17:30 Newcastle

Saturday 20 December 2025

All15:1015:4716:2016:5517:3018:0018:3019:00

Bet 10 Get 40 With BetMGM Handicap

Off time: 17:30 | Winning time: 1m 39.88s

(5)

Moon Beginnings²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-13| J: S H James| T: D Loughnane| OR: 87| BF

6/1

Won 7f novice at Chester (12/1) on debut before finishing second of 8 as favourite in 8f novice at Southwell (5/6) 22 days ago, running well with the trip increase. Well-bred sort who may have more to offer on handicap debut.

Form: 12

(4)

Midnight Lion⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Lauren Young⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 83| C

10/3

Course specialist with 7 wins at Newcastle. Finished sixth of 7 in handicap over 7f (18/1) 7 days ago, looking out of his pay grade and below form. Moving back up in trip after recent runs over 7f.

Form: 156156

(2)

Callianassa¹²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Ben Robinson| T: B Ellison| OR: 82| CD

18/1

Won twice at this C&D in June/July 2025 but finished 12th of 18 in handicap at York over 7f (28/1) 121 days ago when found out in better company. Back up in trip and should appreciate return to Newcastle's AW where previous form looks stronger.

Form: 163110

(6)

Tribal Wisdom^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: P Mulrennan| T: Ian Williams| OR: 81| D

11/2

Really thriving at present with wins in last two starts at Wolverhampton, both over 8.6f. First of 11 in handicap at Wolverhampton (5/1) 14 days ago, making good headway out wide before edging ahead in the final 100 yards. Up 3lbs but should continue to give a good account.

Form: 441411

(8)

Al Muqdad¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 80| C

10/3

Useful AW performer who ran third of 10 in handicap at Newcastle (7f) (11/1) 15 days ago, running well despite needing more stoking up without headgear.

Form: 282183

(3)

Flying Fletcher¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Shane Gray| T: R A Fahey| OR: 72| BF| C

9/2

Better on AW than turf, with two course wins at Newcastle. Fifth of 11 in handicap at Newcastle over 7f (13/8) 18 days ago, doing well despite meeting trouble. Previous course form offers hope when stepping back up in trip. Winless in last 16 starts.

Form: 593295

(7)

Starliner⁸²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Kaiya Fraser| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 71| C

14/1

Placed third at Musselburgh two starts ago but sixth of 7 at Hamilton (33/1) when out of depth 82 days ago, well beaten. Returns to AW where has won previously.

Form: 757736

(1)

Lessay^p⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Ryan Kavanagh⁽⁵⁾| T: P Morris| OR: 67

15/2

Won at Wolverhampton over 7f (10/1) two weeks ago and backed that up when second of 8 in handicap at Newcastle over 7f (9/2) 7 days ago, cheekpieces reapplied. Returns to a mile where previous form is less convincing.

Form: 686512

Forecasts

Midnight Lion (10/3), Al Muqdad (10/3), Flying Fletcher (9/2), Tribal Wisdom (11/2), Moon Beginnings (6/1), Lessay (15/2), Starliner (14/1), Callianassa (18/1)

TRIBAL WISDOM is really thriving with consecutive wins at Wolverhampton, making good headway out wide before edging ahead last time, and can defy a 3lb rise. Flying Fletcher is better on all-weather with two course wins here and should appreciate stepping up in trip. Moon Beginnings is one to note making his handicap debut.