17:00 Newcastle

Monday 31 March 2025

All14:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:00

Grand National At Fleet Street Newcastle Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 4m 9.38s

Willie Shake Hands^t⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Tom Midgley⁽³⁾| T: S England| OR: 105

10/3

Lightly-raced 6-y-o who posted just about his best effort yet when going close in 13-runner handicap hurdle here over C&D only paying the price late on having pulled hard. Another big run expected provided he settles.

Form: P64362

Jumping Jupiter^t¹⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Maggs| T: M Walford| OR: 101

10/3

Opened his account at Hexham in May but a below form since, latest effort coming in a first-time tongue tie when twelfth of 15 in handicap hurdle at Kelso (16.2f, good to soft) 156 days ago. Has gone well fresh but has a bit to find with the best of these.

Form: 3P-2160

Socks Off^p²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: William Maggs| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 98

16/1

A fair hurdler/chaser who ran his best race for current connections when third in a hunter chase at Carlisle (20.9f) 22 days ago and now reverts to hurdles racing off his latest winning mark. Interesting contender.

Form: 5-623P3

Wild Nephin^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Freddie Mitchell| T: R Potter| OR: 96

7/2

Attracted lots of market support when disappointing at Chepstow on penultimate run over hurdles but bounced back to form last time when runner-up behind a well-treated stable-switcher at Huntingdon (15.8f) 19 days ago. Wears first-time tongue tie and looks interesting over this stiffer test.

Form: 364P52

The Dipper³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 83

18/1

Well-held in bumper and qualifying runs, although did show a bit more (after 7 weeks off) when seventh of 10 in novice hurdle over C&D (good) 37 days ago. May be better suited by handicaps but this test may still prove on the sharp side.

Form: 8-7607

Mix De Gris^h²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Alan Doyle| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 91

15/2

Can race freely but got back on track when fourth of 13 in handicap hurdle over C&D last month (good to soft) and wasn't disgraced faced with more testing conditions at Ayr last time. Looks feasibly treated and could have a say back on better ground.

Form: P25644

Moran's Law^t⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 79

6/1

Hasn't looked a natural jumper so far and improvement was not forthcoming when fifth of 10 on handicap debut at Sedgefield last time. Drops back in trip but needs more.

Form: 0-5P85

Belle Na Bann^t³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Joshua Thompson⁽⁸⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 77| CD

10/1

Successful at this venue in December 2023 before landing double at Catterick following month. Form has been in and out since, disappointing fifth of 11 in handicap hurdle over C&D 37 days ago. Below her latest winning mark but hasn't looked like capitalising of late (2 lb out of handicap).

Form: 290275

Likleman³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Edward Austin| T: H McMahon| OR: 87

100/1

Modest miler on the Flat and has proved headstrong in maiden/juvenile hurdles this season. Makes stable debut from 2 lb out of the handicap and needs to settle better to hold a chance on handicap debut.

Form: 647

Forecasts

Willie Shake Hands (10/3), Jumping Jupiter (10/3), Wild Nephin (7/2), Moran's Law (6/1), Mix De Gris (15/2), Belle Na Bann (10/1), Socks Off (16/1), The Dipper (18/1), Likleman (100/1)

WILLIE SHAKE HANDS caught the eye when second over C&D last time and has good claims of getting off the mark if racing more efficiently. Mix de Gris looks fairly handicapped and makes appeal back on a sounder surface, while recent runner-up Wild Nephin merits plenty of respect over this stiffer test. Socks Off is worth a market check racing off his last winning hurdles mark.