May 22 / 14.17 Haydock

14.17

Good To Firm

Betfred “The Classic Bookmaker” Handicap

  • Prize money: £4448.9
  • 2m 0f 45y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
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Betfred “The Classic Bookmaker” Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

Form: 32230-

Last run: 340 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Dual AW winner in 2023 and placed at 1m3f-1m6f in all five subsequent starts for Hugo Palmer, before a modest show for new connections last June; dropped 3lb in her absence but this is a new trip and she has something to prove on firmer than good, having been unraced on it since handicapping.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(12)

20th Aug 2026

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

18:19 Newcastle (AW)

Fleur De Mer

10st 0lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Martin Todhunter

Dual winner although the latest of them came here (1m2f) in 2023; regularly in the frame, however, including when fourth at Carlisle (1m3f) last month and third over 2m at Catterick (also good to firm) a fortnight ago; capable of having a say.

13/2

3rd

3

(7)

4th Aug 2026

Good

1m 7f 189y

Class 6

15:15 Catterick

Fleur De Mer

9st 6lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Martin Todhunter

Both wins came on the AW in 2023 (8.5f/1m2f); bounced back from a lesser effort at Ayr (1m7f, soft) when a 3l fourth at Carlisle (1m3f, good to firm) last time but she is yet to fully prove she's effective at this trip; visor goes on.

4/1

4th

2

(1)

9th Jul 2026

Good

1m 3f 39y

Class 6

15:10 Carlisle

Fleur De Mer

10st 1lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Martin Todhunter

In good form until a below-par sixth of eight in 1m7f handicap at Ayr 20 days ago; the sort to bounce back.

15/2

OUR TIP

Form: /759-7 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Last won in May 2023, when still in Ireland; no solid claims on what he's done since but he is accelerating down the weights and does stay.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(5)

6th Jul 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

14:15 Lingfield (AW)

Lunar Power

9st 13lb

J: Georgia Dobie

T: Laura Mongan

Veteran who hasn't won since 2023, stays a deal further and is on the downgrade now; patchy for his new yard this year and others make greater appeal back from seven weeks off.

12/1

7th

1

(10)

18th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 68y

Class 6

14:50 Lingfield

Lunar Power

9st 9lb

J: William Carson

T: Laura Mongan

Won his share in Ireland but has been on the downgrade for a while and has had three different trainers in the past nine months; however, he showed enough on the AW here last time to suggest he has each-way claims back up in trip and down another 2lb.

12/1

6th

2

(4)

30th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

18:10 Lingfield (AW)

Lunar Power

9st 8lb

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Laura Mongan

Losing run stretches back to May 2023 (hurdles); ended 2025 with some modest efforts for James Owen and fared little better when fifth of seven on his stable debut 11 weeks ago (2m, Polytrack); enough to prove.

16/1

Form: 5137-9

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Excelled last April-August at 1m6f, winning five times on varied ground; out of form in his final two starts last term and on 1m4f reappearance one month ago, but a visor (worn on last three starts in 2024) returns and he's worth this second attempt at 2m; return to form may well be possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(10)

11th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 56y

Class 4

16:30 York

The Crafty Mole

9st 5lb

J: David Nolan

T: David O’Meara

Won at Newmarket (1m6f, good to firm) in August and at Ripon (2m, good) last month, appearing to idle in front on the second occasion having travelled extremely well; stayed on for fourth at Redcar (1m6f, good to soft) subsequently and the return to 2m could be a strong positive; major player.

9/1

4th

1

(2)

4th Oct 2025

Good

1m 5f 218y

Class 4

17:05 Redcar

The Crafty Mole

9st 12lb

J: David Nolan

T: David O’Meara

Won in Class 6 on soft and good to soft last year but withdrawn from good to soft on Thursday; first six wins were 1m6f, including at Newmarket this August, and he travelled much the best at Ripon (2m) one week ago before scraping home in front; up 3lb but return to 1m6f is clearly no disincentive and two of his wins last year were separated by only five days; player.

5/2

Form: 509-13 CD

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Registered an emphatic win in five-runner race at Pontefract (2m2f) on reappearance and bang there when third of six at Ripon (2m, again on good) later in April; unraced on firmer than good; should be strong at the finish and respected as an in-form candidate.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

(6)

22nd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 27y

Class 4

19:52 Pontefract

Diamand De Vindecy

8st 7lb

J: Ethan Tindall

T: Robert Bevis

Ran away with a 2m2f handicap here last April; not quite so good since, including when well held back on the Flat at Ripon last month.

14/1

5th

3

(1)

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:00 Ripon

Diamand De Vindecy

9st 11lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Robert Bevis

Arrives fit from hurdling and some of his best Flat form last year came in April, winning at Pontefract before second over C&D (both good).

7/1

5th

4

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 5

14:45 Bangor-on-Dee

Diamand De Vindecy

11st 5lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Robert Bevis

Nine-race maiden over hurdles but has placed form and he won six on the Flat; made a bright start over fences in January but didn't fancy it at Huntingdon and refused early; the cheekpieces are off but wouldn't be a surprise to see him run well.

8/1

Form: 560-87 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Two AW races (1m6f/2m) last October are his only wins from 26 starts; struggled on turf last season and again in his three runs this year (hurdles, AW and Flat turf) but drops another 3lb, some headgear (absent this year) returns and some stablemates have surged back to winning form recently.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

(7)

27th Aug 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 6

16:07 Ffos Las

Simiyann

9st 6lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Ian Williams

Tailed off last time and was no match for the winners of her two previous races; has to raise his game.

6/1

3rd

4

(5)

11th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 0y

Class 6

18:45 Nottingham

Simiyann

9st 12lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Ian Williams

Not as good this year and has looked to have no excuses in some ordinary handicaps of late; only 1lb lower than when well held over 1m6f here 12 days ago and Free World looks his trainer's best chance.

16/1

3rd

3

(3)

30th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 6

16:20 Nottingham

Simiyann

9st 4lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Ian Williams

Well treated on the form of his two 2m wins (good to firm and good) in 2025 and although he hasn't been himself this year, the signs were better when he was second of five on this course (2m2f) two weeks ago; has another well-treated rival to contend with today but he should be competitive.

3/1

Form: 582596 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Seven wins on the AW between December 2023 and March 2024; rather patchy form since, well below form on last three starts, and latest run (his first on turf since summer 2023) reinforced the doubts about him on grass.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

(4)

26th Aug 2026

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 5

15:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

The Craftymaster

9st 12lb

J: Molly Gunn

T: Tony Carroll

Has won five times this year including his last two starts off his lower turf mark; closely matched with V Power on last month's C&D running and another big effort is likely; stable also runs Letmebetheboss.

5/2

1st

7

(1)

14th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

20:10 Newmarket (July)

The Craftymaster

8st 10lb

J: Myla Coppins

T: Tony Carroll

Prolific AW winner, most recently when darting 14l clear at Wolverhampton (2m) in June; narrowly exploited lower turf mark at Lingfield (2m, good to firm) last month but he pulled clear with the runner-up and remains feasibly treated off 4lb higher; shortlisted.

4/1

Form: 0-76D4

Last run: 26 days

W: 8st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 53

Form & Verdict
Three-time winner over hurdles but Flat career has been just four races on Tapeta, fading into fourth of eight off this mark when upped to 2m last month for Flat handicap debut (disqualified; jockey failed to weigh in); switches to turf and needs improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(8)

22nd May 2025

Good To Firm

2m 0f 45y

Class 5

14:17 Haydock

Razzo Italiano

8st 4lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Gary Hanmer

Three-time winner over hurdles but Flat career has been just four races on Tapeta, fading into fourth of eight off this mark when upped to 2m last month for Flat handicap debut (disqualified; jockey failed to weigh in); switches to turf and needs improvement.

11/1

8

(8)

22nd May 2025

Good To Firm

2m 0f 45y

Class 5

14:17 Haydock

Razzo Italiano

8st 4lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Gary Hanmer

Three-time winner over hurdles but Flat career has been just four races on Tapeta, fading into fourth of eight off this mark when upped to 2m last month for Flat handicap debut (disqualified; jockey failed to weigh in); switches to turf and needs improvement.

11/1

8th

3

(5)

26th Apr 2025

Standard

2m 0f 120y

Class 6

20:15 Wolverhampton (AW)

Razzo Italiano

9st 7lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Gary Hanmer

towards rear, headway to lead after 4f, increased tempo over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong

33/1

Non-runners

Toby Tops

Selections

Telegraph:

Diamand De Vindecy

SPOTLIGHT:

The Crafty Mole

POSTDATA:

Simiyann

RP RATINGS:

Lunar Power

The Times:

The Crafty Mole

The Sun:

The Crafty Mole

The Guardian:

Diamand De Vindecy

Daily Mail:

Diamand De Vindecy

D Express:

Diamand De Vindecy

Daily Mirror:

Diamand De Vindecy

The Star:

Diamand De Vindecy

Daily Record:

Diamand De Vindecy