14:35 Newcastle

Thursday 15 January 2026

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

Mini Golf At High Gosforth Park Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 5m 9.91s

Merry Shuil^h⁶¹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 100

40/1

Posted encouraging hurdles/stable debut at Carlisle in February and far from disgraced, back from 7 months off, when ninth of 12 in novice (66/1) at Uttoxeter (15.8f, heavy) 61 days ago. Warrants respect on handicap debut.

Form: 0/34-9

Aquitaine Boy³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: B S Hughes| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 97| CD

15/2

Won this contest (off 2 lb lower) 12 months ago and posted several creditable efforts in defeat since. Unseated early on here latest and is likely to make presence felt again.

Form: 234-P5U

Sugar Road²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 94

20/1

Fairly-useful maiden on the Flat for Andrew Balding. No impact in a trio of starts over timber but fared best of those held up when fifth in novice at Market Rasen (16.6f, good, 80/1) 20 days ago and likely has more to offer on handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 4P5

Cher Tara²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Callum Bewley| T: D Bourke| OR: 94| D

25/1

Shaped better than distance beaten, on first run since leaving Gordon Elliott, when respectable seventh of 13 in handicap hurdle at Musselburgh (23.8f, good to soft) 24 days ago. 1 lb lower now and not ruled out.

Form: P639-57

Drop Kick³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 93| BF| D

10/3

Left his 3 qualifying runs behind when making a successful handicap debut at Carlisle (19.3f) in November and made the frame in both starts over same C&D since. Likely contender.

Form: 6-77123

Lady Phoebe⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Ryan Mania| T: A Nicol| OR: 93

50/1

Modest 13f Flat winner who showed her first form in this sphere when sixth of 14 in novice hurdle at Musselburgh (15.6f, good to soft) 48 days ago. May do better now sent handicapping.

Form: P-76

Scairp Dubh¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Peter Kavanagh| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 92

17/2

Won point bumper in March and second in Wetherby bumper (sole start for Tjade Collier) in May. Yet to threaten in 4 starts over hurdles for this yard, however, including on handicap debut at Catterick last month.

Form: 1-27656

Luminaries^t²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: P W Wadge| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 88| CD

16/1

Won 3 on the spin over this C&D last spring but been more miss than hit since, including returned to hurdling at Musselburgh latest.

Form: 6P33P9

De Deli Counter^v1⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Charlotte Jones| T: M Walford| OR: 87

80/1

Fourth of 5 finishers in Irish point in May and little to get excited about in 3 starts over hurdles so far. Goes handicapping with plenty to prove,

Form: 4-46P

Cap Ricochet^t1⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlie Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: John Dawson| OR: 86

17/2

Bettered previous efforts when chasing home long odds-on winner on final run for Paul Collins in April. but no real impact in a couple of starts for new yard this term. Tongue strap on for first time.

Form: 5U62-40

Long Time Listener⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Midgley⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 84

33/1

Point bumper winner in February 2024 but hasn't pulled up any trees under Rules so far and it's probably best to look elsewhere.

Form: 3F73-09

Reliance Kid⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: William Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: A Wilson| OR: 83

28/1

Well held in a bumper only start for Gordon Elliott, though did go on to finish runner-up on second of 2 outings in Irish points. However, has made little impact in a trio of novice hurdles for current yard, so needs to find improvement on switch to handicaps.

Form: 0P/27-99

Steel Soldier¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽³⁾| T: J R Norton| OR: 82

80/1

Little impact in Irish points and same story under Rules thus far. Can start handicapping from basement mark at least.

Form: F/806-99

Junkyard Dog^t1⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Craig Nichol| T: I Jardine| OR: 96

28/1

Fair Flat winner for Joseph O'Brien who posted his best effort for new yard when fifth of 8 in juvenile hurdle at Musselburgh (15.6f, good to soft, 11/1) 48 days ago. Worth monitoring in market on handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 3-45

Cher Monsieur⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: C O'Farrell| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 79

11/4

Modest maiden who ran creditably, back from 6-month absence, when fourth of 8 in handicap hurdle at Southwell (20.4f, good to soft) 34 days ago. 1 lb lower now and could be a player.

Form: 090-354

Laddie Cooper Mia^p⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Joshua Thompson⁽⁷⁾| T: A Nicol| OR: 77| BF

11/2

Failed to build on reappearance fourth for her new yard when only sixth of 8 in handicap hurdle at Ayr (19.5f, heavy) 45 days ago. However, not written off yet in her bid for a maiden success.

Form: 6587-46

Non-Runners

Leader Wing²⁴

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: G Boanas J: Theo Gillard

Forecasts

Cher Monsieur (11/4), Drop Kick (10/3), Laddie Cooper Mia (11/2), Leader Wing (7/1), Aquitaine Boy (15/2), Scairp Dubh (17/2), Cap Ricochet (17/2), Luminaries (16/1), Sugar Road (20/1), Cher Tara (25/1), Junkyard Dog (28/1), Reliance Kid (28/1), Long Time Listener (33/1), Merry Shuil (40/1), Lady Phoebe (50/1), Steel Soldier (80/1), De Deli Counter (80/1)

SUGAR ROAD was capable of fairly-useful form on the level and appeals as the type to do better now sent handicapping in this sphere. He gets the nod in an open-looking contest. Drop Kick, Cher Monsieur and Junkyard Dog make up the shortlist.