13:05 Newcastle

Saturday 21 February 2026

All13:0513:3514:1014:4315:2015:5816:33

Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:05 | Winning time: 4m 13.06s

Argento Royale^t1³²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Freddie Mitchell⁽³⁾| T: R Potter

18/1

€36,000 3-y-o, Beaumec De Houelle gelding. Half-brother to 3 winners, including fairly useful hurdler Inside Man and French hurdler Great Escape. Wears tongue strap. Third both starts in Irish points and market can guide on hurdles bow.

Form: 33-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Au Plaisir^t⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Ross Chapman| T: R Menzies

50/1

Some promise in bumpers but looks one for the longer-term judged on both hurdle starts to date.

Form: 03-005

Blazing Echo¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Bruce Lynn| T: Eloise Quayle

250/1

Has shown little and best to look elsewhere.

Form: 69P0

Flaming Norman⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Ryan Mania| T: Paul Robson

40/1

Showed much more than first time up when fourth in bumper here in December, worth full credit for the improvement shown given he came from towards the rear in a steadily-run affair. Now sent hurdling but likely to need further.

Form: 94

Jimbo Sport^t⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Callum Pritchard⁽³⁾| T: B Pauling

4/6

Irish point recruit who won Hereford bumper on debut in March. Well-backed second on hurdles bow at Kempton (2m) and improved in first-time tongue strap when third in valuable maiden over same C&D latest, for all he was well positioned. Makes appeal with sights lowered.

Form: 2/421-23

Jonzac¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Toby Wynne| T: P Morris

200/1

Winner of a point since down the field in bumper for Willie Mullins in April 2024 but has showed nothing in pair of starts for new yard.

Form: U331-P0

Karma De Cotte¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR: 103

7/1

Runner-up final start in points and has improved with each run under Rules, 5 lengths fourth in 12-runner novice at Carlisle (17f) earlier this month. Respected but likely we'll see the best of him in handicaps.

Form: PU2-434

Like Minded^t1⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: D R Fox| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 110

7/4

Finished with running left when fourth on 2m Ayr debut and improved when third behind a subsequent winner over same C&D last month. Will stay further but remains open to improvement in first-time tongue strap.

Form: 43

Melbourne Ghost³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Craig Nichol| T: D W Whillans

125/1

Maiden pointer offered little when seventh of 8 in bumper at Ayr (16f, heavy) debut. Makes hurdle debut but probably one for the future.

Form: 7

Ned Broy²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: I Jardine

66/1

Modest form on Flat (bred to be suited by 1½m+) but failed to improve on handicap debut last time. Likely to be a longer-term project now sent hurdling.

Form:

Nosy Neighbour⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies

25/1

Hit frame on second of 2 starts in Irish points and showed ability when third on hurdling debut. Well below that form at Kelso 8 days ago and looks on a path to handicaps.

Form: 54-38

Valtteri Its James²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: P W Wadge| T: L Russell & M Scudamore

100/1

Successful on last of 3 starts in Irish points but looks to be being brought along steadily under Rules. Yard also saddle Like Minded.

Form: 5B1-06

Non-Runners

Ayyadieh³²

Weight: 11-7| Age: 5

T: D McCain Jnr J: Non Runner

Bollin Skittle¹⁸

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: D W Whillans J: Danny McMenamin

Forecasts

Jimbo Sport (4/6), Like Minded (7/4), Karma De Cotte (7/1), Argento Royale (18/1), Nosy Neighbour (25/1), Ayyadieh (25/1), Flaming Norman (40/1), Au Plaisir (50/1), Bollin Skittle (50/1), Ned Broy (66/1), Valtteri Its James (100/1), Melbourne Ghost (125/1), Jonzac (200/1), Blazing Echo (250/1)

LIKE MINDED has made an encouraging start over hurdles, chasing home a subsequent winner last time and with his yard in better form now, he can improve to get off the mark. Jimbo Sport stands out as the danger, this a much easier assignment than he faced at Kempton on Boxing Day.