Headlined by a Class 4 handicap offering £5,210.99 in prize money, the Newcastle card on Wednesday, 26th November, fell firmly into the run-of-the-mill category – plenty for punters to get stuck into, but unlikely to live long in the memory.
The opening Class 6 Midnite Ain’t Your Grandad’s Bookie Handicap didn’t look likely to provide a memorable result. Restricted to runners rated between 0 and 65, the 10-runner field comprised a mix of established low-level handicappers and relatively inexperienced horses who had shown little to nothing to date. Falling into that latter category was a horse going by the name of Krissy.
Promise on Paper, a Flop at the Track
Sired by Coventry Stakes winner Calyx, and out of the Galileo mare Advertising Space, Krissy is a half-sister to Carbon Dating, Ralston Road, and Wickywickywheels. Not household names by any means, but that trio did manage to win 14 races between them. As such, Krissy looked like an interesting addition to the Lucinda Russell team in 2024.
In three starts for Russell, she did nothing to suggest she would be joining her relatives in the winners’ enclosure any time soon, suffering three defeats by a combined total of 85½ lengths. In the last two of those outings, she failed to beat a single rival.
| Date | Course | SP | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11th Sep 2024 | Carlisle | 40/1 | 7th of 14 |
| 28th Sep 2024 | Ripon | 50/1 | 6th of 6 |
| 22nd Oct 2024 | Newcastle (AW) | 100/1 | 9th of 9 |
Change of Scenery, Same Results
Following those underwhelming displays, Krissy made the move to the yard of Jim Goldie ahead of the 2025 season. Perhaps the Lanarkshire air would spark her into life. Given her previous outings, coming seventh of 13, marked a step in the right direction on her debut for her new handler. She backed that up with a respectable fifth-place finish at Hamilton, but then the wheels came off.
| Date | Course | SP | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5th Jun 2025 | Hamilton | 11/1 | 7th of 13 |
| 26th Jun 2025 | Hamilton | 9/2 | 5th of 7 |
| 1st Jul 2025 | Musselburgh | 8/1 | Pulled Up |
| 12th Jul 2025 | Hamilton | 16/1 | Pulled Up |
Racing prominently at Musselburgh on 1st July, she pulled up alarmingly after the first bend. Thankfully, fears over her well-being proved unfounded and she returned to the track at Musselburgh 11 days later. In a remarkably similar incident, Krissy again looked to be travelling well, only to suddenly lose her stride, drop back through the pack, and be pulled up for a second time in as many outings.
Given those back-to-back displays, the British Horseracing Authority understandably stepped in to assess the horse. Required to undergo a series of tests and inspections, Krissy took part in a BHA-observed gallop at Ayr over the summer. Found to be fit and well, she was cleared to return to the track in November.
| Date | Course | SP | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5th Nov 2025 | Musselburgh | 18/1 | 8th of 8 |
Any hopes that Krissy was ready to resume her limited progress appeared unfounded when she made her comeback at Musselburgh on 5th November 2025. On the plus side, she did at least complete the course, but a 49-length last of eight effort hardly suggested she was a winner in waiting. But then again…
Krissy Springs 40/1 Surprise
Krissy’s ninth outing took her to the northeast for a second run on the Newcastle Tapeta. Given her only previous outing at Newcastle resulted in a 42-length last of nine effort, odds of 40/1 looked a little skinny if anything. Nevertheless, this was the day that Krissy opted to belatedly put her best hoof forward.
Midnite Ain’t Your Grandad’s Bookie Handicap Result (26th Nov 2025)
| Positon | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Krissy | Jim Goldie | Cam Hardie | 40/1 |
| 2nd | Percy Willis | Jedd O’Keeffe | P J McDonald | 11/1 |
| 3rd | Harswell Duke | Liam Bailey | Billy Garritty | 13/2 |
Up with the pace from an early stage, the mount of Cam Hardie hit the front two furlongs from home and kept on resolutely to fend off the challengers. Mastering Percy Willis inside the final furlong, she forged on for a comfortable one-and-a-quarter-length success to the shock of the vast majority of those in attendance.
We’re delighted with Krissy who won her 1st race under a lovely ride from Cam Hardie @NewcastleRaces ! Hopefully it will give this half sister to Wickywickywheels some much needed confidence to bag some more wins! 🤞🏻
That’s 95 winners for 2025! pic.twitter.com/NimMLdkr7X— Jim Goldie Racing (@JimGoldieRacing) November 26, 2025
More to Come?
Despite the improbable nature of this win, not everyone was entirely surprised. When reflecting on the victory, Jim Goldie stated:
“We did recommend some of our owners to back her at Newcastle because it wasn’t a forlorn hope. I booked Cam Hardie because he’s very experienced, especially on the Tapeta, and his instructions were to let her run and find her rhythm, not to take her back or fight her, and it worked perfectly. It was quite sweet to get that win.”
With her first win under her belt, could Krissy yet emulate the feats of her half-siblings? Goldie certainly didn’t rule out the prospect, saying:
“She was quite impressive at Newcastle, and we’ll see how she comes out of the race. I don’t suppose the handicapper will kill her off 47, so she’ll be well placed to win a few.”
The next racecourse appearance of this unlikeliest of winners is eagerly awaited.