16:00 Newcastle

Monday 3 March 2025

All13:5014:2514:5515:2516:0016:3017:00

Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 4m 4.3s

Bathgate²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Joe Williamson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 110| D

7/2

Beaten a fair way back from a break at Kelso in October but hasn't looked back since, winning twice during a consistent string of efforts in handicaps at around 2m. Latest second off 2 lb lower at Catterick was solid and this 5-y-o is likely to be in the thick of things once again.

Form: 241212

The Grafter^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 108| BF

5/2

Low-mileage sort who has yet to pick up a race but he's been knocking on the door of late, finding just one too good on each of his last 3 starts. Clearly not short of ability but, equally, his attitude is questionable (often seems somewhat reluctant when push comes to shove), so there are doubts.

Form: 4-34222

Rewired³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Reed| T: T Davidson| OR: 107| D

7/1

Won 2m handicaps at Doncaster and Taunton last winter but yet to fire for current yard and, though now down in class and 13 lb below his last winning mark, others make more appeal.

Form: 843860

Travis Wheatley²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Danny McMenamin| T: B Ellison| OR: 105

10/3

Point winner last spring and shaped encouragingly switched to Rules when second a bumper here in October. Has failed to threaten in novice events since switched to hurdles but mark for this handicap bow looks fair and he's one to note in the betting.

Form: 12444

Rory The Cat^b,t³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 105

25/1

Dual winner of juvenile hurdles at Musselburgh last winter and added to his tally on the Flat there in August. Well held both starts so far this season but he's slipped to an attractive mark as a consequence and yard in good form, so there are reasons to be optimistic.

Form: 1165-60

Galahad Threepwood^h¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Craig Nichol| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 104

10/1

With fitness on his side from the Flat, shaped well on hurdles debut for this yard when third in an 11-runner C&D handicap in January. Subsequent fourth over 2½m back here the following month was no more than respectable, though, and he's evidently not as good as he once was.

Form: 0/767-34

Fostered Phil^t³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 104| C

15/2

His appearances have been sporadic and his mileage is very low for a horse of his age. However, yet to run a bad race and proved that ability remains intact following 21 months off when third of 15 at Musselburgh (15.6f, good to soft). Live each-way chance off the same mark here.

Form: 1234/2-3

Non-Runners

Russian Virtue²⁸

Weight: 12-0| Age: 8

T: D Thompson J: Joshua Thompson

Old But Gold⁹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 6

T: M Todhunter J: Henry Brooke

Forecasts

The Grafter (5/2), Travis Wheatley (10/3), Bathgate (7/2), Rewired (7/1), Fostered Phil (15/2), Old But Gold (8/1), Galahad Threepwood (10/1), Russian Virtue (20/1), Rory The Cat (25/1)

The vote goes to BATHGATE, who has been at the top of his game of late and appears to still be on a competitive mark judged on his latest effort at Catterick. Rory The Cat has been given a chance by the handicapper and will be a big threat if able to get back on track. The lightly-raced veteran Fostered Phil commands respect on the back of an encouraging comeback run at Musselburgh, while handicap debutants Old But Gold and Travis Wheatley both need a second look in the betting.