December 07 / 18.30 Wolverhampton (AW)

18.30

Standard

£30 In Free Bets With BetUK Handicap

  • Prize money: £4972.3
  • 1m 1f 104y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
£30 In Free Bets With BetUK Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

Form: 825384 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Four wins on Tapeta at the start of the year, including C&D; made a solid return to AW after five months off when fourth of 12 over C&D three weeks ago; entitled to be sharper and has to enter the reckoning.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

(9)

8th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

14:45 Ascot

Asgards Captain

9st 8lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: Dylan Cunha

Seen mostly at up to 1m4f so perhaps unwise to read all that much into last two defeats over 2m and 1m6f; not impossibly treated on his solid 1m4f form earlier this season, and last year's efforts included a 2l defeat in this (not seen to best effect) and a victory over Insanity at York (1m4f, good to firm); in the mix.

13/2

6th

5

(3)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Newmarket (July)

Asgards Captain

9st 1lb

J: David Egan

T: Dylan Cunha

Seen mostly at up to 1m4f, over which he delivered a telling late challenge on the other Newmarket track in May; while that looked encouraging for longer trips, his one attempt at 1m6f (on soft last July) and two at 2m (last two Northumberland Plates) saw him well beaten; that's not conclusive proof that he won't stay 1m6f but it leaves his stamina unproven.

33/1

12th

11

(13)

27th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

15:15 Newcastle (AW)

Asgards Captain

9st 1lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Dylan Cunha

Three wins at this track but he came 13th in this race last year; that was his only appearance over this long a trip and he was also below form when he had a crack at 1m6f, so he's unproven beyond 1m4f, over which he's contested his last nine starts; stamina is the big doubt.

16/1

Abandoned

Form: 3-7152 BF

Last run: 47 days

W: 9st 13lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Second win when too strong for nine rivals over 8.5f at Beverley in August; made a sound start to his AW career when second of 12 at Southwell (1m) seven weeks ago; likely to go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(8)

28th Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 80y

Class 5

14:35 Ffos Las

Lerwick

9st 10lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Mark Loughnane

Only 3-31 but won comfortably over C&D (good) earlier this month with a first-time eyeshield joining reapplied blinkers and that was from the same stall as today; back up 7lb but has coped with this mark in the past.

4/1

1st

1

(8)

4th Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 80y

Class 6

15:30 Ffos Las

Lerwick

10st 1lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Mark Loughnane

Both wins at around 1m when trained by Ed Bethell; his losing run is mounting up and a first-time eye-shield is now applied along with returning blinkers; now on a career-low mark but doesn't look ready to take advantage.

7/1

Form: 450972 CD

Last run: 49 days

W: 9st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Back-to-form second over C&D seven weeks ago; nudged back up 3lb but it shouldn't prevent him being in the shake-up again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

(10)

3rd Sep 2026

Soft

1m 2f 42y

Class 4

17:00 Haydock

Arcadian Nights

9st 7lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Mark Loughnane

10-34 on AW but latest well-held fifth on good to firm at Sandown took his turf record to a much less impressive 2-20; going softer than good arguably suits him slightly better but still hard to be confident.

25/1

5th

3

(4)

6th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 209y

Class 4

17:00 Sandown

Arcadian Nights

10st 13lb

J: Mr Jack Loughnane

T: Mark Loughnane

Has a good 10-34 record on AW but his turf strike-rate is only 2-19; has a lower mark in this sphere but off since finishing last of six at Wolverhampton in March and a watching brief is the percentage call.

25/1

6th

3

(5)

7th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 4

17:35 Wolverhampton (AW)

Arcadian Nights

9st 9lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Mark Loughnane

Record of 10-33 on AW features six wins at Wolverhampton, including in this race (off just 1lb lower) last year; close fourth at Lingfield for an encouraging start to his 2026 campaign; fighting chance.

7/2

Form: 050057

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Failed to fire on turf in 2024; that has resulted in his mark dropping but it remains to be seen whether a return to AW for the first time since March 2021 helps to spark a revival.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(4)

5th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:45 Ascot

Dashing Roger

9st 13lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: William Stone

C&D winner (good to soft) just over four years ago; on a losing run since going back-to-back at Nottingham and Newmarket (both heavy at around 1m) in the autumn of 2023 and recent efforts are not enough to tempt despite this falling mark.

16/1

6th

8

(8)

19th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

19:38 Newmarket (July)

Dashing Roger

9st 5lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: William Stone

Continues to drop down the weights but this 8yo struggled in the main last season and it was the same story on last month's reappearance; needs to turn things around.

33/1

Abandoned

Form: 694775

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Made a winning debut at Newcastle (7f) last autumn and good fifth in 1m Listed event there when next seen in March; unplaced in six handicaps since but his mark has come down as a result and he showed better signs when fifth of 13 over C&D a fortnight ago; could build on that, particularly if the betting vibes are strong.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

(11)

4th Sep 2026

Soft

1m 3f 140y

Class 5

16:53 Haydock

Yokohama

9st 13lb

J: Conor Whiteley

T: John Butler

Doubled his tally at Newbury (1m4f) in May but beat only two in 1m3f handicap there following month; needs to hit the ground running after a layoff.

11/2

7th

5

(7)

23rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 0y

Class 5

20:35 Newbury

Yokohama

9st 10lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: John Butler

Was winning for the first time since his debut when just prevailing over 1m4f here (good) last month, but may not have been suited by the conditions when third of six at Yarmouth (11.5f, soft) 12 days ago; each-way claims.

5/1

3rd

7

(5)

11th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 3f 104y

Class 4

16:28 Yarmouth

Yokohama

8st 11lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: John Butler

Was winning for the first time since his debut when just getting the better of Patrol at Newbury (1m4f, good) last month; 5lb higher and could probably do with the ground drying out (best form on good or faster), but still respected.

5/2

Abandoned

Form: 405116 C

Last run: 247 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Pair of 8.6f course wins in February/March but not seen since finishing a below-par sixth of 11 at Lingfield in April; might be best watched this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

(1)

1st Sep 2026

Good

1m 1f 170y

Class 5

14:10 Ripon

Cosmos Raj

9st 7lb

J: Conor Whiteley

T: David O’Meara

10-50 turf; made all, clinging on, at Redcar (1m2f, good; 20-1) ten days ago; 3lb higher, but with 3lb claimer Conor Whiteley taking over in the saddle; is better known as a miler, so stamina could be the thorny issue, especially if more rain arrives.

7/2

1st

3

(3)

22nd Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 1y

Class 5

18:30 Redcar

Cosmos Raj

9st 9lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: David O’Meara

A three-time 1m winner in 2025 but yet to hit top form this season, finishing just fourth of six in 1m Pontefract handicap 17 days ago; on a falling mark but more is required.

10/1

4th

5

(2)

5th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 6y

Class 5

15:45 Pontefract

Cosmos Raj

8st 13lb

J: Conor Whiteley

T: David O’Meara

Multiple winner over 1m-1m2f; versatile regarding going; 12lb lower than his most recent win at Ripon 13 months ago; plenty to prove based on five of his six starts this season.

10/1

Form: 088818 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Course regular who was winning here for the fourth time when successful over 8.6f in late September; however, not in the same form when behind Asgard's Captain over C&D last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15

(9)

26th Jul 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 192y

Class 4

16:25 York

Master Of Combat

9st 1lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Kevin Frost

Runner-up twice in a row on AW in the winter before two heavy defeats; didn't run badly back on turf at Haydock (1m, good) last month after a break but the AW seems to be his preferred sphere (just 1-15 on grass).

33/1

7th

7

(4)

21st Jun 2025

Good

1m 0f 37y

Class 4

19:45 Haydock

Master Of Combat

9st 3lb

J: William Pyle

T: Kevin Frost

Four-time AW winner but he was disappointing at Southwell (1m) in his final two runs during the winter; has won on turf but that was a long time ago and he doesn't have a great record when fresh; opposable on return.

16/1

11th

4

(6)

22nd Feb 2025

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 4

19:00 Southwell (AW)

Master Of Combat

9st 7lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Kevin Frost

Disappointing here three weeks ago but he'd been in good form beforehand, second at Wolverhampton and Lingfield around the turn of the year; needs a full revival to win though.

8/1

Form: 331960

Last run: 21 days

W: 8st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Four turf wins between May and August but has struggled on Tapeta on his last three outings, taking his AW record to 0-9; others are more obvious.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(11)

24th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 6

18:30 Southwell (AW)

Life On The Rocks

9st 7lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

Needs to improve on his three efforts for new yard and the latest one took his AW record to 0-19.

40/1

2

(9)

11th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

16:10 Wolverhampton (AW)

Life On The Rocks

9st 9lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

Needs to improve on his two efforts for new yard and the latest one took his AW record to 0-18.

14/1

5th

1

(6)

11th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 6

17:25 Newcastle (AW)

Life On The Rocks

9st 12lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

All six of his wins have been on turf but he has form on AW; won by a head at Leicester (1m2f, good to firm) in May before a lesser effort on his final start for Richard Fahey; failed to beat a rival on yard debut at Beverley (8.5f, good to firm) and the visor now returns.

12/1

Non-runners

Titian

Verdict

The vote goes to LERWICK on the back of his good first effort on AW last time. Tapeta specialist Asgard’s Captain made a good return from a break here last month and is second choice ahead of Titian. [Andrew Sheret]

Selections

POSTDATA:

Asgard's Captain

SPOTLIGHT:

Lerwick

TOPSPEED:

Arcadian Nights

RP RATINGS:

Lerwick

Daily Mail:

Lerwick

The Star:

Lerwick

Daily Record:

Lerwick

NEWMARKET:

Asgard's Captain

Telegraph:

Asgard's Captain

D Express:

Asgard's Captain

Daily Mirror:

Asgard's Captain

The Sun:

Asgard's Captain

The Times:

Arcadian Nights

The Guardian:

Arcadian Nights