Newcastle - Thursday 1st October 2026
L'EAGLE AID has been running well in defeat for a while now, but it was the closest he'd come to winning this term at Pontefract last week. Berthed well in stall one, Charlie Johnston's gelding is 5lb lower than when last successful and now could be the time to catch him. Soft ground was clearly a hindrance to Mr Moonshine at Ayr and the relatively unexposed three-year-old could have a part to play back on an artificial surface. Jujubella is an obvious player having struck the woodwork over C&D.
NIGHT OF GOLD and Saint Of Seville both displayed promise, despite greenness, on debut and can show the benefit of experience now. The former was an expensive purchase at 800,000gns and will probably do best when sent over further, but he's already proven on the surface and is preferred of the pair on that basis. Ring Of Music wasn't exactly a cheap buy himself at 190,000 euros and is worth more than a cursory glance ahead of his introduction.
Most of these have been highly tried, including NOT MY TYPE, who won her first two starts before being pitched into Listed company at Ripon. That didn't go to plan, but she showed up well for a long way on her nursery debut at Newmarket and should be up to winning a race off this type of mark on that evidence. Blake's Monarch broke his duck at Redcar on his first outing following wind surgery and a gelding operation. He merits consideration along with Havana Lightning, who arrives following a fair effort at Newbury.
Truly Special has turned a corner recently, winning twice at Carlisle, but she was all out to hang on by a neck last time and another 3lb may see her hat-trick bid thwarted. C&D winner DALAMARA struck at Musselburgh in August and came close to following up when third here. If she makes the most of her course knowledge, she could be the one to beat. Handicap debutant Suntino Lady is a lively outsider.
LADY KODIAC won a shade cosily over C&D, despite wandering around once she hit the front, and she clearly gets on well with Harry Vigors so may be able to follow up. Vanilla Skies rates her biggest danger for the Haggas team after a winning debut that has been followed by decent top-three finishes, although she needs a sharp start dropping back in trip. Tarot is the pick for third.
Egotistical has been running well, finishing second at Lingfield and fourth at Kempton when staying on well, which may have convinced connections to brave the seventh furlong. However, ESPANITA appears the in-form option after Charlie Johnston's grey won at Lingfield and finished a head second at Wolverhampton. Although upped 3lb, she races off her old mark here. If I Could Dream tries a first-time visor, but a place may still be the best she can hope for.
SERGEANT MAYER failed to get a clear run at Redcar last week, but that didn't prevent him from landing a hat-trick. He returned the emphatic winner, so a 5lb penalty may not be enough to anchor Nigel Tinkler's sprinter in his current frame of mind. Dc Cogent went close to ending his barren spell when runner-up at Redcar and has to be of interest, while the unexposed Mayflyer also merits consideration.
LITTLE TED had been threatening a return to winning ways prior to landing an apprentices' race at Hamilton last time. Jake Dickson retains the ride and the veteran C&D winner looks worth sticking with. Falcon Nine placed here before finishing a close second over 1m2f at Haydock six days ago and has to be included in calculations, while Just Typical is not easily dismissed back on the all-weather.
L'Eagle Aid hasn't won in over a year but he's been in good form and the return to this C&D could suit him well - he's only 1lb higher than when scoring here last summer. The selection, though, is JUJUBELLA, an in-form and consistent mare who is a three-time course winner. She seems highly likely to go close once more. Junkyard Dog, an 11f winner at Southwell two starts back who was done for speed down in trip last time, should fare better here and comes in as third choice.
This looks between NIGHT OF GOLD, who finished third at Southwell on debut, showing considerable promise over 7f, and Saint Of Seville, the Gosden runner who just looked in need of the run at Sandown on his debut. The form of the selection's debut has worked out nicely and he ought to relish the step up to 8f here and is taken to get off the mark at the second attempt. Sir Terry Hadley showed some promise on his debut a month ago and, although bred for further, could improve enough to play a role.
There's more to come from NOT MY TYPE, William Haggas's filly having run with credit on her handicap debut at Newmarket and looking the sort to prove well suited by a stiff 5f on this AW debut. She's just favoured over Blake's Monarch, who got off the mark following a wind op last time and looks on an okay mark for this handicap debut. Peaceful Warrior, like the selection, is another who can prove suited by a stiff test at this trip on AW debut.
Sailor's Return has been in good form, winning at Southwell two starts back, and she could have more to offer on an AW surface, but it's DALAMARA who is the selection. A winner over this 8f trip at Musselburgh two starts back, she ran every bit as well upped to 10f here last time and her extra stamina could make a difference here over the stiff 8f. Hat-trick seeker Truly Special, a back-to-back winner over 6f and 7f at Casrlisle, might well improve again now upped to 8f on AW but the selection is a proven stayer to edged it on this occasion.
Lady Kodiac holds obvious claims once more following her last-time-out C&D success, but VANILLA SKIES has the greater potential and might benefit from this first crack at sprinting. She's run four times, all over 7f, and has shown a useful level, including in a tongue-tie last time when third at Sandown. There are good sprinters in her family, though, and she's taken to get back to winning ways. Angel Love, third at Wolverhampton last time, is another to consider but lacks the potential of the selection.
Espanita is in good form and gets to run off the same mark as when runner-up at Wolverhampton last time. She should again go well, but it will be her first run at this venue. Let's take her on with EGOTISTICAL, who has been shaping as though the step up to 7f will suit and still appeals as being on a nice mark with the prospect of improvement. If I Could Dream, third at Wolverhampton last time, now gets a first-time visor and comes in as third choice dropping in trip.
Dc Cogent is a former C&D winner who has found his form again so a return to winning ways for the 4yo wouldn't surprise, but it's hard to go against top one SERGEANT MAYER in his current form. He's notched a quick turf hat-trick and, although penalised for this return to the AW, he's shown he runs the track well here. His rider also claims a handy 3lb. Mayflyer, third over C&D on her handicap debut, is open to improvement and one to consider also.
The veteran LITTLE TED is a bang in-form former C&D scorer who gets to race from a mark just 2lb higher than when scoring at Hamilton last time. He gets on well for today's rider and is the percentage play. Just Typical, another to have won over the C&D, finds himself on a nice mark these days and could emerge as the danger, although Falcon Nine has found his form again and stays a little further than this, so should be hitting the line well.
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