook

Dual AW winner for previous yard; has achieved little on turf, latterly in two starts for new stable; enough to prove.

33/1

8th

8

(1)

28th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

14:35 Ripon

Captain Bruce

9st 4lb

J: Sam James

T: Andrew Crook

Won 7f/1m2f AW handicaps for Nigel Tinkler last year but has finished tailed off on all three starts this term, including back on turf for new yard 16 days ago.

40/1

9th

6

(3)

12th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 207y

Class 6

17:10 Beverley

Captain Bruce

9st 1lb

J: Sam James

T: Andrew Crook

Won 7f/1m2f AW handicaps for previous yard but has finished tailed off in both runs this season; changed yards.

50/1

Form: 04-54

Last run: 43 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 64

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

Form: 3-06

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 58

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

Form: 789-6

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 57

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

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £298.50
Straight Forecast £403.32
Tricast £2396.43
Trifecta £1432.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Kingofthecarnival

Telegraph:

Captain Bruce

RP RATINGS:

Kingofthecarnival

POSTDATA:

Kingofthecarnival

The Times:

Kingofthecarnival

The Guardian:

Kingofthecarnival

Daily Mail:

Kingofthecarnival

D Express:

Kingofthecarnival

Daily Mirror:

Kingofthecarnival

The Star:

Kingofthecarnival

Daily Record:

Kingofthecarnival