17:55 Newcastle

Saturday 31 January 2026

All16:2516:5517:2517:5518:2518:5519:25

Always Gamble Responsibly At BetMGM Handicap

Off time: 17:55 | Winning time: 1m 26.45s

(8)

War Howl¹²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: P Mulrennan| T: B Haslam| OR: 82| D

20/1

Progressed into quite a useful handicapper for Mick Appleby last season. Sold for 22,000 gns since seen in October. The betting should help guide to expectations.

Form: 811296-

(3)

Northern Spirit¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Ben Robinson| T: B Ellison| OR: 80| C

16/1

Course winner last summer but below par on first 2 comeback starts this winter and refused to race here with a visor added last time. No headgear this time. Can only watch.

Form: 1447-6R

(2)

Benacre²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Oliver Stammers| T: C Johnston| OR: 78| CD

5/1

C&D winner. Seventh of 11 in handicap (15/2) at Chelmsford (7f) 20 days ago, racing closer to pace than ideal. Went close over C&D off only 1 lb higher last month. Has to enter calculations.

Form: 23402-7

(9)

Beattie Is Back¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Ethan Tindall⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 75| CD

3/1

C&D winner. 40/1, creditable sixth of 10 in handicap at Southwell (6f) 11 days ago, merely closing up late. Should be sharper for that first outing in 7 months.

Form: 04617-6

(4)

Abduction¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: Kaiya Fraser| T: J S Goldie| OR: 73| D

14/1

16/1, sixth of 9 in handicap at this course (6f) on reappearance 5 days ago. Back on a workable mark.

Form: 08860-6

(7)

The Green Man^v,t¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Aiden Brookes| T: P A Kirby| OR: 73| BF| CD

10/3

Has thrived since Phil Kirby, notching 3 course wins, including this trip in December. Two good placed efforts over 1m here have followed and another bold show is likely.

Form: 1541-32

(5)

Midnight's Dream^b¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian| OR: 71| D

4/1

Blinkered first time, fifth of 8 in handicap (11/2) at Kempton (1m) 10 days ago, unable to sustain effort after racing keenly. The drop to 7f may help. Well handicapped again.

Form: 27800-5

(6)

Space Cowboy^p²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: Callum Hutchinson| T: R Spencer| OR: 71| C

13/2

First sign ability remains after a long absence when third of 9 at Chelmsford (7f) 4 weeks ago but he typically looked reluctant in the early stages. Not one for maximum faith.

Form: 0/7007-3

(1)

Kitaab⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-8| J: Cam Hardie| T: P A Kirby| OR: 67| C

40/1

Course winner. Off 12 months. ninth of 11 in 6f handicap here 7 days ago. Needs to have come on a lot in a short time.

Form: 132/27-9

Forecasts

Beattie Is Back (3/1), The Green Man (10/3), Midnight's Dream (4/1), Benacre (5/1), Space Cowboy (13/2), Abduction (14/1), Northern Spirit (16/1), War Howl (20/1), Kitaab (40/1)

THE GREEN MAN is taken to make it 4-8 at this venue since joining Phil Kirby. Benacre had an excuse at Chelmsford last time and is likely to play a prominent role if bouncing back to the form he showed when narrowly denied over C&D last month. The shortlist is completed by Midnight's Dream, who may benefit from the drop back to 7f.

Prize Money

1st: £5,653.002nd: £2,652.003rd: £1,325.004th: £663.005th: £330.00

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