12:15 Newcastle

Thursday 15 January 2026

All11:4512:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:45

Virgin Bet Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div 2)

Off time: 12:15 | Winning time: 4m 7.33s

Alba Crus³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex| D

4/1

Fair Newton Abbot bumper winner in June. Showed benefit of hurdling debut/a wind op when third of 9 in novice hurdle at Catterick (19.3f, good) 30 days ago, smooth headway home turn but no extra run-in. Drop back to 2m no issue and has claims if building on latest run.

Form: 5173

Blazing Echo⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Bruce Lynn| T: Eloise Quayle

400/1

Little impact in a pair of bumpers and plenty to find now sent hurdling.

Form: 69

Freddie Steady Go^t1⁹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽³⁾| T: S Corbett| CD

6/1

Justified support to win a bumper with a turn of foot here on debut and has cemented a positive start with two subsequent thirds (only just behind improving Get On George at Hexham latterly). Isn't bred to be much but has shown enough to be of interest on hurdles debut in first-time tongue tie.

Form: 1-33

Is This For Real^t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Liam Harrison| T: F O'Brien| OR: 113

7/2

£80,000 point winner who landed bumper at Kelso in March. Has shaped with promise both runs over hurdles, bad mistake last when fourth of 14 in novice at Taunton (16.5f, good) 35 days ago. Open to improvement.

Form: 1/51-44

Karma De Cotte²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Mrs J Stephen

200/1

Runner-up on the last of 5 starts in points and only briefly threatened to get involved on Rules debut when fourth in a 7-runner bumper at Musselburgh (15.6f, good to soft) 24 days ago. Related to French hurdle/chase winners and market can guide on hurdles debut.

Form: P/6PU2-4

Noble George⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish

20/1

Runner-up first 2 starts in bumpers (soft) but unsuited by test of speed on previous two runs, latterly when 5 lengths third in a 5-runner maiden at Sedgefield (16.8f, good to soft) on hurdles bow. Likely to do better as his stamina is drawn out.

Form: 225-3

Siege Of Acres^h1¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr

80/1

Made frame both starts in Irish points but low-key start to Rules career. Hooded first time but is likely being campaigned with handicaps in mind.

Form: 44-764

Walk On Son⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: D R Fox| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 105

33/1

Best effort when third in a novice at Carlisle (17.2f) and left with too much to do when 15½ length fourth in a 9-runner novice at this track at this track (20.3f) last time. Remains capable of better and market can guide dropping back down in distance.

Form: 889-734

Madame La Papillon⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Alice Stevens⁽³⁾| T: Miss C Dyson

13/8

Comfortable winner on bumper debut for Laura Morgan in spring 2024 but has stood little racing since. Off 9 months prior to promising hurdle/stable debut, second in 14-runner novice hurdle at Wetherby (2m), no match for fairly useful winner. Leading contender if arriving in similar form.

Form: 1/58-2

Nevershedatear⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Craig Nichol| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

40/1

Won 2-finisher race on sole start in Irish points (Mar 2025) and hinted at ability when well held fifth on hurdles debut at Doncaster (19.4f) in November. Probably a handicap project, unless betting suggests otherwise.

Form: 1-5

Rupert The Prince^p1⁹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Ross Chapman| T: R Menzies| D

13/2

Fair stayer on Flat, successful 3 times in 2025, including on latest outing at Bath. Sold from Paddy Butler 36,000 gns later in October and market can guide in a change of headgear on hurdle/stable debut.

Form:

Non-Runners

Lyric²⁵⁷

Weight: 11-8| Age: 5

T: J & A O'Neill J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Madame La Papillon (13/8), Is This For Real (7/2), Alba Crus (4/1), Lyric (4/1), Freddie Steady Go (6/1), Rupert The Prince (13/2), Noble George (20/1), Walk On Son (33/1), Nevershedatear (40/1), Siege Of Acres (80/1), Karma De Cotte (200/1), Blazing Echo (400/1)

MADAME LA PAPILLON hasn't stood much racing but shaped with plenty of encouragement when runner-up on hurdles debut at Wetherby and she could be the one to beat if arriving in similar form. Improving Is This For Real is a likely danger, while Alba Crus travelled well last time and may do better back down in trip. Of the rest, course bumper winner Freddie Steady Go warrants a market check on hurdles bow.