April 12 / 16.05 Nottingham

16.05

Good

Alex Ashton Stag Party Apprentice Handicap

  • Prize money: £3402.1
  • 0m 5f 8y
  • Class 6
  • 7 runners
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Alex Ashton Stag Party Apprentice Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £2.50

Form: 619-72 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 0lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in this class on the AW at Southwell latest, his second start following a breathing operation; fine on turf as well, so should be thereabouts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(6)

3rd Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

20:12 Ripon

Betweenthesticks

9st 9lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Kicked off the season with back-to-back 5f wins at Wolverhampton and Pontefract before being run down by Vince L'Amour over C&D (Hurt You Never third) next time; nowhere near those same levels at Pontefract (ninth of ten) latest, so needs to bounce back.

9/1

9th

4

(9)

22nd May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

19:22 Pontefract

Betweenthesticks

9st 5lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

He has returned from a six-month break in rude health, winning at Wolverhampton and over C&D (second C&D success) last month and running well in his hat-trick bid at Ripon a fortnight ago; wide draw not ideal for a front-runner but he isn't handicapped out of things; trainer also runs Jojo Rabbit.

4/1

2nd

5

(4)

8th May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

18:45 Ripon

Betweenthesticks

9st 6lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Returned from six months off with a win at Wolverhampton and he followed up with another narrow success at Pontefract (5f, good) 17 days ago; 3lb higher than for his front-running win last time but remains feasibly treated and is tactically versatile; key player for yard that won this in 2023 and 2025.

5/2

9/4

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 5222-3 C

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Sole win gained in 6f Class 6 handicap here last summer; went close over this trip at Musselburgh on last week's reappearance; contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

11

(3)

18th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 217y

Class 6

15:40 Redcar

Sergeant Mayer

9st 4lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Nigel Tinkler

Best known as a 5f performer but has won over 6f; always behind on last month's reappearance outing and finished last of six after racing too freely in refitted cheekpieces a fortnight later (also 5f); on good mark but needs to get his season up and running.

16/1

6th

8

(4)

21st Apr 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

17:05 Pontefract

Sergeant Mayer

9st 2lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Nigel Tinkler

Off six months and went without his usual cheekpieces when 11th over C&D two weeks ago; he scored twice at Ripon (5f) last May so no surprise to see him take a step forward here in refitted headgear.

14/1

11th

2

(10)

7th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 3y

Class 6

17:35 Pontefract

Sergeant Mayer

9st 8lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Nigel Tinkler

Came to hand early last year and he returns from a 168-day break off a mark just 1lb higher than for his Ripon win 11 months ago; the absence of cheekpieces tempers enthusiasm this time.

10/1

Form: 634208 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 9st 6lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 56

Form & Verdict
Veteran, formerly pretty useful; tends to start slowly but was still good enough to win Class 5 handicap in December; blew the start and tried to challenge wide around the turn in steadily run 6f Class 5 AW Wolverhampton handicap latest; could be competitive again now from lower turf mark if not giving them too much of a start.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(5)

25th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 6

17:30 Southwell (AW)

Brian The Snail

9st 8lb

J: Donagh Murphy

T: Patrick Morris

Veteran with 14 wins on his CV; kept on for third when dropped back to 5f at Newcastle 12 days ago but is inconsistent nowadays and younger rivals appeal more.

8/1

3rd

8

(7)

13th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

20:30 Newcastle (AW)

Brian The Snail

8st 13lb

J: William Pyle

T: Patrick Morris

Veteran who never featured in a 6f handicap at Wolverhampton nine days ago; drops back to 5f with a point to prove.

20/1

8th

6

(1)

4th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 5

18:55 Wolverhampton (AW)

Brian The Snail

9st 0lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Patrick Morris

Slow-starting veteran who is having his 100th outing this evening; he has won 14 times already and his latest Newcastle fourth was a solid effort; should go well again.

10/1

Form: -54058 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 60

Form & Verdict
Headstrong; has been suited by this trip on quick ground, a pure speed test, as he showed when winning Class 5 Yarmouth handicap last summer; hasn't been racing with much zip on the AW more recently, over 6f on last three starts, but good chance he bounces back under these conditions with cheekpieces replacing hood; drops into Class 6 handicap for first time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

(4)

16th Sep 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

15:33 Redcar

Match Play

9st 11lb

J: David Nolan

T: Paul Midgley

Mainly consistent form this term, winning at Pontefract in June (5f, good to firm) and finishing in the places twice since; best on fast ground; each-way chance.

15/2

1

(7)

27th Aug 2025

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 6

17:05 Musselburgh

Match Play

9st 9lb

J: David Nolan

T: Paul Midgley

Has won once in each of the last four seasons, at Pontefract in June this time round; three creditable placings from his other four starts this summer, so he's still a contender.

6/1

2nd

3

(4)

15th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 42y

Class 5

15:25 Yarmouth

Match Play

9st 7lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Paul Midgley

Finds his one race a year, which in 2024 was a C&D 0-70 off 3lb higher (good to firm) on his sole previous course visit; unable to race as prominently as preferred at York latest, and back in calmer waters here.

12/1

Form: 32415- D

Last run: 163 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Seven-time winner who goes on all sorts of ground, but conceding race-fitness to most of these; unappealing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

(8)

14th Sep 2025

Heavy

0m 5f 10y

Class 6

16:50 Bath

Bama Lama

9st 0lb

J: Oliver Searle

T: Rod Millman

Effectively 11lb lower than when winning on heavy ground at Windsor (5f) last October but placed on only one of her nine appearances this year and evidently not as good as she was.

8/1

9

(4)

9th Sep 2025

Heavy

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

16:50 Ffos Las

Bama Lama

8st 9lb

J: Oliver Searle

T: Rod Millman

12lb lower than when winning at Windsor (5f, heavy) last October, but patchy form in the meantime with her latest fourth of seven coming in a 0-50 classified event at Lingfield (6f, good); cheekpieces removed after one use.

7/1

1

(6)

9th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

18:20 Lingfield

Bama Lama

9st 9lb

J: Oliver Searle

T: Rod Millman

Seven-time winner who didn't get home in a Windsor handicap (6f, good) a fortnight ago, but she does stay this far; has won on good to firm, but most of her successes have come on good ground or softer; sports headgear for the first time on her 60th outing.

11/2

Form: 64420-

Last run: 162 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 54

Form & Verdict
0-9; runner-up three times and these conditions should be fine, but unappealing on reappearance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

14

(4)

18th Nov 2025

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

18:45 Newcastle (AW)

Northerner

9st 0lb

J: Dale Swift

T: Brian Ellison

Maiden who has bits of respectable 5f form at Newcastle; gives the impression this return to 6f is worth exploring on first run since wind surgery; one for the shortlist.

10/1

14

(2)

19th Sep 2025

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

20:15 Newcastle (AW)

Northerner

9st 3lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Brian Ellison

0-13 but she has shown winning potential, including over C&D; respectable effort in a handicap here 11 days ago but she was behind Lady Of The Garr on that occasion.

10/1

3rd

10

(6)

8th Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

20:40 Newcastle (AW)

Northerner

8st 10lb

J: Shay Farmer

T: Brian Ellison

12-race maiden; effective over C&D but she has work to do with Dorothy May on their recent C&D run.

8/1

Form: 132340 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 51

Form & Verdict
Unplaced in five previous starts on turf for a different trainer; has since gained two wins in 5f Class 6s on the AW; disappointing latest but could be competitive from lowly mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(9)

23rd May 2025

Firm

0m 5f 160y

Class 6

14:50 Bath

Dash Gordon

9st 1lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Joe Ponting

Dual 5f Tapeta winner who achieved little in three runs over 6f-7f for Michael Appleby; has been inclined to hang left more than once and is some way down the pecking order for his new yard, having been picked up for just 1,000gns.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £19.10
Straight Forecast £22.49
Trifecta £65.90

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Sergeant Mayer

The Guardian:

Betweenthesticks

D Express:

Northerner

SPOTLIGHT:

Match Play

Telegraph:

Brian The Snail

POSTDATA:

Sergeant Mayer

The Times:

Sergeant Mayer

Daily Mail:

Sergeant Mayer

Daily Mirror:

Sergeant Mayer

Daily Record:

Sergeant Mayer

The Sun:

Betweenthesticks

The Star:

Betweenthesticks