Newcastle Race 5

Border Minstrel Sunday Lunch Handicap Hurdle

Prize Money: $25,830

FORGED WELL (5) secured an impressive 4.75L victory attempting a Musselburgh handicap chase before pulling up in the Edinburgh National Handicap Chase last week at the same course. Can bounce back. ESPRIT DU POTIER (1) improved from pulling up in the Stayers Premier Handicap Hurdle two starts ago placing third at Kelso. Holds winning form at this track. Will be thereabouts. SKUNA BAY (4) is racing consistently with one win and three placed efforts last six starts including second at Leicester. May go one better. BOTH BARRELS (2) cannot be discounted after winning by 1.5L a Kelso handicap hurdle.

Distance: 4762m
Track: Heavy
Weather: -
Surface: Turf
Class: HCP HDLE, C3

Racing and Sports™ Trusted form provider for 20+ years

Esprit Du Potier (1) x21017x4p3
Trainer: Lucinda Scudamore(Milnathort, Kinross-shire)
Jockey: D R Fox
Weight: 76kg
Prize Money: $44,892
Win / Place: 30% / 61%

Unbeaten on Heavy

7 yo Grey Gelding

Sire: MONTMARTRE (FR)

Dam: ABSENT MINDED (GB)

Dam's Sire: Medicean

Rating

Stats

Career

13: 4-3-1

Track

1: 1-0-0

1st Up

4: 0-3-0

2nd Up

3: 2-0-0

3rd Up

3: 1-0-1

4th Up

2: 1-0-0

Metro

5: 1-0-0

Non-Metro

8: 3-3-1

Turf

13: 4-3-1

Good

7: 1-1-1

Soft

3: 0-2-0

Heavy

3: 3-0-0

Clockwise

1: 0-0-0

Anti-Clockwise

12: 4-3-1

Hurdle

9: 2-2-1

Handicap Rating

124

Jockey Stats

Horse

10: 3-2-1

Trainer

W 0% P 0%

Distance

W 0% P 0%

Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Distance

W 0% P 0%

Distance Range Last 6 months

4526m - 4928m

Comments

Comes off a 41 day let-up. Last start made some head-way from midfield; finished third of 7 runners at Kelso on December 29 over 4500m, 4.5 len behind Both Barrels with 76kg at $8.50. The start before that; pulled up at Haydock Park on November 22 over 4900m. Only needs to jump well to be right in the finish.

Expected Settling Position: No speed data

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Class	Barrier	Jockey	Weight	Cond.	Race Time	Avg. Speed	Margin	800/400	SP	Days	Prize	Prize Won	Result
3rd of 7	29/12/25	Kelso	4526m	HDLE HCP 3U	-	Derek Fox	76kg	Good Soft	5:56.73	45.7 km/h	4.5L	3-5	$8.50	37	$32,670	$4,035	1. Both Barrels 2. Magic Wave 3. Esprit Du Potier
37 Day Freshen-Up
99th of 17	22/11/25	Haydock Park	4928m	HDLE HCP 4U	-	Derek Fox	67.5kg	Good Soft	5:55.60	49.9 km/h	99.0L	-	$41	21	$181,490	-	1. Electric Mason 2. Hartington 3. Phantomofthepoints
4th of 7	1/11/25	Ayr	4928m	HCP HDLE 3U	-	Derek Fox	71.5kg	Soft	6:32.03	45.3 km/h	5.0L	1-4	$5.50	567	$29,690	$1,683	1. Nab Wood 2. Whistle Stop Tour 3. Lavida Adiva
567 Day Spell
7th of 8	13/4/24	Aintree	4023m	G1 NHDLE 4U	-	Derek Fox	73kg	Good Soft	5:04.76	47.5 km/h	22.8L	1-3	$23	39	$179,650	-	1. Brighterdaysahead 2. Staffordshire Knot 3. Bugise Seagull
39 Day Freshen-Up
1st of 5	5/3/24	Newcastle Uk	4123m	NHDLE APP 4U	-	Derek Fox	75.5kg	Heavy	5:21.10	46.2 km/h	26.0L	1-1	$1.33f	38	$13,980	$7,736	1. Esprit Du Potier 2. Raceview Road 3. Chosen Templar
38 Day Freshen-Up
99th of 10	27/1/24	Doncaster	4928m	G2 NHDLE 5U	-	P Wadge	70kg	Good	5:54.00	50.1 km/h	99.0L	-	$15	25	$99,820	-	1. Kerryhill 2. Welcom To Cartries 3. The Newest One

Both Barrels (2) 21x761x816
Trainer: D W Whillans(Hawick)
Jockey: Craig Nichol
Weight: 76kg
Prize Money: $51,920
Win / Place: 23% / 53%

8 yo Chestnut Gelding

Sire: SADDLER'S ROCK (IRE)

Dam: RED LEGEND (GB)

Dam's Sire: Midnight Legend

Rating

Stats

Career

13: 3-1-3

Track

1: 0-0-1

Season

1: 0-0-0

1st Up

6: 0-1-1

2nd Up

5: 2-0-2

3rd Up

2: 1-0-0

Metro

2: 0-0-1

Non-Metro

11: 3-1-2

Turf

13: 3-1-3

Good

2: 1-0-0

Soft

9: 2-0-2

Heavy

2: 0-1-1

Clockwise

1: 0-0-0

Anti-Clockwise

12: 3-1-3

Hurdle

10: 3-1-1

Handicap Rating

124

Jockey Stats

Horse

9: 2-1-2

Trainer

W 0% P 0%

Distance

W 0% P 0%

Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Distance

W 0% P 0%

Distance Range Last 6 months

4114m - 4881m

Comments

Useful type. Last start ran on from midfield; finished sixth of 10 runners at Haydock Park on January 17 over 4860m, 18 len behind Dalston Lad carrying 71kg at $11. The start before that; won by 1.5 len Kelso on December 29 over 4500m defeating Magic Wave carrying 74kg at $9 in a hurdle. Likely to make amends for the last-start miss.

Expected Settling Position: No speed data

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Class	Barrier	Jockey	Weight	Cond.	Race Time	Avg. Speed	Margin	800/400	SP	Days	Prize	Prize Won	Result
6th of 10	17/1/26	Haydock Park	4881m	HCP HDLE 4U	-	Craig Nichol	71kg	Good Soft	6:10.01	47.5 km/h	18.8L	5-7	$11	19	$55,350	-	1. Dalston Lad 2. Stay Away Fay 3. Heather Honey
1st of 7	29/12/25	Kelso	4526m	HDLE HCP 3U	-	Sean Quinlan	74kg	Good Soft	5:56.73	45.7 km/h	1.5L	2-1	$9.00	47	$32,670	$17,539	1. Both Barrels 2. Magic Wave 3. Esprit Du Potier
47 Day Freshen-Up
8th of 11	12/11/25	Ayr	4114m	HCP HDLE 3U	-	Richie Mclernon	75.5kg	Soft	5:24.35	45.7 km/h	28.2L	1-4	$7.00	250	$16,610	-	1. Follow Charlie 2. Captain Butler 3. El Jefe
250 Day Spell
1st of 10	7/3/25	Ayr	4114m	HCP HDLE 4U	-	Craig Nichol	75kg	Soft	5:42.50	43.2 km/h	4.3L	1-1	$4.00	21	$18,450	$9,744	1. Both Barrels 2. Buy Some Time 3. Follow Charlie
6th of 12	14/2/25	Kelso	4563m	HCP HDLE 4U	-	Murray Dodd	73kg	Soft	6:01.34	45.5 km/h	9.3L	4-3	$5.00	43	$14,760	-	1. Stay If U Want To 2. Rocheval 3. Young Jack
43 Day Freshen-Up
7th of 10	2/1/25	Ayr	4892m	HCP HDLE 4U	-	Craig Nichol	69kg	Soft	6:30.34	45.1 km/h	27.3L	4-7	$3.75f	262	$27,680	-	1. O'toole 2. Gaillimh A Stor 3. Adveram
262 Day Spell

Jupiter Des Mottes (3) 1x126x9x
Trainer: N G Richards(Greystoke, Cumbria)
Jockey: Danny Mcmenamin
Weight: 75.5kg
Prize Money: $17,299
Win / Place: 40% / 60%

Fresh Record

7 yo Bay Gelding

Sire: CASTLE DU BERLAIS (FR)

Dam: POUR TOI GEORGES (FR)

Dam's Sire: Michel Georges

Rating

Stats

Career

5: 2-1-0

Track

1: 1-0-0

1st Up

3: 2-0-0

2nd Up

1: 0-1-0

3rd Up

1: 0-0-0

Metro

1: 1-0-0

Non-Metro

4: 1-1-0

Turf

5: 2-1-0

Good

2: 0-0-0

Soft

3: 2-1-0

Clockwise

2: 0-0-0

Anti-Clockwise

3: 2-1-0

Hurdle

3: 1-1-0

Steeple

1: 0-0-0

Handicap Rating

122

Jockey Stats

Horse

1: 1-0-0

Trainer

W 0% P 0%

Distance

W 0% P 0%

Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Distance

W 0% P 0%

Distance Range Last 6 months

4204m

Comments

Resuming after a break; having raced just once last campaign finished ninth of 12 starters at Carlisle on November 2 over 4200m, 41 len behind The Jukebox Kid with 71.5kg at $6. Won previous preparation first up on from midfield and won by a neck this track on January 28 2025 over 4100m slow track defeating Lawrenny with 72kg at $4.50 in a hurdle. Well beaten latest and prepared to risk.

Expected Settling Position: No speed data

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Class	Barrier	Jockey	Weight	Cond.	Race Time	Avg. Speed	Margin	800/400	SP	Days	Prize	Prize Won	Result
9th of 12	2/11/25	Carlisle	4204m	HCP CHSE 4U	-	Derek Fox	71.5kg	Good Soft	5:25.38	46.5 km/h	41.0L	10-9	$6.00	193	$36,900	-	1. The Jukebox Kid 2. Grand Geste 3. First Confession
193 Day Spell
6th of 14	23/4/25	Perth Uk	4828m	LR HDLE HUNT	-	Patrick Wadge	71kg	Good Soft	6:02.57	47.9 km/h	13.8L	12-8	$51	46	$72,600	$989	1. Kiss Will 2. Royal Infantry 3. Horaces Pearl
46 Day Freshen-Up
2nd of 5	8/3/25	Ayr	4123m	HDLE 4U	-	Derek Fox	73kg	Soft	5:40.99	43.5 km/h	5.0L	3-2	$1.53f	39	$14,520	$3,703	1. Crest Of Fortune 2. Jupiter Des Mottes 3. Wholly Boley
39 Day Freshen-Up
1st of 12	28/1/25	Newcastle Uk	4123m	HDLE 4U	-	Patrick Wadge	72kg	Soft	5:18.20	46.6 km/h	0.3L	5-5	$4.50	306	$13,980	$7,736	1. Jupiter Des Mottes 2. Lawrenny 3. Monaco Rules
306 Day Spell
1st of 13	28/3/24	Wetherby	3218m	HUNT FLAT 46	-	Danny Mcmenamin	71kg	Soft	4:05.55	47.2 km/h	3.8L	8-5	$8.00	-	$9,070	$4,871	1. Jupiter Des Mottes 2. Get The Beat 3. Farmer Jimmy

Skuna Bay (4) 32x342x152
Trainer: Donald Mccain Jnr(Cholmondeley, Cheshire)
Jockey: Theo Gillard
Weight: 74.5kg
Prize Money: $23,274
Win / Place: 12% / 75%

7 yo Bay Gelding

Sire: MAHLER (GB)

Dam: MISS ISLAND (IRE)

Dam's Sire: Dr Massini

100

Rating

Stats

Career

8: 1-3-2

Distance

1: 0-0-0

Season

1: 0-1-0

1st Up

3: 1-0-2

2nd Up

3: 0-1-0

3rd Up

2: 0-2-0

Non-Metro

8: 1-3-2

Turf

8: 1-3-2

Good

1: 0-0-1

Soft

5: 1-2-0

Heavy

2: 0-1-1

Clockwise

2: 0-1-1

Anti-Clockwise

4: 1-1-0

Hurdle

5: 1-2-1

Steeple

1: 0-0-0

Handicap Rating

120

Jockey Stats

Horse

4: 1-2-0

Trainer

W 0% P 0%

Distance

W 0% P 0%

Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Distance

W 0% P 0%

Distance Range Last 6 months

4123m - 4727m

Comments

Last run set the pace for much of the race finished second of 8 starters at Leicester on January 20 over 4100m, on heavy track; 9 len behind Ubatuba with 75.5kg at $7.50. Run before ran on from midfield; ran last in a small field at Kelso on December 7 over 4700m, slow track; 38 len behind King Of Answers carrying 71kg at $5.50. Definite threat.

Expected Settling Position: No speed data

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Class	Barrier	Jockey	Weight	Cond.	Race Time	Avg. Speed	Margin	800/400	SP	Days	Prize	Prize Won	Result
2nd of 8	20/1/26	Leicester	4123m	HDLE 4U	-	Theo Gillard	75.5kg	Heavy	5:30.57	44.9 km/h	9.5L	1-1	$7.50	44	$18,150	$4,483	1. Ubatuba 2. Skuna Bay 3. Starzand
44 Day Freshen-Up
5th of 5	7/12/25	Kelso	4727m	STPLE HCP 4U	-	Theo Gillard	71kg	Soft	6:13.87	45.5 km/h	38.3L	3-5	$5.50	25	$59,620	$1,677	1. King Of Answers 2. Young Jack 3. Al Kalila
1st of 5	12/11/25	Bangor On Dee	4626m	HDLE 4U	-	Theo Gillard	70kg	Soft	6:10.29	45.0 km/h	7.5L	1-1	$5.50	284	$16,340	$8,769	1. Skuna Bay 2. Firm But Fair 3. In The Age
284 Day Spell
2nd of 14	1/2/25	Wetherby	3922m	HDLE MDN 4U	-	Theo Gillard	71.5kg	Soft	5:04.00	46.4 km/h	3.0L	1-3	$13	50	$14,520	$3,703	1. Lud'or 2. Skuna Bay 3. Followcato
50 Day Freshen-Up
4th of 10	13/12/24	Bangor On Dee	3922m	HDLE MDN 4U	-	Brian Hughes	72kg	Soft	5:08.85	45.7 km/h	13.5L	2-4	$6.00	24	$26,900	$3,138	1. Galassian 2. Kevin's Pride 3. Alan De Banks
3rd of 11	19/11/24	Carlisle	4023m	HDLE MDN 4U	-	Brian Hughes	71.5kg	Good Soft	5:17.24	45.7 km/h	12.5L	2-4	$11	317	$11,800	$1,504	1. Ira Hayes 2. Dazzlelikethis 3. Skuna Bay
317 Day Spell

Forged Well (5) 26f93x6f10
Trainer: M Todhunter(Orton, Cumbria)
Jockey: Ryan Mania
Weight: 70kg
Prize Money: $51,801
Win / Place: 17% / 52%

7 yo Bay Gelding

Sire: JET AWAY (GB)

Dam: FORGE FIELD (IRE)

Dam's Sire: Gold Well

Rating

Stats

Career

17: 3-2-4

Distance

1: 1-0-0

Track

2: 0-0-1

Season

1: 0-0-0

1st Up

4: 1-0-2

2nd Up

3: 1-0-1

3rd Up

3: 1-1-0

4th Up

3: 0-1-0

Metro

2: 0-0-1

Non-Metro

15: 3-2-3

Turf

17: 3-2-4

Good

8: 3-0-2

Soft

8: 0-2-2

Heavy

1: 0-0-0

Clockwise

7: 2-0-2

Anti-Clockwise

9: 1-2-1

Hurdle

12: 2-2-3

Steeple

4: 1-0-0

Handicap Rating

110

Jockey Stats

Horse

2: 1-0-0

Trainer

W 0% P 0%

Distance

W 0% P 0%

Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Distance

W 0% P 0%

Distance Range Last 6 months

4023m - 6336m

Gear Changes

[Visor]

Comments

Useful gelding. Last start didn't finish the race at Musselburgh on February 1 over 6300m. The run before won by 5 len Musselburgh on December 22 over 4700m defeating Special Rate with 71.5kg at $6 in a steeplechase. Looks very hard to beat if he is on-song.

Expected Settling Position: No speed data

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Class	Barrier	Jockey	Weight	Cond.	Race Time	Avg. Speed	Margin	800/400	SP	Days	Prize	Prize Won	Result
99th of 7	1/2/26	Musselburgh	6336m	STPLE HCP 5U	-	Charlie Maggs	64kg	Good Soft	8:13.02	46.3 km/h	99.0L	-	$4.50	41	$108,900	-	1. Transmission 2. Rock My Way 3. Bodhisattva
41 Day Freshen-Up
1st of 8	22/12/25	Musselburgh	4727m	STPLE HCP 4U	-	Ryan Mania	71.5kg	Good Soft	6:03.91	46.8 km/h	4.8L	3-1	$6.00	40	$18,150	$9,744	1. Forged Well 2. Special Rate 3. Giovanni Change
40 Day Freshen-Up
99th of 10	12/11/25	Ayr	4846m	HCP CHSE 4U	-	Ryan Mania	70.5kg	Soft	6:35.72	44.1 km/h	99.0L	-	$6.50	27	$20,300	-	1. De Legislator 2. Broomfield Present 3. Busty Boy
6th of 7	16/10/25	Carlisle	4023m	HCP CHSE 4U	-	Patrick Wadge	73kg	Good	5:02.27	47.9 km/h	73.5L	7-7	$4.33f	180	$18,600	-	1. Hello Judge 2. Busty Boy 3. Alshadhian
180 Day Spell
3rd of 6	19/4/25	Carlisle	5029m	HCP HDLE 4U	-	Sean Quinlan	72kg	Good	6:21.22	47.5 km/h	3.8L	2-2	$2.75f	29	$16,340	$2,018	1. Kilmore Rock 2. Cruden 3. Forged Well
9th of 15	21/3/25	Musselburgh	4828m	HCP HDLE 4U	-	Henry Brooke	75kg	Good Soft	5:54.90	49.0 km/h	9.3L	6-10	$15	23	$60,600	-	1. Fierce Warrior 2. Punxsutawney Phil 3. Anamanda

Race Review Abbreviations

3WNC: Three wide no cover, Awk: Awkwardly away, Bk: Back, Blkd: Blocked, Btld: Battled, Chal: Challenged, Chkd: Checked, Cvr: Cover, Fdd: Faded, Fght: Fought, Fin: Finish, Hdd: Headed, Hld up: Held up, Hmprd: Hampered, Hndy: Handy, Kikd: Kicked, Kn: Keen, Ld: Led/Lead, Midf: Midfield, Mod pc: Moderate pace, Otf: On the Fence, ROS: Ran on strongly, Slow: Slow away, Snagd: Snagged, Stld: Settled, Tn: Turn, Trld: Trailed, Under pres: Under pressure, Under rd: Under riding, Urgd: Urged, Wd: Wide, Wdr: Wider, Weavd: Weaved, Wknd: Weakened, Wrkd: Worked

Racing and Sports™ Trusted form provider for 20+ years