Jimmy Hunter 60th Birthday Celebration Novices' Handicap Chase (Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Newcastle

14:10

Date 2026-02-21

Distance 2m75y

Class Class 4

Going Good To Soft

Type Chase

Surface Turf

Age Band 5yo+

Prize £5,281

Weather Overcast

Temp 8.3°C

Wind 14mph W

Rain 0%

Winning Time 4m 13.38s (slow by 11.38s)

Result

Pos	Horse	SP	Btn
1st	The Grafter (IRE) Jonathan England · Sam England	2/1J	Won
2nd	Spadestep (IRE) Derek Fox · Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore	2/1J	4
3rd	Galidam (FR) Callum Bewley · Micky Hammond	10/1	7.5
4th	Sleeping Satellite (IRE) Jonathan Burke · Fergal O'Brien	11/1	1.5
5th	Always A Reason (IRE) Ross Chapman · Rebecca Menzies	11/2	4.75
6th	Stick With Me Sam (FR) Brian Hughes · Tom Gretton	8/1	15

Runners (7)

EW Terms: 2 places, ¼ odds (standard bookmaker terms — may vary)

#	Horse	Jockey / Trainer	Wt	Gear	Form	OR	RPR	TS	Last	Crs	Dst	Val	Scr	EW	Odds
1	Spadestep Bay J:Derek Fox T:Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore	J:Derek Fox T:Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore	168	t	2-1222	116	121	111	25d	—	0W/0P 1 run	+1	28.4	0.50/1	2/1 33%
Up to winning a race off this mark and stable has landed the past two renewals of this
2	The Grafter Bay J:Jonathan England T:Sam England	J:Jonathan England T:Sam England	166	t	2225-1	114	122	110	25d	—	—	+10	32.9	0.69/1	11/4 27%
Well backed when beating Spadestep on chase debut here on heavy; raised 8lb
4	Always A Reason Bay J:Ross Chapman T:Rebecca Menzies	J:Ross Chapman T:Rebecca Menzies	159	p	-51211	107	120	99	22d	—	—	+28	40.4	1.50/1	6/1 14%
Has another 6lb to contend with but very much heading the right way; 2-2 over fences
5	Stick With Me Sam Bay J:Brian Hughes T:Tom Gretton	J:Brian Hughes T:Tom Gretton	158	ht	U-7111	106	121	92	22d	—	—	+5	17.4	1.63/1	13/2 13%
Shooting up the weights (raised another 8lb) but things have clicked in a big way
3	Sleeping Satellite Brown J:Jonathan Burke T:Fergal O'Brien	J:Jonathan Burke T:Fergal O'Brien	160	t	681213	108	118	102	75d	—	—	+24	32.4	2.50/1	10/1 9%
Dual chase winner this season and returning to a left-handed track should suit
7	Galidam Bay J:Callum Bewley T:Micky Hammond	J:Callum Bewley T:Micky Hammond	150	t	5P-633	98	123	111	55d	—	—	+6	14.5	2.25/1	9/1 10%
Things have picked up over fences the last twice but this is competitive
NR	Ballyedward Bay J:Sean Quinlan T:S R B Crawford	J:Sean Quinlan T:S R B Crawford	152	t	036803	100	121	81	11d	—	—	—	16.1	—	—
Just about his best run yet under rules when beaten 10l on switch to fences at Ayr (2m4f)

Horse	bet365	William Hill	Boyle Sports	Ladbrokes	Unibet
Spadestep	2/1	2/1	2/1	15/8	2/1
The Grafter	11/4	5/2	5/2	5/2	5/2
Always A Reason	5/1	11/2	11/2	11/2	6/1
Stick With Me Sam	13/2	6/1	6/1	11/2	13/2
Sleeping Satellite	10/1	17/2	9/1	9/1	17/2
Galidam	15/2	17/2	8/1	9/1	17/2
Ballyedward	-	-	-	-	-

Predictor

Scored on Official Rating (max 30), Recent Form (max 25), and Market Odds (max 20). Max score: 75.

1st

Always A Reason

40.4

OR: 14.3 Form: 22.5 Odds: 3.6

6/1

2nd

The Grafter

32.9

OR: 16 Form: 10 Odds: 6.9

11/4

3rd

Sleeping Satellite

32.4

OR: 14.5 Form: 15.5 Odds: 2.4

10/1

Spadestep

28.4

OR: 16.5 Form: 3.5 Odds: 8.4

2/1

Stick With Me Sam

17.4

OR: 14 Form: 0 Odds: 3.4

13/2

Ballyedward

16.1

OR: 12.5 Form: 3.6 Odds: 0

—

Galidam

14.5

OR: 12 Form: 0 Odds: 2.5

9/1

Ratings

Horse	OR	RPR	TS
Spadestep	116	121	111
The Grafter	114	122	110
Sleeping Satellite	108	118	102
Always A Reason	107	120	99
Stick With Me Sam	106	121	92
Ballyedward	100	121	81
Galidam	98	123	111

Last Run

Horse	Last Run	Status
Ballyedward	11d ago	Quick return
Always A Reason	22d ago	Fit
Stick With Me Sam	22d ago	Fit
Spadestep	25d ago	Fit
The Grafter	25d ago	Fit
Galidam	55d ago	Fresh
Sleeping Satellite	75d ago	Fresh