Newcastle Race 5 - Smirnoff At Spy Bar Handicap Hurdle
HAARAR (3) bid for a hat-trick last month only to be well beaten at Catterick finishing 30L fourth. Better was expected on that occasion. Can resume his upward progress by taking this. Former course and distance winner FINGAL'S HILL (1) needs to bounce back from a poor performance at Kelso a fortnight ago. More will be needed. THE HATCHET (5) turned things around when runner-up by only 0.5L here three weeks ago. Warrants thought as won't be too far away if in the same condition. BUCEPHALUS (2) is more than capable on his day though a market check is required as to prospects. Worth considering. Something for the Multiples: INEDIT D'AMOUR (6)

Jockey: Callum Bewley
Weight: 76kgs
Stats
Comments
Third-up today and won third-up previously. First-up made some head-way from midfield; finished second in a small field at Doncaster on January 23 over 3900m, on slow going 2 len behind Guard Duty with 73.5kg at $11. Second-up finished fifth of 8 starters at Kelso on February 28 over 4200m, 37 len behind Both Barrels carrying 76kg at $15. Better than last run but needds to bounce back.
Last Starts 14 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/8 | 28/02/2026 | 36 | HDLE HCP 4U | $57,750.00 | Kelso | 4224m | Good Soft | Callum Bewley | 76kg | 5:25.00 | - | 0 |
| 37.0L | $15.00 |
| 2/4 | 23/01/2026 | 223 | HDLE HCP 4U | $47,960.00 | Doncaster | 3922m | Soft | Callum Bewley | 73.5kg | 4:51.71 | 2-1-2 | 0 |
| 2.0L | $11.00 |
| 1/10 | 14/06/2025 | 29 | HCP HDLE 4U | $27,680.00 | Hexham | 4023m | Good Soft | Henry Brooke | 76kg | 5:50.48 | 3-3-1 | 0 |
| 0.1L | $7.50 |
| 1/6 | 16/05/2025 | 24 | HCP HDLE 4U | $34,130.00 | Aintree | 4023m | Good | Brian Hughes | 71kg | 4:53.21 | 1-1-1 | 0 |
| 6.0L | $7.00 |
| 2/6 | 22/04/2025 | 22 | HCP HDLE 4U | $21,780.00 | Kelso | 4224m | Good | Brian Hughes | 76kg | 5:11.40 | 1-1-2 | 0 |
| 0.3L | $3.75 |
| 1/6 | 31/03/2025 | 16 | HCP HDLE 4U | $21,610.00 | Newcastle Uk | 4123m | Good | Brian Hughes | 70kg | 5:03.19 | 1-1-1 | 0 |
| 5.0L | $3.75 |
| 12/17 | 15/03/2025 | 14 | HCP HDLE 4U | $181,490.00 | Uttoxeter | 4727m | Good Soft | Charlie Maggs | 63kg | 6:03.47 | 1-11-12 | 0 |
| 61.3L | $29.00 |
| 3/10 | 01/03/2025 | 29 | HCP HDLE 4U | $54,450.00 | Kelso | 4224m | Good Soft | Danny Mcmenamin | 70.5kg | 5:11.98 | 1-1-3 | 0 |
| 1.5L | $8.00 |
| 6/8 | 31/01/2025 | 33 | HCP HDLE 4U | $17,920.00 | Catterick Bridge | 5129m | Soft | Charlie Maggs | 73.5kg | 6:34.60 | 3-3-6 | 0 |
| 5.8L | $4.50 |
| 5/11 | 29/12/2024 | 32 | HCP HDLE 3U | $27,220.00 | Kelso | 4526m | Good Soft | Brian Hughes | 74.5kg | 5:53.09 | 1-2-5 | 0 |
| 4.8L | $13.00 |
| 3/6 | 27/11/2024 | 24 | HCP HDLE 3U | $27,680.00 | Wetherby | 3963m | Good Soft | Danny Mcmenamin | 71kg | 5:01.57 | 2-4-3 | 0 |
| 9.0L | $4.50 |

Jockey: Harriet Tucker
Weight: 75.5kgs
Stats
Comments
Resumes off a 35 day letup. Last outing pulled up at Newbury on February 7 over 3300m. Run before finished second of 8 runners at Haydock Park on December 30 over 3100m, 1.5 len behind Serious Challenge with 71kg at $13. Not going well enough. What happened last time is not ideal so prepared to risk.
Last Starts 35 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0/15 | 07/02/2026 | 39 | HDLE HCP 4U | $281,320.00 | Newbury | 3319m | Heavy | Harriet Tucker | 70.5kg | 4:13.37 | - | 0 |
| 99.0L | $51.00 |
| 2/8 | 30/12/2025 | 18 | HDLE HCP 3U | $36,300.00 | Haydock Park | 3118m | Good | Harriet Tucker | 71kg | 3:44.45 | 1-2-2 | 0 |
| 1.5L | $13.00 |
| 4/6 | 12/12/2025 | 61 | HCP HDLE 3U | $35,700.00 | Doncaster | 3902m | Good Soft | Harriet Tucker | 73kg | 4:51.66 | 4-4-4 | 0 |
| 49.5L | $29.00 |
| 6/6 | 12/10/2025 | 232 | HCP HDLE 8U | $40,150.00 | Chepstow | 3218m | Good | Harriet Tucker | 74kg | 4:00.18 | 2-6-6 | 0 |
| 85.3L | $5.50 |
| 1/7 | 22/02/2025 | 38 | HCP HDLE 4U | $19,420.00 | Chepstow | 3218m | Soft | Harriet Tucker | 73kg | 4:08.65 | 1-1-1 | 0 |
| 11.0L | $3.20 |
| 1/11 | 15/01/2025 | 19 | HCP HDLE 4U | $19,960.00 | Newbury | 3319m | Soft | Harriet Tucker | 71kg | 4:07.00 | 1-1-1 | 0 |
| 0.8L | $4.50 |
| 2/14 | 27/12/2024 | 22 | HCP HDLE 3U | $27,220.00 | Chepstow | 3218m | Soft | Harriet Tucker | 73kg | 4:00.13 | 1-1-2 | 0 |
| 2.3L | $29.00 |
| 0/9 | 05/12/2024 | 63 | HCP HDLE 3U | $16,610.00 | Wincanton | 3063m | Soft | Callum Pritchard | 76kg | 3:51.24 | - | 0 |
| 99.0L | $6.50 |
| 7/11 | 03/10/2024 | 141 | HCP 3U | $20,420.00 | Salisbury | 2011m | Heavy | Oisin Murphy | 61kg | 2:10.84 | 3-6-7 | 4 |
| 20.5L | $10.00 |
| 2/11 | 15/05/2024 | 25 | HDLE HCP 4U | $27,220.00 | Ffos Las | 3218m | Good | A P Ryan | 71.5kg | 3:39.40 | - | 0 |
| 4.8L | $5.00 |
| 2/10 | 20/04/2024 | 27 | NHDLE HCP 4U | $14,520.00 | Bangor On Dee | 3319m | Soft | T Eyston | 73kg | 4:07.66 | 3-1-2 | 0 |
| 3.3L | $5.50 |

Jockey: Jack Power
Weight: 69kgs
Stats
Comments
Third-up today. Resuming finished sixth of 12 starters at Musselburgh on February 1 over 4000m, 18 len behind Speiriuil with 74kg at $6.50. Second-up led throughout and just faded finished second of 9 starters at this track on February 21 over 3400m, 0.5 len behind The Gray Ghost carrying 71kg at $8. Fitter now and making headway every start. Can find winning form this time.
Last Starts 21 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2/9 | 21/02/2026 | 20 | HDLE HCP 4U | $22,690.00 | Newcastle Uk | 3419m | Good Soft | Jack Power | 71kg | 4:13.72 | 1-1-2 | 0 |
| 0.5L | $8.00 |
| 6/12 | 01/02/2026 | 81 | HDLE HCP 4U | $27,220.00 | Musselburgh | 4023m | Good Soft | Jack Power | 74kg | 4:52.87 | 4-6-6 | 0 |
| 18.8L | $6.50 |
| 3/14 | 12/11/2025 | 49 | HDLE 4U | $15,680.00 | Ayr | 3218m | Soft | Jack Power | 71kg | 4:05.38 | 2-4-3 | 0 |
| 6.4L | $1.44 |
| 1/11 | 24/09/2025 | 152 | HDLE 4U | $15,680.00 | Perth Uk | 3261m | Good Soft | Jack Power | 67.5kg | 3:56.30 | 1-1-1 | 0 |
| 3.3L | $8.50 |
| 7/13 | 25/04/2025 | 48 | HUNT FLAT 46 | $9,230.00 | Perth Uk | 3261m | Good Soft | Patrick Wadge | 71kg | 3:59.45 | 2-2-7 | 0 |
| 8.5L | $26.00 |
| 4/10 | 08/03/2025 | 90 | HUNT FLAT 46 | $8,170.00 | Ayr | 3218m | Soft | Derek Fox | 71.5kg | 4:25.09 | 10-4-4 | 0 |
| 5.3L | $5.50 |
| 2/14 | 08/12/2024 | - | P2P MDN G 4 | $0.00 | Tattersalls P2p | 4828m | Soft | J Dunne | 60kg | - | - | 0 |
| 2.0L | $1.00 |

Jockey: B S Hughes
Weight: 67.5kgs
Stats
Comments
Last run finished fifth of 8 runners at Catterick on February 24 over 3900m, 16 len behind Geromino with 71kg at $19. Start before won by 16 len Catterick on January 1 over 3100m defeating Not For Passin with 72.5kg at $19 in a hurdle. Win would surprise. Would need to improve sharply and others rate better.
Last Starts 18 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/8 | 24/02/2026 | 54 | HDLE HCP 4U | $23,100.00 | Catterick Bridge | 3922m | Good Soft | Theo Gillard | 71kg | 4:56.22 | - | 0 |
| 16.5L | $19.00 |
| 1/7 | 01/01/2026 | 32 | MHDLE 4U | $18,150.00 | Catterick Bridge | 3118m | Good | Theo Gillard | 72.5kg | 3:51.56 | 2-1-1 | 0 |
| 16.0L | $19.00 |
| 11/12 | 30/11/2025 | 20 | HDLE HUNT 46 | $12,700.00 | Carlisle | 3922m | Soft | Brian Hughes | 69.5kg | 4:57.18 | 6-10-11 | 0 |
| 60.0L | $17.00 |
| 3/6 | 10/11/2025 | 259 | MHDLE 4U | $13,860.00 | Carlisle | 3419m | Soft | Brian Hughes | 71.5kg | 4:41.67 | 1-2-3 | 0 |
| 7.8L | $8.00 |
| 0/9 | 24/02/2025 | 8 | CLM STPLE CF 4 | $43,410.00 | Auteuil | 3500m | Heavy | Angelo Zuliani | 70kg | 4:39.94 | 5-9-LR | 0 |
| 99.0L | $4.20 |
| 2/6 | 16/02/2025 | 24 | STPLE CL4 CF 4 | $30,050.00 | Saint Brieuc | 3600m | Heavy | Angelo Zuliani | 69kg | 5:13.04 | - | 0 |
| 2.0L | $1.00 |
| 6/10 | 23/01/2025 | 33 | HDLE CL3 CG 4 | $61,980.00 | Pau | 3500m | Heavy | Tristan Lemagnen | 67kg | 4:31.30 | 2-2-6 | 0 |
| 16.9L | $9.20 |
| 0/8 | 21/12/2024 | 14 | HDLE CL1 CG 3 | $72,820.00 | Pau | 3500m | Heavy | Clement Lefebvre | 66kg | 4:30.10 | 5-6-PU | 0 |
| 99.0L | $6.50 |
| 3/15 | 07/12/2024 | 77 | MHDLE CG 3 | $37,220.00 | Angers | 3400m | Heavy | Clement Lefebvre | 67kg | 4:23.59 | 4-4-3 | 0 |
| 6.0L | $4.00 |
| 4/11 | 21/09/2024 | - | HDLE CL3 CF 3 | $42,350.00 | Moulin | 3500m | Soft | Clement Lefebvre | 67kg | 4:19.00 | 5-4-4 | 0 |
| 3.0L | $9.70 |