April 13 / 20.30 Newcastle (AW)

20.30

Standard

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  • Prize money: £3977.84
  • 0m 5f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
SKY
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Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Showers

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £8.50
  • Place: £2.20

Form: 2543-9 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 1lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Should come on for last month's Southwell reappearance; returning to a stiff 5f no bad thing either and it will be interesting to see how he fares in the betting with Paul Midgley running three here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(4)

17th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 7y

Class 4

20:25 Hamilton

Rock Of England

9st 6lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Paul Midgley

6yo who has enjoyed a renaissance in 2026, winning twice (5f, AW/good) and posting a close second at Ripon (5f, good) latest; there remains mileage in his mark judged on old form and this course winner is respected.

3/1

2nd

6

(5)

6th Jul 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

19:40 Ripon

Rock Of England

9st 6lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Paul Midgley

Has a record of 2-4 this term and scored over C&D (good) most recently; creeping back up the weights but remains well handicapped on historical data (peak mark was 15lb higher); major contender.

9/2

1st

6

(8)

3rd Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

20:12 Ripon

Rock Of England

9st 5lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Paul Midgley

Resumed winning ways on AW at Newcastle (5f; beating stablemate Herakles) in April; ran well from this revised mark at Pontefract (5f; third, reportedly bled from the nose) subsequently; trainer won this in 2021, 2022, and 2024, so he's one to have on the shortlist.

4/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 244-44 CD

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 1lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Three of his four wins have come over C&D; not beaten far at Southwell on his last two starts; dropped another 1lb and he's a leading contender back at this track; stable runs three here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(4)

28th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

17:20 Ripon

Herakles

9st 8lb

J: Mark Winn

T: Paul Midgley

C&D winner; consistent in defeat on AW before making a successful return to turf at Nottingham (5f, good) 19 days ago, with reopposing Dc Cogent and Marajito behind in third and fifth; did that quite comfortably but a 6lb rise puts him 3lb above his highest win mark of 66; has also yet to score back-to-back in his 41-race career.

2/1

1st

7

(9)

9th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 8y

Class 5

16:00 Nottingham

Herakles

9st 2lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Paul Midgley

Has reached the frame on AW in his last six starts including when a close second at Newcastle (5f; tongue-tie added) last month; record of 1-21 on turf but conditions should be fine back in this sphere and he had a close call off 1lb higher at Beverley last summer; interesting contender for yard that has won this race in the last two years.

3/1

2nd

5

(2)

13th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

20:30 Newcastle (AW)

Herakles

9st 1lb

J: Mark Winn

T: Paul Midgley

Three of his four wins have come over C&D; not beaten far at Southwell on his last two starts; dropped another 1lb and he's a leading contender back at this track; stable runs three here.

4/1

20/1

  • Place: £2.60

Form: 5-9748 CD

Last run: 9 days

W: 8st 13lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 60

Form & Verdict
Veteran who never featured in a 6f handicap at Wolverhampton nine days ago; drops back to 5f with a point to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(5)

25th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 6

17:30 Southwell (AW)

Brian The Snail

9st 8lb

J: Donagh Murphy

T: Patrick Morris

Veteran with 14 wins on his CV; kept on for third when dropped back to 5f at Newcastle 12 days ago but is inconsistent nowadays and younger rivals appeal more.

8/1

3rd

8

(7)

13th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

20:30 Newcastle (AW)

Brian The Snail

8st 13lb

J: William Pyle

T: Patrick Morris

Veteran who never featured in a 6f handicap at Wolverhampton nine days ago; drops back to 5f with a point to prove.

20/1

8th

6

(1)

4th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 5

18:55 Wolverhampton (AW)

Brian The Snail

9st 0lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Patrick Morris

Slow-starting veteran who is having his 100th outing this evening; he has won 14 times already and his latest Newcastle fourth was a solid effort; should go well again.

10/1

OUR TIP

6/1

Form: 42-364 CD

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
His only win came over C&D but that was a maiden in which he was a red-hot favourite; three solid efforts in 6f handicaps this year and he can't be dismissed back a 5f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(5)

16th Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

17:20 Thirsk

Dc Cogent

9st 9lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Bryan Smart

On a very long losing run and he came in last of eight in 5f Ripon handicap 19 days ago; others are preferred.

10/1

8th

4

(1)

28th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

17:20 Ripon

Dc Cogent

9st 5lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Bryan Smart

AW maiden winner; 0-14 in handicaps but is in a consistent vein of form, reaching the frame three times this spring, including third to Herakles at Nottingham (5f, good); met trouble when a beaten favourite at Carlisle last week and can have that effort ignored.

6/1

10/1

Form: 22-790 CD

Last run: 66 days

W: 9st 1lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Runner-up twice over C&D in December; less good since and he needs his 66-day break to have a positive effect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(6)

21st May 2026

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 6

17:35 Musselburgh

Ganesha

9st 8lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Phillip Makin

Latest 6f run not the one to judge him on and his earlier 5f runs this year were both encouraging enough; on a dangerous mark if the new headgear has the desired effect.

5/1

13th

3

(14)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

17:57 Thirsk

Ganesha

9st 8lb

J: Sam James

T: Phillip Makin

Just one win since October 2023 and that came on AW; operating off a reduced mark now though and he has been keeping on late in 5f handicaps this spring; has his first 6f start in nearly two years but a tongue-tie is now added and he's not discounted.

8/1

6th

5

(10)

3rd May 2026

Good

0m 5f 7y

Class 6

17:00 Hamilton

Ganesha

9st 5lb

J: Sam James

T: Phillip Makin

Four wins divided between turf and the AW; some sign of returning to form from off the pace at Newcastle 20 days ago (5f); possible.

6/1

11/2

Form: 658563 CD

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Four 5f wins on Tapeta, two of them at this track; attracted support and returned to form with a closing third at Wolverhampton nine days ago; 1lb lower today; considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

29th May 2026

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 5

20:25 Wolverhampton (AW)

Blue Force

8st 11lb

J: Ethan Tindall

T: Antony Brittain

Has won on all three Tapeta tracks, most recently over C&D in December, not as good since and although he ran better back here in April, he found little at Newcastle next time; others more likely.

16/1

6th

3

(1)

13th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

20:30 Newcastle (AW)

Blue Force

9st 3lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Antony Brittain

Four 5f wins on Tapeta, two of them at this track; attracted support and returned to form with a closing third at Wolverhampton nine days ago; 1lb lower today; considered.

11/2

3rd

4

(1)

4th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 5

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Blue Force

9st 7lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Antony Brittain

Beat Candy Warhol over C&D in December off this mark; unplaced in five runs since but he is well drawn and a revival wouldn't be a huge shock; stable also runs Toomuchforme.

8/1

Form: 4-8573 CD

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
Having slipped in the weights he returned to form with a close third at Southwell five weeks ago; won't be inconvenienced by this stiffer test and he is one to take seriously.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

(9)

13th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

20:30 Newcastle (AW)

Darlo Pride

9st 2lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Michael Dods

Having slipped in the weights he returned to form with a close third at Southwell five weeks ago; won't be inconvenienced by this stiffer test and he is one to take seriously.

7/2

3rd

9

(1)

10th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 5

18:45 Southwell (AW)

Darlo Pride

9st 1lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Michael Dods

Shaped well on his return from a 258-day absence when fourth at Newcastle in December; yet to kick on from that and others look more persuasive.

14/1

7th

6

(3)

6th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

18:30 Newcastle (AW)

Darlo Pride

9st 3lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Michael Dods

Not at his best since returning from a nine-month absence, just fifth to Digital over C&D last time out; more is required from this C&D winner.

10/1

33/1

Form: 15700- CD

Last run: 137 days

W: 8st 11lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 58

Form & Verdict
Made all in a first-time visor over C&D last September; ended 2025 quietly and although he is only 1lb higher than for his win, he returns from a break with a point to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

(1)

15th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

16:40 Catterick

Zuffolo

9st 5lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Michael Dods

Back on track with second at Redcar (5f) in April but has finished down the field twice since; bounce back needed.

16/1

8th

1

(5)

22nd Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 6

16:15 Musselburgh

Zuffolo

9st 9lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Michael Dods

Fair 5f scorer who got back on track with second at Redcar (5f) in April; not best drawn when tenth in 5f Thirsk handicap since and remains one to be interested in off a 2lb lower mark.

9/2

10th

8

(12)

5th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

14:50 Thirsk

Zuffolo

9st 6lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Michael Dods

Won off this mark at Newcastle (5f; 7-1; first-time visor) last September but mostly disappointing since until chasing home Beerwah at Redcar (5f, good to firm; 16-1) five weeks ago; is 5lb better off with that rival here; one of two for trainer Michael Dods.

7/1

14/1

Form: 00-087 CD

Last run: 38 days

W: 8st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 52

Form & Verdict
His penultimate start (C&D), his first after a wind op, offered hope he might be ready to exploit his much-reduced mark; less good over 6f last month and now steps back up in class.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

10

(12)

5th Jul 2026

Good

0m 7f 50y

Class 6

17:35 Ayr

Bonito Cavalo

9st 3lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

Six-time AW winner but not since March 2024, and his turf strike-rate is 0-28; probably worth another crack at 7f but has been out of form over sprint trips for a good while now; considered only if lively in betting.

25/1

10th

8

(3)

30th Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 6

17:05 Musselburgh

Bonito Cavalo

9st 1lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Won six times on AW in the first part of 2024 but there hasn't been much to cheer about since; 0-27 on turf but has run well over C&D and the forecast rain won't bother him; still too much to prove for comfort.

14/1

Non-runners

Hover On The Wind

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £47.60
Straight Forecast £39.16
Tricast £276.39
Trifecta £364.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Darlo Pride

Telegraph:

Dc Cogent

The Guardian:

Blue Force

POSTDATA:

Herakles

Daily Mail:

Dc Cogent

D Express:

Dc Cogent

The Star:

Blue Force

Daily Record:

Blue Force

RP RATINGS:

Darlo Pride

TOPSPEED:

Darlo Pride

The Times:

Darlo Pride

Daily Mirror:

Darlo Pride

The Sun:

Herakles