18:45 Newcastle

Friday 5 December 2025

All15:1515:4516:1516:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:15

Midnite A Next Generation Betting App Handicap (Div 2)

3YO plus | Class 5 | 5f | 9 Runners | Allweather

(5)

Castan^p⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: K Shoemark| T: B Smart| OR: 75| CD

11/4

Four-time C&D winner who finished fifth of 7 in handicap at this C&D (11/4) 9 days ago, too free early and that told late on. With strong course form and currently on last winning mark, he remains well treated.

Form: 776405

(7)

Dark Kestrel^t⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 73| CD

13/2

C&D winner who finished fourth of 7 in handicap over C&D (11/2) 9 days ago, staying on after being slowly into stride. Chance if breaking better than has typically been the case.

Form: 491404

(6)

Brave Empire^p1³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: George Wood| T: I Furtado| OR: 72

10/1

Third of 5 in a claimer at Leicester (7/2) 38 days ago. Cheekpieces on dropped back markedly in trip.

Form: 447093

(9)

Darlo Pride^t²⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Rhys Elliott⁽⁵⁾| T: M Dods| OR: 70| CD

9/1

Consistent at 5f on AW with a 2nd and 3rd over C&D early in 2025. Finished ninth of 11 here (7/1) in March when meeting trouble and blinkers removed on first start for over 8 months.

Form: 462439

(3)

Hover On The Wind⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Barry McHugh| T: P T Midgley| OR: 68| D

11/1

Form has been modest in recent handicaps with eighth of 10 at Redcar (11/1) 72 days ago when never involved and racing awkwardly. Without a win in seven runs and others more persuasive back on the AW.

Form: 505448

(1)

Orbital Chime^b¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Kaiya Fraser| T: K Scott| OR: 68

3/1

Hadn't been seen to best effect several times before narrow second over C&D and he went one place better in 13-runner handicap at Southwell over 6f (18/1) 14 days ago, finally doubling career tally. Should remain competitive back down in trip at this level.

Form: 806721

(4)

Showtime Mahomes¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Oliver Stammers| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 66| D

6/1

Has shown fair form at times but modest in recent Newcastle runs, including when ninth of 11 in handicap over 6f here (11/1) 13 days ago, albeit he did have to wait for a gap. Very rare 5f outing.

Form: 465479

(8)

Howzak³¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: Billy Garritty| T: L Bailey| OR: 63| C| D

33/1

Eighth of 9 in 6f handicap here in January, racing off the pace and never involved. Absent since.

Form: 3310-08

(2)

Ganesha³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Rowan Scott| T: Phillip Makin| OR: 62| CD

6/1

Has two C&D wins but mixed form lately, though fourth of 12 in handicap at Musselburgh (11/2) 30 days ago was a step in right direction.

Form: 543304

Forecasts

Orbital Chime (11/4), Castan (5/1), Dark Kestrel (11/2), Darlo Pride (6/1), Ganesha (6/1), Showtime Mahomes (8/1), Hover On The Wind (12/1), Brave Empire (12/1), Howzak (20/1)

CASTAN boasts four C&D victories and remains well treated on his last winning mark. His consistent profile counts for plenty at this sort of level and he's just about the one to beat. Orbital Chime finally got his head in front at Southwell recently and should be competitive back at this trip, while Showtime Mahomes may benefit from dropping to 5f.