GB - Newcastle - Race 6

Thoroughbred

14 Runners

Handicap

Synthetic

Standard

8.5K

VIEW

Verdict

GEMINI STAR made a promising start for Julia and Shelley Birkett when runner-up in a big-field Thirsk handicap on her return in May and is weighted to go one better here. Operation Gimcrack is feared most on the back of a narrow reverse at Doncaster, although Mount Ruapehu, Desert Master and Wait For It also need factoring into this very open sprint.

numberFire Picks

Horse Stats

#/Silk	Horse#/Horse	Power Rating	High Speed	Win %	Top 3%	Win Prob	Odds
4	On a long losing run for Alice Haynes but she shaped well after 7 months for new yard when second of 17 in handicap at Thirsk (6f, good to soft) in May. Weighted to go very well nudged up 2 lb after another break. 1st Pick 4 Gemini Star (Ire) Jockey: Dylan Hogan Trainer: Julia & Shelley Birkett J: Dylan Hogan T: Julia & Shelley Birkett	100	-	-	-	14%	13/2
Analysis On a long losing run for Alice Haynes but she shaped well after 7 months for new yard when second of 17 in handicap at Thirsk (6f, good to soft) in May. Weighted to go very well nudged up 2 lb after another break.
2	Course winner in February and back to his best with neck second of 11 in handicap at Doncaster (7f, good to firm) 19 days ago. Not taken lightly despite 2 lb weights rise. 2nd Pick 2 Operation Gimcrack (Ire) Jockey: Paul Mulrennan Trainer: Bryan Smart J: Paul Mulrennan T: Bryan Smart	96	-	-	-	12%	15/2
Analysis Course winner in February and back to his best with neck second of 11 in handicap at Doncaster (7f, good to firm) 19 days ago. Not taken lightly despite 2 lb weights rise.
7	Won 3 times on all-weather early in 2026. Not so good back on turf since, only eighth of 11 in handicap at Hamilton (5f, good to firm) 19 days ago. This C&D scorer can't be totally dismissed back on an artificial surface here though. 3rd Pick 7 Mount Ruapehu (Ire) Jockey: Jack Nicholls Trainer: Iain Jardine J: Jack Nicholls T: Iain Jardine	94	-	-	-	5%	22/1
Analysis Won 3 times on all-weather early in 2026. Not so good back on turf since, only eighth of 11 in handicap at Hamilton (5f, good to firm) 19 days ago. This C&D scorer can't be totally dismissed back on an artificial surface here though.

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Horse Racing Basic Terms

Morning Line

An approximation of expected odds in a race, quoted before actual odds are determined.

Breeder

The owner of a horse’s dam – or mother - at the time a horse is foaled.

Rabbit

Also known as a pacemaker; this is a horse with no expected chance of winning but is used to prompt a quick pace on the front end of the race to the benefit of a stablemate who is a closer.