19:30 Newcastle

Thursday 5 March 2026

All16:5517:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:00

Midnite: Built For 2026 Not 2006 Handicap

Off time: 19:30 | Winning time: 58.85s

(3)

Castan^p²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: P Mulrennan| T: B Smart| OR: 75| CD

5/1

Going through a good spell with 3 consecutive placed efforts, most recently second of 6 over C&D (5/1) last month. Could well add to his 4 C&D wins.

Form: 4053-22

(12)

Moonstone Boy¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: J Candlish| OR: 75| D

13/2

Failed to come on for recent run/yard debut when seventh of 8 over 6f at Wolverhampton (8/1) 17 days ago. Back to minimum trip rates a plus.

Form: 9050-47

(9)

Juan Les Pins¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-8| J: Jason Watson| T: M Appleby| OR: 74

11/2

Losing run stretches back to June 2023. Ran well when third of 12 at this C&D in January but was flat when tenth of 11 at Southwell (6/1) just under 2 weeks ago. Record tells us everything about how he needs things to drop just right but is dangerously well handicapped.

Form: 589-330

(1)

Pop Star¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: A Mullen| T: I Jardine| OR: 72| D

33/1

Quirky type who placed a few times last summer and autumn for Alice Haynes. Yet to fire in 3 starts for present stable, however.

Form: 2346-79

(11)

Lion's House¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Kaiya Fraser| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 71| BF| CD

4/1

Has been revived by dropping into lower-grade company, building on his best AW effort this season when winning over C&D last month (strong form), justifying support. Unlucky not to follow up when third at Wolverhampton since (denied run) and he's got more races in him.

Form: 6-69313

(10)

Dark Kestrel^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Harry Russell| T: A Brittain| OR: 70| CD

22/1

Regular here who got away from the stalls better than usual when adding to his tally over C&D last month, staying on to lead close home. Didn't have a great deal of room to work with when down the field since.

Form: 48-9618

(5)

Albegone^p²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 69| D

16/1

Returned to form when second of 10 in a handicap at this C&D (25/1) last month, looking like he'd timed his challenge to perfection only to be nabbed by one played later. This 8-year-old hasn't had many tries on all-weather and should have more to offer now back on song.

Form: 08068-2

(7)

Digital^p¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 68| CD

14/1

3-time C&D winner this winter and ran a crack when finding one too strong under a penalty here a fortnight ago, beaten a head. Nudged up 2 lb and would be folly to ignore.

Form: 221512

(4)

Blue Force^h¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 66| CD

14/1

Won at Wolverhampton in December but has largely struggled since. Latest fifth of 12 at Southwell (33/1) was a step back in the right direction and he ought to benefit from this return to 5f.

Form: 91-6585

(8)

Our Absent Friends¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: Jason Hart| T: T Davidson| OR: 65| CD

6/1

3-time C&D winner, most recently in December. Made the frame in 3 of 4 starts since, latest when fourth of 9 a fortnight ago. In the mix.

Form: 51-2834

(6)

Harb¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: C Horgan⁽⁵⁾| T: T Davidson| OR: 65| CD

11/1

Went without headgear and landed C&D handicap a fortnight ago. That was his eighth career success, but it's probably worth noting he's yet to string back-to-back wins together.

Form: 604-351

(2)

Water Of Leith¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: Lauren Young⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 63| BF| CD

9/1

Proving consistent with back-to-back seconds at Wolverhampton last month, though beaten at odds on just over a fortnight ago. Returns to this C&D where a previous winner and drops back to the minimum trip.

Form: 224422

Forecasts

Lion's House (4/1), Castan (5/1), Juan Les Pins (11/2), Our Absent Friends (6/1), Moonstone Boy (13/2), Water Of Leith (9/1), Harb (11/1), Blue Force (14/1), Digital (14/1), Albegone (16/1), Dark Kestrel (22/1), Pop Star (33/1)

An open-looking sprint with plenty of course regulars in action. Preference is for LION'S HOUSE, who was unlucky not to record back-to-back wins having a rare start away from this track at Wolverhampton last month and Linda Perratt's 5-y-o has more races in him from this mark. Our Absent Friends has held his form well since notching a third C&D win so heads up the dangers, with Juan les Pins and Digital also considered, too.