Today / 13.42 Newcastle (AW)

13.42

Standard

Border Minstrel Pub Handicap

  • Prize money: £3245.08
  • 1m 4f 98y
  • Class 6
  • 9 runners
SKY
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Border Minstrel Pub Handicap

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 11P924 C BF

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 54

Form & Verdict
Won twice in June, here over 1m2f and over this trip at Musselburgh; put two lesser runs behind him when second at the latter track (1m5f, good) in July but found the drop back to 1m1f against him there four weeks ago; steps back up in trip with claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

(4)

7th Aug 2026

Good

1m 0f 208y

Class 6

13:50 Musselburgh

Gemini Man

9st 4lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Iain Jardine

Won twice in June (1m2f/1m4f) and put two poor performances behind him when clear second here (1m5f, good) a week ago; can cope with this drop back in trip and is still on a workable mark; ought to make his presence felt.

4/1

2nd

2

(2)

31st Jul 2026

Good

1m 5f 0y

Class 6

17:45 Musselburgh

Gemini Man

9st 9lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Iain Jardine

Won minor events at Newcastle (1m2f, AW) and here (extended 1m4f, good) in June; reportedly bled from the nose in his hat-trick bid and then ran poorly at Newcastle last week; not easy to assess.

9/2

Form: 235244 CD

Last run: 49 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 54

Form & Verdict
C&D winner last April; looked an unlucky loser when runner-up at Beverley (1m4f, good) in June but he's been below his best in both starts since; needs to return to form back on the AW.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

(1)

16th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 16y

Class 6

17:10 Hamilton

Bruce Banner

8st 13lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Rebecca Menzies

A dual 1m4f AW winner (also scored over hurdles) in 2025; running with credit without winning this season until only fourth of five at Beverley (1m4f) 13 days ago; he's the sort to bounce back in a change of headgear.

100/30

4th

4

(2)

3rd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 23y

Class 6

18:00 Beverley

Bruce Banner

9st 5lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Three wins in 2025, two on the AW (1m4f) and once over hurdles; banging at the door on turf this summer, second over C&D ten days ago when not enjoying a clear run; another good run seems likely.

2/1

Form: 8-2770

Last run: 77 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 53

Form & Verdict
21-race maiden (Flat/hurdles); runner-up over this C&D in January off a 7lb higher mark than today's but he's struggled since (Flat/hurdles); returns to the Flat with the tongue-tie discarded.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

11

21st Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

14:13 Hexham

Bouboule

10st 8lb

J: Leah Noreci

T: Gillian Boanas

Eight-race maiden; hasn't been in best of form on the Flat and has plenty to find on his latest run over hurdles.

50/1

11th

7

(11)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 10y

Class 6

13:40 Ripon

Bouboule

10st 4lb

J: Miss Rebecca Hitchen

T: Gillian Boanas

19-race maiden; runner-up at Newcastle (12.5f, AW) in January, but no identifiable positives since; swiftly reverts to the Flat after well held over hurdles at Perth 11 days ago.

50/1

Form: 661461 D

Last run: 8 days

W: 9st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 49

Form & Verdict
Landed a Catterick handicap in May on his second start for Joey Ramsden and got off to the perfect start for this stable in a classified event at Wolverhampton (1m4f, AW) eight days ago, winning decisively; returns to handicap company with strong claims under a 4lb penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(1)

26th Aug 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

16:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Lawmans Blis

9st 9lb

J: Liam Wright

T: Jessica Macey

Four of his seven wins have come over 1m4f/1m6f here and showed he retained ability when winning a handicap at Catterick (1m4f, good) in May; now makes his debut for his eighth different trainer (same owners) and his course record makes him of interest.

9/1

6th

9

(4)

13th Jun 2026

Good

1m 3f 179y

Class 6

20:00 Leicester

Lawmans Blis

9st 0lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Joey Ramsden

Won on his second start for this stable (and second run since wind surgery) at Catterick (1m4f, good) last month and did best of those from off the pace when fourth in a classified at Newcastle (1m2f, AW) 11 days ago; stepping back up in trip looks a good move and he's a contender.

4/1

Form: -75780 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 52

Form & Verdict
Three-time course winner when trained by Tom Tate (1m2f/1m4f) but he's mostly struggled following slow starts since joining this stable; has plenty to prove at present.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

4

(5)

20th Aug 2026

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

18:19 Newcastle (AW)

Brunello Breeze

9st 12lb

J: Jack Garritty

T: Liam Bailey

All three wins have come here (1m2f-1m4f); yet to recapture his best for this yard and he looked to wonder whether he fancied leaving the stalls on his return from 146-day break at Catterick a fortnight ago.

33/1

8th

1

(7)

4th Aug 2026

Good

1m 4f 13y

Class 6

16:15 Catterick

Brunello Breeze

10st 0lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Liam Bailey

All three wins have been on the AW at Newcastle (1m2f/1m4f) and his best efforts on turf have been at Haydock; never dangerous at the former track over 1m2f in March and may need this first outing since.

18/1

Form: -56596

Last run: 37 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 52

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

Form: 76-411 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 51

Form & Verdict
Held off a late challenge from Bruce Banner when winning at Beverley (1m4f, good) in June and followed up at Hamilton (1m4f, good) last time, getting up late to record a narrow success; now 2-2 over 1m4f and she can't be dismissed in her bid for the hat-trick.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(6)

11th Aug 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 15y

Class 6

20:30 Hamilton

Satyress

9st 7lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Harriet Bethell

Achieved little last season but much better in two runs this time, getting off the mark in a messy Beverley affair seven weeks ago off 2lb lower (unlucky runner-up has done little for the effort since); this looks stronger but she may yet have more to offer.

4/1

Form: -76452

Last run: 8 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 49

Form & Verdict
13-race maiden; behind Satyress when fifth at Hamilton (1m4f, good; first-time blinkers) last month before finishing second to an improving rival at Catterick (1m4f, good to firm) eight days ago; drop in trip won't be an issue and he has each-way claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(3)

26th Aug 2026

Good

1m 5f 192y

Class 6

15:45 Catterick

Mr Withington

9st 6lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Ewan Whillans

Best efforts have come at around 1m2f; ran okay when fifth of eight in first-time blinkers at Hamilton (1m4f, good) but they went very steady; might get outstayed over this far.

12/1

5th

3

(4)

11th Aug 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 15y

Class 6

20:30 Hamilton

Mr Withington

9st 9lb

J: Greg Fairley

T: Ewan Whillans

Best efforts have come at around 1m2f and he hasn't looked to see it out in a handful of starts over further, latterly in first-time cheekpieces (switches to blinkers tonight) at Musselburgh 11 days ago; on a competitive mark now otherwise.

10/1

Form: 6700-8 D

Last run: 200 days

W: 9st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 46

Form & Verdict
Dundalk winner over 1m4f in February 2024, that being his only previous win; has beaten only one rival home in five starts since joining this stable and now has cheekpieces back on having been absent for 200 days; best watched unless the market speaks in his favour.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

12

(2)

11th Jun 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 6

20:40 Kempton (AW)

Neddies Boy

8st 12lb

J: Trevor Whelan

T: Daragh Bourke

Sole win from 16 starts came on Dundalk AW (1m4f) in February 2024; has failed to beat a rival in three starts since joining this yard; others preferred.

14/1

10th

7

(7)

28th Apr 2025

Good

1m 5f 26y

Class 6

17:13 Ayr

Neddies Boy

9st 2lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Daragh Bourke

slightly awkward start, took keen hold, held up in rear

12/1

Betting Forcast

5/1 Gemini Man, 8/1 Bruce Banner, 16/1 Bouboule, 11/4 Lawmans Blis, 25/1 Brunello Breeze, 20/1 Porters Song, 5/2 Satyress, 5/1 Mr Withington, 25/1 Neddies Boy

Verdict

The step up to 1m4f has helped Satyress (second choice) and she can’t be dismissed in her bid for the hat-trick, but LAWMANS BLIS (nap) decisively landed a Wolverhampton classified event on his stable debut and can follow up under a 4lb penalty. Stepping back up in trip will suit Gemini Man and he’s another to consider. [Harry March]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Lawmans Blis

The Guardian:

Satyress

Telegraph:

Mr Withington

The Times:

Porter's Song

D Express:

Neddies Boy

The Sun:

Satyress

The Star:

Satyress

Daily Mail:

Mr Withington

RP RATINGS:

Lawmans Blis

POSTDATA:

Lawmans Blis

Daily Mirror:

Lawmans Blis

Daily Record:

Lawmans Blis