May 03 / 16.05 Newmarket

16.05

Good

Lay And Wheeler Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

  • Prize money: £25770
  • 1m 4f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
Lay And Wheeler Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

3/1 (Won)

Form: /17-22 BF

Last run: 85 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Won AW novice last January, three months before he was put firmly in his place in 1m1f Newmarket Listed race; not seen again until second in two Meydan handicaps (1m2f/1m4f) on turf early this year, showing improved form in both; after just five races, it's very hard to rule out further improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(3)

10th Jul 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket (July)

El Cordobes

9st 8lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Ready winner of Rowley Mile handicap here (1m4f, good) in May and creditable third in Group 3 Aston Park Stakes at Newbury (1m4f, good to firm) next time; stretched by 1m6f at York since and the drop back in trip is in his favour; however, he needs something extra to come out on top in today's company.

11/2

3rd

4

(2)

14th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:00 York

El Cordobes

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Ready winner of Newmarket handicap (1m4f, good) last month and respectable third in Group 3 Aston Park Stakes at Newbury (1m4f, good to firm) latest; further improvement is needed now up in trip but this lightly raced 4yo is in excellent hands to continue to progress; unraced on slow ground.

4/1

3rd

3

(4)

17th May 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

12:50 Newbury

El Cordobes

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Lightly raced 4yo who returned to Britain with a career-best performance to win a handicap at Newmarket (1m4f, good) a fortnight ago by about 3l; goes up in grade today but this progressive Frankel gelding, who cost 2,000,000gns in 2022 and is in top hands, could be up to the task.

9/2

OUR TIP

Form: 911- D

Last run: 204 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Disappointing on debut (1m2f, good to soft) last June, but he then scored in 1m4f novice events at Doncaster (good) in July and Kempton (AW; by 6l at 8-13) in October; makes his handicap debut and he needs improvement but he could be a very useful prospect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

(7)

21st Aug 2026

Good

2m 0f 56y

Class 1

14:25 York

French Master

9st 5lb

J: James Doyle

T: John & Thady Gosden

Unraced on softer than good except when well beaten on debut; smart performer on his day, beaten a neck by Illinois in the 2m5f Queen Alexandra at Royal Ascot two starts back; far from disgraced when 33-1 fourth in the 2m Goodwood Cup last time and the return of blinkers (replacing recent cheekpieces) might add a bit of zip, but he's probably a place proposition at best.

12/1

4th

2

(6)

28th Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Goodwood

French Master

9st 12lb

J: James Doyle

T: John & Thady Gosden

Smart performer on his day, as when a 1m6f handicap winner at 2025 Royal Ascot and again on two of three starts this season; beaten a neck by Illinois in 2m5f Queen Alexandra back at Royal Ascot on latest; however, he managed only fifth in this race last year and this renewal also looks tough.

25/1

2nd

6

(6)

20th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 5f 143y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

French Master

9st 4lb

J: James Doyle

T: John & Thady Gosden

First-time blinkers when he was a very taking winner of last year's Copper Horse Stakes (1m6f, good to firm) at this meeting in which he came from well behind to win going away; gelded and, in no headgear, returned to that level of form when third in Group 2 at Newmarket (1m4f) on reappearance, only to then finish last of the five in new cheekpieces (retained) in the Group 3 Aston Park at Newbury; however, the first two home at Newbury were Group 1 horses, and on reflection it wasn't that bad a run; the burning question is whether he'll stay.

5/1

Form: 226-90 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Best form came over about 1m4f on turf last summer, with two wins (York and Chepstow) and three close seconds, latest at York Ebor meeting (1lb higher today) when he once again finished with gusto; he's not sparked in the same way in his three races since (1m5f, 1m3f and 1m6f), particularly not in his two this term, but would be bang there if returning to his 1m4f best; same connections won this race two years ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

(14)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 5f 61y

Class 2

14:05 Newbury

Lieber Power

8st 13lb

J: William Buick

T: Andrew Balding

Mostly creditable efforts in defeat this season, including second of nine at Windsor (11.5f, good to firm) last month; below-par sixth in this race on heavy ground last year; William Buick up but others arrive with more pressing claims.

11/1

2nd

4

(10)

14th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 99y

Class 3

19:30 Windsor

Lieber Power

9st 9lb

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Andrew Balding

Had a good summer over about 1m4f last term, including when beaten a neck by Night Breeze in this race; some minor honours this season, without being quite in peak form but he is in serious each-way calculations.

11/2

3rd

2

(11)

7th Aug 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 3

20:00 Chepstow

Lieber Power

9st 11lb

J: David Probert

T: Andrew Balding

Had a good summer over about 1m4f last term, including a win in this race (good to soft) off 6lb lower; the handicapper has been winning the argument since but recent efforts have been creditable and he ought to be competitive again.

6/1

Form: 9D147-5

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
2024 Flat form for previous yard does not suggest this is a great mark and he failed to live up to early expectations in juvenile hurdles for current stable; this is still a much more realistic task, however, than 1m1f Group 3 here on return to Flat 18 days ago and he is unexposed at 1m4f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

(12)

21st Aug 2026

Good

1m 4f 15y

Class 2

18:15 Hamilton

Lavender Hill Mob

9st 3lb

J: Shane Gray

T: James Owen

Versatile 5yo whose latest win was a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham last November (2m5f, soft); hasn't been at his best on the Flat this year (2m-2m4f) although not beaten far in the Shergar Cup last time; not sure drop in trip will suit.

22/1

8th

2

(5)

8th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 7f 209y

Class 2

14:10 Ascot

Lavender Hill Mob

9st 8lb

J: Jamie Melham

T: James Owen

Useful 1m4f performer and pretty good on his day over hurdles; however, hasn't found his best form this season at 2m/2m4f and has yet to convince as a stayer in this discipline; tried a visor last time at Royal Ascot and cheekpieces return.

16/1

14th

5

(2)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 210y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

Lavender Hill Mob

9st 6lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: James Owen

1m4f winner from the front off this mark at Newmarket last May who also scored with a prominent ride over hurdles at Cheltenham (2m5f) in November; has a bit to prove over 2m on Flat, including having been always behind on both starts this year; now tries a visor (often wears cheekpieces) and maybe there will be a change of tactics.

40/1

Form: 12213- C

Last run: 180 days

W: 8st 4lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Resurgent last autumn, mostly on AW but also a close second here on good to firm; showed on last two outings (claimer ridden on Wolverhampton AW) that she stays 1m4f and she may indeed have more to offer at the trip; this race is a higher grade, though, and she needs to improve her first-time-out record.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(4)

1st Jun 2025

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 4

18:15 Chelmsford (AW)

Speriamo

9st 7lb

J: Alec Voikhansky

T: Philip McBride

Won over C&D and at Wolverhampton (1m4f) in the autumn but returned with two below-par turf runs last month and may find some of the lightly raced ones better handicapped here.

20/1

5

(4)

1st Jun 2025

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 4

18:15 Chelmsford (AW)

Speriamo

9st 7lb

J: Alec Voikhansky

T: Philip McBride

Won over C&D and at Wolverhampton (1m4f) in the autumn but returned with two below-par turf runs last month and may find some of the lightly raced ones better handicapped here.

20/1

5

(5)

16th May 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 3

16:38 Newmarket

Speriamo

8st 7lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Philip McBride

A good run of form last autumn was mostly on the AW but she also finished second here; may have needed the run after a break when close up behind Lavender Hill Mob in a Class 2 handicap here two weeks ago.

10/1

6th
4 (1)
Insanity

15/2

Form: 12180- D

Last run: 175 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Two wins and a close second from his first three races last term, all at about 1m4f on good, before disappointing at the York Ebor meeting and in the November Handicap at Doncaster; that earlier promise cannot be forgotten.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(10)

8th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

14:45 Ascot

Insanity

10st 1lb

J: Mme Marie Velon

T: Alan King

Has history in this race, having won it two seasons ago and only a length behind Night Breeze last year (good to firm; could have done with a truer gallop); just 2lb higher than 12 months ago and perhaps unwise to come down too harshly on his defeat at Royal Ascot, especially when his comeback run was so encouraging; shortlisted.

11/2

13th

14

(3)

19th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

15:40 Ascot

Insanity

9st 6lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Alan King

C&D winner who mostly ran well last season and did so again when second at Pontefract (1m2f) on reappearance this April; each-way chance if he can avoid trouble from an inside stall.

25/1

2nd

2

(9)

21st Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 2f 5y

Class 2

15:27 Pontefract

Insanity

9st 8lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Alan King

Soundly beaten on final run last term but on heavy ground, and it was a campaign in which he frequently ran really well, going close off this mark at York (1m2f, good) in October; won on his reappearance in 2024; respected.

11/2

16/1

Form: 0474-9 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 8st 11lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
His last win was in May 2023, last season was disappointing on the whole and he was well beaten on 2025 reappearance; that suggests he's not the percentage call, but he is well down the weights and it's possible to argue that this step back down to 1m4f will suit; he's also hooded for the first time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

11

15th Aug 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:50 Perth

Struth

10st 7lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Dual Flat winner for Charlie Johnston (8.5f-12.5f); yet to score over hurdles (0-7) but doesn't have a massive amount to find with Lets Mingle and Summergrounds based on their recent C&D clash; the task isn't an impossible one.

13/2

6th

9

12th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

15:16 Perth

Struth

10st 2lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Former smart Flat horse who is 0-6 over hurdles and was beaten a little under 10l on handicap debut here a month ago; he was boxing on over 2m and this longer trip could bring him on (stayed well on the Flat).

8/1

6th

1

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

14:42 Perth

Struth

11st 12lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Useful on the Flat in his prime but well held when fifth on handicap hurdle debut at Kelso (2m2f, good; first-time tongue-tie) in April and showed no significant improvement in a subsequent C&D maiden; needs to up his game.

20/1

Non-runners

Knightswood

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £9.76
Tricast £33.19

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

French Master

NEWMARKET:

Speriamo

RP RATINGS:

Knightswood

TOPSPEED:

Insanity

The Times:

French Master

Telegraph:

French Master

The Guardian:

French Master

Daily Mail:

French Master

D Express:

French Master

The Sun:

French Master

The Star:

French Master

Daily Record:

French Master

Daily Mirror:

Speriamo

POSTDATA:

Knightswood