Mereside Madness

The standout story here is Newcastle. Of those 4 career wins, 3 have come at that one track, from just 9 races there. That is a win rate of 33% — roughly 1 in every 3 visits — which is genuinely remarkable. Most horses never find a course that suits them this well. Newcastle clearly fits: the track, the ground, something about the whole setup clicks for Mereside Madness in a way it simply does not elsewhere. The first career win came there on 27 January 2024, and the horse has kept returning to the scene of the crime.

Normal ground is another key ingredient. In 13 races on standard conditions, Mereside Madness has won 3 times — 23%, or nearly 1 in every 4. That is a noticeably better return than the overall career average, and it suggests the horse is at its best when the ground is neither too soft nor too firm. Wet or muddy days are best avoided.

The current form does need some honesty applied to it. Mereside Madness has not won in 6 races, with recent finishes of 7th, 11th, 15th and worse. That is a lean spell, and the last win came at Thirsk back in July 2025 — nearly 10 months ago now. The horse raced just one day ago, so clearly Scott Dixon's yard in Nottinghamshire is keeping it busy and believing a turnaround is close. Dixon has sent out 35 winners this season, so this is a trainer in decent form. Jockey Callum Rodriguez has partnered the horse 6 times for 1 win together — not a bad record, but the pair will be hoping to rediscover that Newcastle magic soon.