Newcastle (AW)
Monday, 13 April 2026 · 1m · Standard · flat · Class Class 6 · £3,245
Race Assessment
Competitive Class 6 handicap at Newcastle with 11 runners. Several course specialists and horses with recent form. Key battle looks to be between Barleybrown (course specialist with 4 wins here in 2024) and the improving Lady Delila with first-time visor.
Key Factors
- •Course form at Newcastle
- •Recent form trends
- •Equipment changes
- •Weight assignments
- •Trainer/jockey combinations
Going
Standard Newcastle all-weather conditions should suit most runners, with no obvious ground-dependent horses in the field
Pace
Likely moderate pace with several hold-up horses. Trais Fluors and potentially Falaise Blanc could press forward early, but most prefer to come from off the pace
Recommendations (1)
Lady Delila
eachway8/10Confidence: 7/10First-time visor on improving mare who finished strong second at Wolverhampton last time. Trainer has excellent 14% strike rate with 6-year-olds at positive profit. Bottom weight of 125lbs is a significant advantage in handicap company. Equipment change combined with improving form trend and favourable conditions makes this solid each-way value at 5.5.
Suggested stake: 2.0% of bank
Runner Analysis
Barleybrown
Course specialist with 4 wins here in 2024 and recent placed efforts. Strong statistical profile at this distance (22% strike rate, A/E 1.53) and profitable trainer-jockey combination. Recent form solid with third last time out.
- + Excellent course record
- + Strong distance stats
- + Profitable trainer-jockey combo
- - Modest recent trainer form
- - Carrying top weight
Lady Delila
Improving mare with first-time visor replacing hood/cheekpieces. Recent form shows progression with close second at Wolverhampton. Well-handicapped on bottom weight and trainer has excellent record with 6-year-olds.
- + First-time visor
- + Bottom weight
- + Improving form trend
- + Trainer's 6yo record
- - Winless in 17 career starts
- - Poor jockey-trainer combination stats
The Cookstown Cafu
Has been absent for 105 days but was a course winner in October 2024. Top jockey booking is significant and trainer-jockey combination shows strong profit. Distance form is solid but needs to bounce back from quiet end to last season.
- + Previous C&D winner
- + Top jockey booking
- + Profitable trainer-jockey stats
- - Long absence
- - Poor recent form
- - Trainer weak at this distance
Trais Fluors
Newcastle specialist with last 5 wins here including C&D victory in January. Drops 1lb from winning mark but operating at lower level recently. Strong course record and trainer profitable here.
- + Excellent course record
- + Recent C&D winner
- + Weight drop
- - Age (12 years old)
- - Operating at lower level
- - Poor distance stats for trainer
Book Of Life
Consistent placer with three seconds in 2026 including over C&D. Recent run was decent and quick return suggests connections confident. However, poor win record (2-37) is a major concern.
- + Recent consistency
- + Quick return
- + C&D placed form
- - Poor win record
- - Never won at this distance
- - Trainer struggling
Berkshire Phantom
Long absence of 106 days is concerning after poor last run. Has shown ability in the past and trainer-owner combination has decent record, but negative trainer-jockey stats are worrying.
- + Previous course form
- + Trainer good with owner
- - Long absence
- - Poor trainer-jockey record
- - Never won at distance
Teggy Lasso
Lightly raced but regressing on all-weather surfaces. First-time tongue-tie added to cheekpieces might help but form trend is negative. Trainer in good form recently which is positive.
- + Lightly raced
- + Equipment changes
- + Trainer in form
- - Regressing on surface
- - Poor recent form
- - Never won at distance
Mercurius Power
Regular placer but form dipped last time and no win since August 2024. Profitable trainer-jockey combination but poor distance record for trainer is concerning.
- + Course experience
- + Profitable trainer-jockey combo
- - Form dipped last time
- - No recent wins
- - Poor trainer distance record
Rocket Rod
Massive absence and poor return run in February makes this very difficult. Course form exists but everything points to watching rather than backing.
- + Previous course form
- - Massive absence
- - Poor return run
- - Age (9)
- - Negative trainer stats
Sassy Glory
Rare winner who has been poor since C&D success in September. Apprentice jockey with no course wins is another negative. Distance form is limited but positive.
- + Previous C&D winner
- + Good at this distance
- - Rare winner overall
- - Poor since last win
- - Jockey has no course wins
Falaise Blanc
Previous course winner but awful return run last month needs to be ignored. Blinkers remain on but needs major improvement to feature.
- + Previous course winner
- + Retained blinkers
- - Awful last run
- - Poor trainer course record
- - Needs major improvement
No Value
Course specialist and likely favourite but odds of 5.5 accurately reflect his strong claims
Consistent placer with fair each-way claims but odds of 6.0 offer no value given poor win record
Course specialist with genuine claims but 10.0 fairly reflects his chances despite age concerns
Avoid
Massive absence of 2 years before poor return run in February, now 48 days since that effort - fitness major concern
Awful reappearance effort last month needs to be completely ignored for any chance - form trend extremely negative
Runners (11)
| Pos | Draw | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | OR | Weight | Odds | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | 1 | Lady Delila | Cam Hardie | Iain Jardine | 49 | 125lbs | 5.5 | 8/10 |
| - | 2 | Rocket Rod | Sean Kirrane | Geoffrey Harker | 58 | 134lbs | 23.0 | 2/10 |
| - | 3 | Falaise Blanc | Greg Fairley | Katie Scott | 48 | 124lbs | 21.0 | 3/10 |
| - | 4 | Trais Fluors | Alex Jary(3) | Linda Perratt | 54 | 130lbs | 10.0 | 4/10 |
| - | 5 | Barleybrown | Joanna Mason | Ruth Carr | 59 | 135lbs | 5.5 | 6/10 |
| - | 6 | Teggy Lasso | Jason Hart | Ivan Furtado | 55 | 131lbs | 6.5 | 4/10 |
| - | 7 | Sassy Glory | Kyle McHugh(7) | Mark Walford | 52 | 128lbs | 17.0 | 3/10 |
| - | 8 | Berkshire Phantom | Oisin McSweeney | Fionn McSharry | 56 | 132lbs | 7.5 | 3/10 |
| - | 9 | Mercurius Power | George Wood | Jessica Macey | 58 | 134lbs | 12.0 | 4/10 |
| - | 10 | The Cookstown Cafu | Daniel Tudhope | Fionn McSharry | 59 | 135lbs | 7.0 | 5/10 |
| - | 11 | Book Of Life | David Nolan | Patrick Morris | 57 | 133lbs | 6.0 | 4/10 |