July 02 / 19.58 Epsom

19.58

Good

Betfred ‘The Classic Bookmaker’ Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

  • Prize money: £6019.1
  • 1m 4f 6y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
Betfred ‘The Classic Bookmaker’ Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Form: 2823-1 C

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 4lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Rarely seen on firmer than good but close third on it here once last term; last July's win came at this track and her debut for new trainer last month was a 1m4f win at Goodwood, holding on by a short head but just 2lb higher today and she's in serious calculations again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

(7)

19th May 2026

Good

1m 3f 133y

Class 5

14:10 Lingfield

Big Bear Hug

9st 7lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: Jim Boyle

Made a winning stable debut at Goodwood (1m4f, good to soft) last June but she's now 12lb lower following some lesser efforts; better is needed but any rain will suit.

14/1

9th

9

(8)

4th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 5

16:55 Kempton (AW)

Big Bear Hug

9st 5lb

J: Luke Catton

T: Jim Boyle

Made successful stable debut/reappearance at Goodwood (1m4f, good to soft) in June last year, but now 9lb lower for a reason; others stronger.

14/1

5th

7

(6)

8th Apr 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 4

19:00 Kempton (AW)

Big Bear Hug

8st 12lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: Jim Boyle

Made a successful stable debut after seven months off at Goodwood (1m4f, good to soft) in June last year, but is now 7lb lower for a reason; others stronger.

33/1

OUR TIP

Form: 637-47 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Latest win was in September 2023 and he's not shown that form since, including on sole visit here; falling in the weights but perhaps too slowly.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(2)

25th Aug 2025

Good

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

15:20 Epsom

Vaynor

10st 9lb

J: Mr James Hills

T: Charles Hills

His last win was two years ago but he's on a dangerous mark and was a good second in amateur jockeys' handicap at Haydock (1m6f, good) 17 days ago; should be fine on this drop back in trip and has claims if he can build on that last run.

4/1

5

(6)

8th Aug 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

18:15 Haydock

Vaynor

10st 12lb

J: Mr James Hills

T: Charles Hills

His mark continues to fall and he didn't run badly at Windsor (1m2f) in May when back from an absence; however, he's failed to threaten on his three starts since (1m2f-1m6f) and needs to turn things around.

14/1

5th

4

(1)

24th Jul 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

17:50 Newbury

Vaynor

11st 1lb

J: Mr James Hills

T: Charles Hills

All five wins from 1m4f to 1m6f; outpaced when fourth of six on reappearance at Windsor (1m2f, good to firm) in May and he couldn't get in a blow over 1m4f last time; will likely need a pace meltdown; first ride under rules for James Hills.

12/1

Form: 0342-9 D

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 11lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
A bit in and out hurdling for new yard and last of nine on Flat return (7-1) 12 days ago; well treated were he to show his 1m4f/1m6f form of last May/June; blinkers (worn for latest hurdle race, when eighth of ten) return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 3f 63y

Class 4

12:55 Ascot

Graham

10st 4lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Unseated rider mid-race when well backed for Fontwell handicap six weeks ago and now 0-7 over hurdles; not one to give up on just yet but moves up in grade today and others in this line-up may have more potential.

7/1

10

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 3f 63y

Class 4

12:55 Ascot

Graham

10st 4lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Unseated rider mid-race when well backed for Fontwell handicap six weeks ago and now 0-7 over hurdles; not one to give up on just yet but moves up in grade today and others in this line-up may have more potential.

7/1

1

22nd Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

14:30 Fontwell

Graham

11st 12lb

J: Rob Hargreaves

T: Gary & Josh Moore

0-6 over hurdles but was a beaten favourite on his last three starts in March/April; below form on the Flat in three runs since but not one to give up on just yet; goes without headgear worn on last hurdles start and last two Flat runs.

5/2

5/4

Form: 54-54

Last run: 20 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Gelded after reappearance; second favourite for handicap debut at Newbury (1m4f, good) but had no luck, repeatedly checked in his run before ending up fourth of 12 (neck behind Navid on same terms); off an unchanged mark, he has to be of huge interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(9)

30th Jul 2025

Good

1m 3f 218y

Class 2

13:20 Goodwood

Sudu

9st 2lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Roger Varian

Second-favourite for handicap debut at Newbury (1m4f, good) in June but had no luck, repeatedly checked in his run before ending up fourth of 12; no such problems when 4-5 off same mark in a six-runner race at Epsom (1m4f, good) four weeks ago, produced to score by 7l; given an 11lb rise but could still be well treated judged on that Epsom display.

9/2

5

(6)

2nd Jul 2025

Good

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

19:58 Epsom

Sudu

8st 13lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Gelded after reappearance; second favourite for handicap debut at Newbury (1m4f, good) but had no luck, repeatedly checked in his run before ending up fourth of 12 (neck behind Navid on same terms); off an unchanged mark, he has to be of huge interest.

5/4

4th

7

(11)

12th Jun 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:33 Newbury

Sudu

9st 4lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Roger Varian

Displayed ability in 1m AW contests in the winter and gelded since; this 105,000gns Teofilo yearling is in top hands and could be an improver now up in trip on handicap debut; interesting contender.

8/1

Form: 8-9426

Last run: 25 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Won handicap debut (four ran) on good to firm last August; second at Chester (upped to 1m2f) in May was easily best of his four runs this season; needs better still on this first attempt at 1m4f; tongue tied first time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

9

(6)

5th Sep 2025

Good

1m 3f 140y

Class 5

17:27 Haydock

Pappa Louis

9st 4lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: Tom Dascombe

Sole win came as a 2yo last August but he's been runner-up from off the pace on varied ground in three of his last five starts, over this sort of trip on last two occasions; each-way contender again.

6/1

4

(5)

15th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 104y

Class 5

16:00 Yarmouth

Pappa Louis

9st 4lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: Tom Dascombe

No match for the progressive Bosphorus Rose at Catterick latest (soft), but didn't fail for stamina on that second 1m4f outing; new career-low mark despite that above-par run, and return to sounder turf is fine.

6/1

4

(4)

23rd Jul 2025

Soft

1m 4f 13y

Class 4

16:30 Catterick

Pappa Louis

9st 0lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Tom Dascombe

Held up this season; second at Chester (1m2f) in May is easily the best of his five runs this season and he was tailed off at Epsom latest on first attempt at 1m4f; visored last four starts and tongue tied latest, but cheekpieces (tried once as 2yo, below form) return; unraced on softer than good.

10/1

Form: 08-863

Last run: 20 days

W: 8st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
Favouritism did not result in an upturn in his second handicap (1m2f, good to firm); cheekpieces were then enlisted at Newbury (1m4f, good) three weeks ago and he was more competitive in third of 12, making most, but Sudu encountered a stack of traffic problems and finished just a neck behind; they meet at the same weights today, so the placings may well be reversed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

(2)

30th Sep 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 5

17:30 Newcastle (AW)

Navid

9st 9lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Harry Charlton

Can front run; made all at Salisbury (1m6f, good to firm; flag start) in July before another good effort when second of four at Ffos Las (2m, good); needs to bounce back from a lesser effort at Chester (1m6f, good) 18 days ago; blinkers applied.

6/5

6

(4)

12th Sep 2025

Good

1m 6f 87y

Class 4

14:10 Chester

Navid

9st 0lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Harry Charlton

Seemingly aided by cheekpieces on recent outings and got off the mark with front-running success at Salisbury (1m6f, good to firm; front pair well clear) in July, on ninth start; beaten at short odds over 2m since but still ran well, and remains one to be interested in.

9/2

5

(2)

22nd Aug 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:10 Ffos Las

Navid

9st 6lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Harry Charlton

Seemingly aided by cheekpieces on recent outings and got off the mark with front-running success at Salisbury (1m6f, good to firm; front pair well clear) last month; 8lb higher here but could still have more to offer over today's longer trip; respected.

2/1

Non-runners

Golden Circet

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.10
Straight Forecast £3.08
Trifecta £7.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Sudu

POSTDATA:

Big Bear Hug

Daily Record:

Navid

LAMBOURN:

Pappa Louis

Daily Mirror:

Golden Circet

TOPSPEED:

Graham

RP RATINGS:

Sudu

NEWMARKET:

Sudu

The Times:

Sudu

The Guardian:

Sudu

D Express:

Sudu

The Sun:

Sudu

The Star:

Sudu

Telegraph:

Big Bear Hug

Daily Mail:

Big Bear Hug