August 22 / 13.50 Chepstow

13.50

Good To Firm

Dragon Bet Apprentice Handicap

  • Prize money: £5508
  • 0m 7f 16y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Dragon Bet Apprentice Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 132133 CD

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Productive and consistent for current stable, winning five times; his most recent success came over C&D (good) in June when taking Chepstow form figures to 131; respected off only 2lb higher back here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(7)

3rd Sep 2025

Good

0m 5f 160y

Class 6

15:20 Bath

Macs Dilemma

9st 8lb

J: William Carson

T: John O’Shea

C&D winner; losing run stretches back over two years and he hasn't fired yet this year; dropped 10lb as a result but perhaps not ready to capitalise just yet.

33/1

3

(3)

22nd Jul 2025

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 6

21:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Macs Dilemma

9st 13lb

J: James Turner

T: John O’Shea

Not run on the AW since 2022 and has regressed on turf in recent times, having been rated a stone higher at the start of last season; well held in three runs round his beloved Chepstow this year.

16/1

11/2

  • Place: £3.70

Form: -87353 C

Last run: 11 days

W: 8st 10lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Raced mainly at sprint trips but has performed well over 7f on occasions; suited by good/firmer; kept on for solid third over 6f at Ffos Las most recently (winner was on third leg of a four-timer); interesting now 5lb below last winning mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

(2)

26th Jan 2026

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 6

16:25 Wolverhampton (AW)

Gilt Edge

9st 7lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: Christopher Mason

Veteran who scored over C&D in October, but she's not easy to predict and was 6l behind Nordic Glory here ten days ago; needs to bounce back again after that disappointing run and others are more persuasive.

14/1

8th

4

(6)

16th Jan 2026

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 6

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Gilt Edge

9st 8lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: Christopher Mason

Regained the winning thread in C&D event in November and has made the frame in both starts since, latest at Kempton; this in-form veteran can't be dismissed.

10/1

1st

3

(11)

28th Oct 2025

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 6

17:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Gilt Edge

9st 5lb

J: Jack Callan

T: Christopher Mason

7f course win when rated 2lb higher last November; promising seasonal return at Chepstow in August but no progress in three runs since; others look stronger.

20/1

Form: -40415 D

Last run: 58 days

W: 9st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Spoiled his chance by hanging right off the home bend at Lingfield (AW) when last seen two months ago; scored at Brighton (7f, good to firm) on most recent turf start; hard to dismiss back in this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

11

(1)

3rd Aug 2025

Good

0m 7f 127y

Class 4

16:22 Chester

Little Boy Blue

8st 12lb

J: Laura Coughlan

T: Bill Turner

Multiple winner down the years but this veteran has something to find on 2025 form; comfortably held last time, failing to back up his reappearance effort.

25/1

7th

5

(9)

15th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 213y

Class 4

17:00 Salisbury

Little Boy Blue

9st 7lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Bill Turner

Multiple winner who goes particularly well at Brighton where he was only 2l away last month (7f, good to soft) on his return from a lengthy break; might be vulnerable to younger limbs but should give his running.

10/1

2

(1)

27th May 2025

Good

0m 6f 210y

Class 4

16:10 Brighton

Little Boy Blue

9st 6lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Bill Turner

Off since September but he's proven when fresh having won at Epsom (7f, good) off 1lb higher on his reappearance last July; has won here four times from nine starts, including this race in 2022 off 3lb higher and he holds sound claims on his return.

11/2

Form: 337-54

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Maiden on the Flat and over hurdles for Alan King, despite some big early promise (fifth in 2020 Coventry); modest fourth in 7f novice event on debut for new yard; needs to leave that bare form well behind.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

27th Dec 2023

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 5

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Painless Potter

9st 7lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Picked up for 14,000gns after winning a Worcester hurdle (2m4f) for Shaun Lycett in the autumn; poor in two runs for this yard since and would want to see good support before considering him.

20/1

10th

2

(11)

17th Nov 2023

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 5

13:20 Newcastle (AW)

Painless Potter

9st 12lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

One win each on Flat (2022 turf novice) and over hurdles (made all this September); left Shaun Lycett for 14,000gns before pulled up in a hurdle race seven weeks ago; some AW minor honours make this look a good mark.

12/1

0

14

29th Sep 2023

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

16:00 Worcester

Painless Potter

10st 10lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Formerly a fairly useful Flat-racer and came good over hurdles at ninth attempt, making all in C&D handicap for Shaun Lycett this month; recently changed hands for 14,000gns; interesting to see what new stable can do with him.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 787232 BF

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Useful 6f performer on his day; no win since early 2021 but has found some consistency (form figures 232) since being gelded and holds leading claims off current mark if he proves suited by this new trip (pedigree offers hope).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(3)

22nd Sep 2025

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 6

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Mighty Gurkha

9st 9lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Thomas Faulkner

Nowhere near as good as he was and last win was in June 2023; on much reduced mark and has run some decent races this year but he didn't get very far here (unseated at start) last time and all of his wins have been at 6f; down the list.

15/2

1

(6)

16th Sep 2025

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 6

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Mighty Gurkha

9st 9lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: Thomas Faulkner

Nowhere near as good as he was and although not disgraced on a few occasions on turf/Polytrack this year, more is needed in order to win despite dropping into a 0-55 for the first time; visor returns.

8/1

4

(5)

2nd Sep 2025

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 6

20:45 Wolverhampton (AW)

Mighty Gurkha

9st 7lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Thomas Faulkner

A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since winning a Group 3 on the AW as a 2yo; not disgraced on a few occasions on turf/Polytrack (with and without headgear) this year, but a bit more is needed in order to win.

7/1

6/1

Form: 267153 D

Last run: 12 days

W: 8st 12lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Has a strike-rate of just 1-20 in handicaps, the win gained in an ordinary race for the track at Newbury (7f, good to firm) three runs ago; creditable third at Yarmouth latest but percentage call is to oppose him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

2

(12)

18th Oct 2022

Soft

0m 7f 3y

Class 6

17:05 Yarmouth

Fangorn

9st 12lb

J: Frederick Larson

T: Mick Channon

pressed leader, pushed along from 3f out, soon lost position, ridden and beaten when towards rear from under 2f out

14/1

7th

1

(8)

6th Oct 2022

Standard

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

18:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Fangorn

10st 1lb

J: George Bass

T: Mick Channon

raced in second, ridden and raced wide when lost second on turn under 2f out, soon weakened

14/1

6th

2

(3)

28th Sep 2022

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Fangorn

10st 1lb

J: Charlie Bennett

T: Mick Channon

took keen hold, towards rear of midfield, niggled along and no impression when hampered on inner over 1f out, no extra final furlong

14/1

12/1

Form: 126309 CD

Last run: 33 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Form dipped sharply on AW the last twice but could easily bounce back having performed well in his two turf runs this season, winning off this mark at Windsor (1m, good) in April and third over this C&D in June.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

8

(13)

18th Oct 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

18:30 Kempton (AW)

Newton Jack

9st 9lb

J: Neil Callan

T: Stuart Kittow

Effective on Polytrack and he's well handicapped on his form up to last autumn; however, he's run just twice this year and has been tailed off each time (May/August); major turnaround required.

16/1

7th

3

(10)

31st Aug 2023

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

17:06 Bath

Newton Jack

9st 7lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Stuart Kittow

Well beaten (bled from the nose) on seasonal debut in May and not seen again since; well handicapped on some of last year's form but needs to prove his wellbeing; cheekpieces refitted.

10/1

11th

11

(6)

19th May 2023

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

13:30 Newbury

Newton Jack

9st 10lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Stuart Kittow

Beaten ten times after making a winning reappearance at Windsor (1m, good) last season, but is 8lb lower this time around so well worth a second look; no headgear today.

9/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £34.40
Straight Forecast £36.32
Trifecta £123.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Mighty Gurkha

WEST COUNTRY:

Macs Dilemma

POSTDATA:

Gilt Edge

RP Ratings:

Fangorn

TOPSPEED:

Newton Jack

Daily Mail:

Macs Dilemma

Daily Express:

Macs Dilemma

The Sun:

Macs Dilemma

The Star:

Macs Dilemma

LAMBOURN:

Mighty Gurkha

The Times:

Mighty Gurkha

Telegraph:

Mighty Gurkha

Daily Mirror:

Mighty Gurkha

Daily Record:

Mighty Gurkha

The Guardian:

Gilt Edge