July 03 / 18.05 Newbury

18.05

Good To Firm

Legal Protection Group Ltd Apprentice Handicap

  • Prize money: £5757.4
  • 0m 5f 34y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Legal Protection Group Ltd Apprentice Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 554111 D

Last run: 3 days

W: 10st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 58

Form & Verdict
Had a wind operation in May and it's had the desired effect as he comes here chasing a quick four-timer (the three wins under Matthew Lloyd Slater); those wins have all come at Windsor, a track he's always had an affinity for, but he can't be discounted despite the double penalty and different test.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

10

(7)

18th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 21y

Class 5

18:40 Windsor

Lequinto

9st 3lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Tony Carroll

Versatile trip-wise and six of his 12 wins have come at Windsor; on same mark as for his Sandown win last autumn and he's been running well on AW this spring; should get a good tow into this race and he's in the mix back at this track.

11/2

3rd

3

(1)

28th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 5f 6y

Class 5

16:43 Lingfield (AW)

Lequinto

9st 8lb

J: Matthew Lloyd Slater

T: Tony Carroll

No AW win since December 2021 but there have been some good runs on both Polytrack and Tapeta this year, including C&D, and yesterday's 6f second was another sound display; wasn't helping his rider under pressure on that occasion and opposable for win purposes.

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: -04004 CD

Last run: 8 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Game effort when winning over C&D last August off a 7lb higher mark; struggling to find his best form this year and last of four off this mark at Salisbury last week; should come good again at some point; headgear absent today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

(7)

1st Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 34y

Class 5

16:00 Newbury

Faustus

8st 13lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Rachel Cook & John Bridger

Three C&D runs have yielded two wins and a fifth (in Class 3 company); has only run to form once this year, finishing third to Harry Brown at Lingfield (5f, good to firm) last month; below par last time but if he is to revive it is likely to be under these conditions.

8/1

7th

5

(5)

19th May 2026

Good

0m 4f 217y

Class 6

17:55 Lingfield

Faustus

9st 5lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Rachel Cook & John Bridger

Has won five times on turf but is not the force of old; has dropped a career-low mark but this race looks too competitive.

5/1

3rd

6

(7)

9th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 4f 217y

Class 5

16:25 Lingfield

Faustus

9st 1lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Rachel Cook & John Bridger

Front-runner with a C&D win on his record; 6lb lower than when seeing off seven rivals at Newbury last summer (5f, good to firm) but not easily recommended on 2026 evidence and he will find easier races to dominate than this.

13/2

Form: 353824 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Three wins at Wolverhampton last year; looks to retain all his ability, second of seven at Wolverhampton in April on penultimate start; more to prove on turf but did show some promise on a sound surface last summer; this should be run to suit one that comes from off the pace and he's a contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(2)

1st Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 34y

Class 5

16:00 Newbury

Aces Wild

9st 13lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Adrian Wintle

Ran twice over C&D last summer and performed with great credit on both occasions, finishing second to Faustus in July and filling the same position one month later; career-best effort when winning at Bath last week (5f, firm); penalty demands more but he can't be discounted.

7/2

1st

2

(5)

26th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 10y

Class 5

16:00 Bath

Aces Wild

9st 9lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Adrian Wintle

Four-time AW winner who broke his turf duck at Chester last July off a 2lb lower mark (5f, good); two respectable efforts here this spring and Finley Marsh replaces an apprentice today; a big run is on the cards.

13/2

6th

3

(5)

4th May 2026

Firm

0m 5f 10y

Class 5

15:25 Bath

Aces Wild

9st 8lb

J: Taryn Langley

T: Adrian Wintle

5f win at Chester (good) last summer came off a 4lb lower mark; encouraging return to action here (5.7f, good) 17 days ago and should go well if building on that first run for 199 days.

7/2

Form: 230243 D BF

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 13lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
Two front-running wins on turf last July (6f, soft and 5f, good); fully effective on a faster surface too, as when close up on his last three starts; shouldn't be too far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

(1)

1st Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 34y

Class 5

16:00 Newbury

Merrimack

9st 8lb

J: Chloe Lyons

T: Stuart Williams

Better strike-rate on turf than AW; solid third at Windsor three weeks ago (for Chloe Lyons) and has a chance if in the same form; finished behind a couple of today's rivals in a C&D handicap last summer.

7/1

3rd

2

(6)

11th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 21y

Class 5

19:17 Windsor

Merrimack

9st 9lb

J: Chloe Lyons

T: Stuart Williams

C&D winner last summer; off the mark for 2026 when making all at Chelmsford in January (5f); two defeats since have come over 6f; better expected back at 5f.

10/1

7th

7

(7)

4th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

19:00 Kempton (AW)

Merrimack

8st 10lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Stuart Williams

Recorded his first AW success (four turf wins) when making all in 5f handicap at Chelmsford in January; most of his wins have come at that trip but his C&D third a fortnight ago underlines he is effective at 6f.

12/1

Form: 713454 D

Last run: 5 days

W: 9st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Prominent racer; narrow win at Wolverhampton in March when rated 1lb lower; only fourth behind Lequinto last week but 12lb better off today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

10

(1)

25th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 5f 6y

Class 6

14:42 Lingfield (AW)

The Defiant

8st 9lb

J: Jack Dace

T: Luke Dace

Not the force of old and, although he retains some ability, others in this field have more pressing claims.

10/1

4th

3

(5)

12th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 5f 6y

Class 6

15:08 Lingfield (AW)

The Defiant

9st 1lb

J: Jack Dace

T: Luke Dace

Multiple 5f winner down the years, including over C&D, but his powers appear to be on the wane; a couple of respectable efforts last month but more will be needed to win.

8/1

12/1

Form: 470307

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
None too consistent but he's on his winning mark and this looks less competitive than his last two assignments; capable of a bold showing on a good day; lightly raced on turf but appears to handle good to firm.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(9)

30th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 6f 1y

Class 6

14:55 Lingfield (AW)

Horus

9st 3lb

J: Kieren Fox

T: Michael Attwater

Faded out of contention on last month's stable debut at Kempton (6f; first-time visor) but is well handicapped on his winter form for Mike Murphy and this C&D suits; sports refitted cheekpieces; not ruled out.

9/1

9th

10

(2)

25th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

17:00 Kempton (AW)

Horus

9st 0lb

J: James Glennon

T: Michael Attwater

Sole win was in December 2024 but he finished close fourth over C&D in January, on his final run for Mike Murphy; been gelded since and he needs a close look on his return for new yard; visor goes on and tongue-tie and cheekpieces are removed.

15/2

4th

4

(1)

19th Jan 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

13:38 Kempton (AW)

Horus

9st 6lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Mike Murphy

Not disgraced when fourth of 12 in this headgear combination at Lingfield (7f, Polytrack) last month, but not so good at Southwell (6f, Tapeta) last time and just 1-18; others preferred.

9/1

Form: 34-314 D

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Made all to win a 5f handicap at Wolverhampton in February; returned from four months off with a fine fourth over 6f here last week, racing with plenty of enthusiasm but tiring in the final furlong; easy lead unlikely here but she doesn't have to dominate and she's an intriguing contender back at 5f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

12

(9)

18th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 21y

Class 5

18:40 Windsor

Sarafina Mshairi

9st 1lb

J: Georgia Dobie

T: Edward Smyth-Osbourne

Both wins have been on Tapeta and latest was at Southwell (6f) in her final run last season; 4lb higher on her return but she's still lightly raced on turf and should be unfazed by this drop back in trip; needs watching in market.

8/1

6

(6)

7th Oct 2025

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 5

18:30 Southwell (AW)

Sarafina Mshairi

9st 5lb

J: Georgia Dobie

T: Edward Smyth-Osbourne

Unable to get into the action at Chester recently but some good 6f turf efforts previously, following on from a front-running win on Wolverhampton Tapeta (5f) in February; may well have a good run in her back on AW.

7/1

5th

9

(4)

12th Sep 2025

Good

0m 6f 17y

Class 5

16:55 Chester

Sarafina Mshairi

9st 8lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: Edward Smyth-Osbourne

Made all at Wolverhampton (5f, Class 6) in February and has progressed since; runner-up to Twirler at Windsor in July, she was doing her best work late at Newmarket (6f; third) recently; goes well for the 7lb claimer Ashley Lewis; chance from 1lb higher.

12/1

Form: -97333 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 4lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 56

Form & Verdict
On a dangerous mark and he's been threatening a revival this summer; whether 5f on fast ground is what he needs to be seen to best effect remains to be seen.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(1)

22nd May 2026

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 3

17:27 Goodwood

Roach Power

9st 3lb

J: J F Egan

T: Michael Wigham

Very productive in 2025, winning five times; hindered by wide draw at Chester most recently, otherwise has a good record over 5f; just needs to prove he can overcome current mark.

12/1

9th

13

(12)

7th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 15y

Class 2

13:30 Chester

Roach Power

8st 11lb

J: J F Egan

T: Michael Wigham

Posted duck eggs over 6f in last two appearances, not beaten entirely by the trip; has a very good record at 5f but faces a harder task off current mark at this level, especially from an unfavourable draw.

33/1

10th

9

(10)

17th Apr 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

17:25 Newbury

Roach Power

9st 1lb

J: J F Egan

T: Michael Wigham

Enjoyed a revival in the second half of 2025, winning five 5f handicaps on good ground or slower; no show over 6f when last seen in November and he returns to action off a tough mark.

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £173.30
Straight Forecast £197.72
Tricast £368.64
Trifecta £476.40

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Lequinto

SPOTLIGHT:

Sarafina Mshairi

NEWMARKET:

Merrimack

WEST COUNTRY:

Aces Wild

POSTDATA:

Roach Power

LAMBOURN:

Sarafina Mshairi

D Express:

Sarafina Mshairi

Daily Mail:

Merrimack

The Times:

Lequinto

Telegraph:

Lequinto

The Guardian:

Lequinto

Daily Mirror:

Lequinto

The Sun:

Lequinto

The Star:

Lequinto

Daily Record:

Lequinto