Virgin Bet Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div 2).
Newcastle · Thursday, 15 Jan · 16:15
· 2m 190y
· Class 4
· TURF
WEIGHEDIN
Status
12:15
Off time
11
Runners
Good to Soft (Good in places)
Going
🎯 Tipster's 1·2·3
Sporting Life pick
Betting forecast
Market prediction · 12 runners · sorted by price
01 · 🏆 FAV
2.63
13/8
02 · 🥈 2nd
4.50
7/2
03 · 🥉 3rd
5
4/1
04 · —
5
4/1
05 · —
7
6/1
06 · —
7.50
13/2
07 · —
21
20/1
08 · —
34
33/1
09 · —
41
40/1
10 · —
81
80/1
11 · —
201
200/1
12 · —
401
400/1
Sporting Life forecast prices — published the night before the race. Top 3 highlighted as market favourites.
Runners
| Pos | No. | Dr | Horse | Form | Jockey | Trainer | Age | Wgt | Best decimal odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th | 1 | — |
Alba Crus (G)
Fair Newton Abbot bumper winner in June. Showed benefit of hurdling debut/a wind op when third of 9 in novice hurdle at Catterick (19.3f, good) 30 days ago, smooth headway home turn but no extra run-in. Drop back to 2m no issue and has cla…
|
51734-9 | James Bowen | W Greatrex | 5 | 73.5 kg |
5
4/1
|
| — | 2 | — |
Blazing Echo (G)
Little impact in a pair of bumpers and plenty to find now sent hurdling.
|
69P08 | Bruce Lynn | Eloise Quayle | 5 | 73.5 kg |
401
400/1
|
| 9th | 3 | — |
Freddie Steady Go (G)
[T1]
Justified support to win a bumper with a turn of foot here on debut and has cemented a positive start with two subsequent thirds (only just behind improving Get On George at Hexham latterly). Isn't bred to be much but has shown enough to b…
|
771 | Conor Rabbitt | S Corbett | 5 | 73.5 kg |
7
6/1
|
| 1st | 4 | — |
Is This For Real (G)
[T]
£80,000 point winner who landed bumper at Kelso in March. Has shaped with promise both runs over hurdles, bad mistake last when fourth of 14 in novice at Taunton (16.5f, good) 35 days ago. Open to improvement.
|
1/441P1- | Liam Harrison | F O'Brien | 6 | 73.5 kg |
4.50
7/2
|
| 3rd | 5 | — |
Karma De Cotte (G)
Runner-up on the last of 5 starts in points and only briefly threatened to get involved on Rules debut when fourth in a 7-runner bumper at Musselburgh (15.6f, good to soft) 24 days ago. Related to French hurdle/chase winners and market can…
|
243449 | Jamie Hamilton | Mrs J Stephen | 6 | 73.5 kg |
201
200/1
|
| — | 6 | — |
Lyric (G)
NON RUNNER.
|
8- | Non Runner | J & A O'Neill | 5 | 73.5 kg |
5
4/1
|
| 5th | 7 | — |
Noble George (G)
Runner-up first 2 starts in bumpers (soft) but unsuited by test of speed on previous two runs, latterly when 5 lengths third in a 5-runner maiden at Sedgefield (16.8f, good to soft) on hurdles bow. Likely to do better as his stamina is dra…
|
5-3576P | Sean Quinlan | J Candlish | 6 | 73.5 kg |
21
20/1
|
| 6th | 8 | — |
Siege Of Acres (G)
[H1]
Made frame both starts in Irish points but low-key start to Rules career. Hooded first time but is likely being campaigned with handicaps in mind.
|
6463F0- | Theo Gillard | D McCain Jnr | 5 | 73.5 kg |
81
80/1
|
| — | 9 | — |
Walk On Son (G)
Best effort when third in a novice at Carlisle (17.2f) and left with too much to do when 15½ length fourth in a 9-runner novice at this track at this track (20.3f) last time. Remains capable of better and market can guide dropping back dow…
|
34P98-4 | D R Fox | L Russell & M Scudamore | 6 | 73.5 kg |
34
33/1
|
| 2nd | 10 | — |
Madame La Papillon (M)
FAV
Comfortable winner on bumper debut for Laura Morgan in spring 2024 but has stood little racing since. Off 9 months prior to promising hurdle/stable debut, second in 14-runner novice hurdle at Wetherby (2m), no match for fairly useful winne…
|
1/58-226 | Alice Stevens | Miss C Dyson | 6 | 70.3 kg |
2.63
13/8
|
| 7th | 11 | — |
Nevershedatear (M)
Won 2-finisher race on sole start in Irish points (Mar 2025) and hinted at ability when well held fifth on hurdles debut at Doncaster (19.4f) in November. Probably a handicap project, unless betting suggests otherwise.
|
577U25- | Craig Nichol | O Greenall & J Guerriero | 5 | 70.3 kg |
41
40/1
|
| 8th | 12 | — |
Rupert The Prince (G)
[P1]
Fair stayer on Flat, successful 3 times in 2025, including on latest outing at Bath. Sold from Paddy Butler 36,000 gns later in October and market can guide in a change of headgear on hurdle/stable debut.
|
121-340 | Ross Chapman | R Menzies | 4 | 67.6 kg |
7.50
13/2
|
Betting forecast: Madame La Papillon (13/8), Is This For Real (7/2), Alba Crus (4/1), Lyric (4/1), Freddie Steady Go (6/1), Rupert The Prince (13/2), Noble George (20/1), Walk On Son (33/1), Nevershedatear (40/1), Siege Of Acres (80/1), Karma De Cotte (200/1), Blazing Echo (400/1)
Prize money
| Position | Prize |
|---|---|
| P1 | 5446.0 GBP |
| P2 | 2509.0 GBP |
| P3 | 1254.0 GBP |
| P4 | 628.0 GBP |