15:20 Newcastle

Saturday 21 February 2026

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

Virgin Bet A Good Bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 4m 13.72s

Baratablet⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 120| BF| C

4/1

Progressed again when landing a handicap (20.3f, good to soft) in good style here on his reappearance in December. Might have found next run coming too soon when failing to land the odds at Kelso 18 days later and this 6-y-o is well worth another chance.

Form: 2131-14

Saracen Beau¹¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 120

13/2

Made successful hurdles debut for Nicky Richards last season. Shaped well on both starts for Lucinda Russell, latterly when runner-up on chase debut at Bangor in October on return. Re-joined Nicky Richards and can continue his progression back over hurdles.

Form: 3/1P3-2

The Gray Ghost^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Callum Pritchard⁽³⁾| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 117| C| D

4/1

Opened hurdles account at third attempt for current yard last season and has been shaping up well in handicaps, caught further back than ideal when fourth at Musselburgh last time. One to note stepping back in distance in lesser race.

Form: 7-64544

Seaview Rock^h³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Ben Sutton⁽⁵⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 117

3/1

Sold for £72,000 after going close on sole start in points and made encouraging debut over hurdles when second to a progressive novice from the Skelton yard at Leicester. Confirmed that promise when going one better there last month and almost certainly has more to offer now handicapping.

Form: 3/21

Fromheretoeternity^t,p²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 115

22/1

A three-time 2m winner last term and in good form in early summer, not seen to ideal effect when fifth at Worcester. Not knocked about back from 7 months off when fourth at Sedgefield 4 weeks ago and better expected now.

Form: F4-3254

That One¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Callum Bewley| T: J Walton| OR: 113| CD

9/1

Won twice last season, including over C&D 12 months ago, and returned with a good second at Carlisle. However, produced a rare sloppy round of jumping when only sixth there 18 days ago and needs to bounce back.

Form: 4121-26

Cormier⁷⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Craig Nichol| T: B Ellison| OR: 113| D

16/1

Did the job in decisive fashion on the Flat at Nottingham in October but it's been a long time since he came close to winning over jumps, just a respectable fourth at Doncaster last time.

Form: U0/06-74

The Hatchet²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Power⁽⁵⁾| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 113

7/1

£105,000 purchase after finishing runner-up in his only Irish point. Hurdle form is working out well, winning 2m novice at Perth prior to splitting a pair of subsequent winners when third under a penalty at Ayr. Only sixth on handicap bow at Musselburgh since but was returning from 3 months off.

Form: 247-136

Party In The Park^t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: William Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 103

11/1

Runner-up sole start in Irish points and showed promise when third in Newcastle bumper on Rules debut. Best effort over hurdles when fifth of 12 in novice at Carlisle in a first-time tongue strap 18 days ago and opening mark looks a fair one.

Form: 2-3655

Forecasts

Seaview Rock (3/1), The Gray Ghost (4/1), Baratablet (4/1), Saracen Beau (13/2), The Hatchet (7/1), That One (9/1), Party In The Park (11/1), Cormier (16/1), Fromheretoeternity (22/1)

THE GRAY GHOST has been shaping well in better races than this of late so could be the answer back off his proper mark. Seaview Rock confirmed the promise of his hurdling debut with an easy win at Leicester and remains totally unexposed going into handicaps, while Baratablet might have found his last run coming too soon and is well worth another chance given how progressive he looked.