Newcastle

5:45 PM · Wednesday 2 September 2026

Sky Sports Racing Virgin 512 Handicap (Div 2)

Starts in

3h 19min

Speed race · horses carry weights to make it fair About 1 mile Standard all-weather surface Grassroots race 9 runners £3245 prize E/W: 3 places, 1/5 odds

Tapeta surface

TrackLab's Top Pick

Barleybrown

J: J. Mason · T: R. Carr

Strong chance

Good Value at 12/5

All Runners — sorted by TrackLab Score

20+ Strong pick 12-19 Solid chance 6-11 In the mix Below 6 Outsider How scores work

1 Barleybrown

J. Mason · R. Carr · 6yo · 9st 9lb · OR 53

C&D Headgear

Good Value

Won at this course & distance Wearing cheekpieces Won 0 of last 5 Won here 4 times Has won on this ground

TrackLab Insight

The only winner at this distance in the field and a proven course specialist with four wins from 19 Newcastle races. His form has dipped recently (5th at Southwell 17 days ago), but he remains the most reliable option here on standard ground where he wins roughly 1 in every 5 starts. The gap between his rating and the field is real—he's the class horse.

Only winner at this distance Has won over this course and distance Best record on this ground (4 from 18) Best record at this trip (5 from 25)

Trainer Quotes

Apr 2025

"Last year was a good one for him with four wins, all at Newcastle over a mile. He had a busy time of it and has had aeak since December. He'll need to improve a bit this year because he's risen to a mark of 66. He needs to be held up. 09-04-25"

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2 Defence Missile

T. Kiely-Marshall(5) · L. Perratt · 4yo · 9st 7lb · OR 51

Headgear Form

Wearing cheekpieces Won 1 of last 5 Won here 1 time

TrackLab Insight

Just broke a five-race losing streak with a win at Newcastle 39 days ago, but this is genuinely uncharted territory—he's never run on normal ground before. The breakthrough is encouraging, yet the immediate form either side of that win (8th, then 5th) raises questions about whether it was a one-off or the start of something.

Never raced on normal ground

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3 Thunder Rush

T. Eaves · T. Coyle & Kaine Wood · 3yo · 9st 6lb · OR 55

Form Track

Good Value

Won 0 of last 5 Raced here before

TrackLab Insight

Lightly raced three-year-old with zero wins from three starts, most recently finishing 11th at Southwell 41 days ago. The form is firmly downward, and there's limited evidence he belongs in this company—he's weighted at the top of the field but hasn't earned it yet.

Lightly raced (3 career races)

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5 Here Comes Louie

C. Whiteley(5) · R. Fell · 3yo · 9st 3lb · OR 52

Form

Won 0 of last 5

TrackLab Insight

Young three-year-old who has been placed in 2 of his last 3 runs, including a near-miss second by just 0.1L at Thirsk. Despite winless from six races, the recent consistency (second, second, seventh) suggests he's improving and could have a real chance over a mile on the all-weather.

Placed in 2 of last 3 races

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6 Itszaboy

A. Jary(3) · N. Tinkler · 3yo · 9st 2lb · OR 51

Form

Won 0 of last 5

TrackLab Insight

Winless from seven starts but was beaten just 2.8L in second at Redcar recently, hinting at genuine improvement. The critical unknown is normal ground—he's never raced on it before—which makes this a proper test of whether his recent form translates or falters.

Never raced on normal ground

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8 Lady Delila

J. Hart · P. Morris · 6yo · 9st 1lb · OR 45

Headgear Form

8.4

Wearing cheekpieces Won 0 of last 5 Raced here before

TrackLab Insight

A remarkable six-year-old mare that has raced 20 times without a single win, though she did pick up three places. Recent form is inconsistent (8th, 5th, 9th) and she carries the worst rating in the field—she's a proven battler but not a threat.

Winless from 20 career races

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7 Walk On Walk On

R. Sexton · P. Kirby · 3yo · 9st 2lb · OR 51

Headgear Form

6.8

Wearing cheekpieces Won 0 of last 5

TrackLab Insight

Winless from 13 races with form figures that show improvement (most recent: 7-2-5-10-4-6 shows an upward arc). The editorial verdict highlights that his bare figures understate the case, and the recent second-place finish by 0.8L at Beverley suggests he's getting closer to breaking through.

Winless from 13 career races

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4 Soham's Roger

A. Elliott · N. Mechie · 4yo · 9st 5lb · OR 49

Freshness Form

0.6

Fresh (310 days off) Won 0 of last 5

TrackLab Insight

This horse hasn't raced in 310 days—longer than any other runner in the field—and is returning from a winter break with zero wins from four career starts. The absence is a massive red flag, and there's no evidence he can handle normal ground, making this a genuine roll of the dice.

Never raced on normal ground Absent 310 days (longest in field)

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9 The Floors Munky

R. Elliott(5) · G. Rutherford · 3yo · 8st 10lb · OR 45

Class Form

0.4

Dropping in class Won 0 of last 5 Raced here before

TrackLab Insight

Lowest-rated horse in the field carrying the lightest weight, but the data contradicts the standout markers—his last six runs read 10-18-9-11-10-7, showing no top-3 finishes whatsoever. He's stepping up two classes and has yet to win from eight starts; this looks too tough.

Lowest rated, 5lbs below average Carries lowest weight in field Steps up 2 classes 3 straight top-3 finishes

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