July 05 / 18.18 Leicester

18.18

Good To Firm

High Noon Black Cherry Vodka Soda Handicap

  • Prize money: £3663.8
  • 1m 0f 53y
  • Class 6
  • 6 runners
RTV
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High Noon Black Cherry Vodka Soda Handicap

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

Form: -56962 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 60

Form & Verdict
No longer the force of old but was back in good form in first-time visor at Bath (1m, good) three weeks ago, making smooth headway from the rear before finishing second of 11; still on a workable mark; good chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

(4)

8th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 6

17:29 Lingfield (AW)

Roscioli

9st 5lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: Brett Johnson

Four-time winner, split between turf and AW; last success was off 2lb higher at Salisbury (1m) last August but he's been out of sorts in last three runs and needs a major revival; reapplied cheekpieces replace a visor.

10/1

11

(6)

31st Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 216y

Class 5

15:52 Brighton

Roscioli

9st 3lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Brett Johnson

Ran well at Bath in June but has lacked consistency this year; 7yo who's far from guaranteed to take advantage of being 2lb below last winning mark.

14/1

4th

5

(5)

2nd Aug 2025

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 5

17:10 Lingfield

Roscioli

9st 3lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: Brett Johnson

Recent form a bit patchy, but his second of 11 at Bath (1m, good; first-time visor) on his penultimate start took his record off today's mark to 313212; does most of his racing over shorter these days, but shouldn't have a problem with this trip.

4/1

Form: -24102 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 60

Form & Verdict
Came good with game AW win at Newcastle (1m; refitted visor) in May, his 13th start, and bounced back quickly from a lesser effort when close second at Yarmouth (1m, good to firm) last month; probably won't be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(1)

28th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 6

16:30 Lingfield (AW)

Cuban Fiesta

9st 9lb

J: Jack Dace

T: Denis Quinn

Back on form when second in a C&D handicap last month; possibly unsuited by a drop to 6f for the first time in well over two years when seventh at Kempton since; good shout if recapturing the previous C&D form.

3/1

7th

7

(8)

4th Feb 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

16:15 Kempton (AW)

Cuban Fiesta

9st 5lb

J: Harry Vigors

T: Denis Quinn

Raced over further since handicapping and his sole success came over 1m last May; second of seven at Lingfield last time (7f), well positioned in a race that was steadily run to halfway; on a competitive mark but dropping to 6f is the query.

7/1

2nd

6

(8)

24th Jan 2026

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 6

15:26 Lingfield (AW)

Cuban Fiesta

9st 5lb

J: Jack Dace

T: Denis Quinn

Well handicapped on his Newcastle win (1m) last May but he's hard to predict and was beaten 10l at Southwell (7f) last time; that took his record to 1-23 and others are preferred.

12/1

Form: 32/655

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Nine-race maiden (including two hurdle runs); raced too freely in first-time cheekpieces (retained) when dropped to 7f here last week and will need to settle much better over this longer trip; not the most obvious answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

31st May 2026

Good

2m 0f 59y

Class 5

15:35 Fakenham

Most Wanted

11st 8lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: David Bridgwater

Won a low-grade Flat handicap last summer but has modest record over hurdles and was well beaten at Taunton (2m, good) last month, after a layoff; might be aided by refitted cheekpieces on this chasing debut but is not bred for fences; risky.

14/1

9th

2

22nd Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 5

18:30 Taunton

Most Wanted

11st 4lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: David Bridgwater

Won over a mile on the Flat last summer but has yet to transfer that ability to hurdles, last seen pulling up at Plumpton (2m, good to soft) in October on handicap hurdle debut; returns from a 184-day break off 3lb lower, but still with a bit to prove.

25/1

4

20th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 5

15:10 Plumpton

Most Wanted

11st 6lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: David Bridgwater

Won on the Flat this summer (wore cheeklpieces) and belied 66-1 odds when fourth in Stratford maiden hurdle (2m, good; no headgear) last month; well beaten on recent handicap hurdle debut, though, and difficult to enthuse over after that performance; cheekpieces refitted.

25/1

Form: 06-881 CD

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 13lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Displayed significant jolt of improvement to win very comfortably over C&D (good to firm) nine days ago, opening his account at the sixth attempt; needs to be taken very seriously.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

5

(8)

14th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

14:08 Salisbury

Optimatum

9st 8lb

J: Charlie Tucker

T: Rod Millman

Won at Leicester (1m, good to firm) last June when trained by Charlie Johnston and he went close at Southwell (1m, AW) on his final start for that yard; beat only one rival home on his stable debut 174 days ago and now has his first try over 6f; cheekpieces left off.

9/1

2nd

10

(8)

23rd Oct 2025

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 5

18:30 Southwell (AW)

Optimatum

9st 4lb

J: Joe Fanning

T: Charlie Johnston

Wouldn't judge him too harshly on latest Kempton effort when trapped out wide; in good hands and bred to be better than this mark but not obviously ahead of the handicapper at present.

20/1

7th

7

(9)

15th Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

18:30 Kempton (AW)

Optimatum

9st 8lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Charlie Johnston

Below par turned out quickly last time and given a rest since; has shown his recent improvement on turf and this return to AW presents a question mark.

10/1

Form: 123214 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 56

Form & Verdict
Consistent 6yo who has won twice on Tapeta this year (7f/8.6f) and again ran well when fourth of 11 on turf return at Bath (1m, good) last month; holds no secrets from the handicapper but ought to give usual good account.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

(12)

27th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 6

17:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Pessoa

11st 0lb

J: Mr Jack Loughnane

T: Adrian Wintle

All seven wins have been here, including three over C&D; in the money twice here since his last win and holds place claims at least.

8/1

10th

2

(11)

5th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

17:55 Bath

Pessoa

9st 9lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Adrian Wintle

Frequent Wolverhampton winner who's 0-12 on turf, including in his Irish days (has 4lb lower mark than on the AW); very consistent, though, and should get the good pace he wants, so every chance he gets involved again.

7/1

3rd

3

(2)

13th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 6

19:40 Wolverhampton (AW)

Pessoa

9st 7lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Adrian Wintle

8.6f win here last month and turned in another solid effort back here on Monday; wouldn't want a tactical affair back at 7f but still more appealing than many.

9/2

Form: 666009

Last run: 58 days

W: 9st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 45

Form & Verdict
16-race maiden who has not shown enough off lowly marks on the AW this year to warrant consideration on this turf return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

(1)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 6y

Class 6

20:45 Doncaster

Tilsworth Max

9st 3lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: J R Jenkins

Plenty of good efforts on AW during the winter, including a win at Lingfield (7f); still looks feasibly treated on that form but he didn't shine back on turf at Nottingham (8.3f, good) last month and that took his overall record to 1-28; mixed messages.

33/1

5th

7

(3)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 75y

Class 6

19:15 Nottingham

Tilsworth Max

9st 4lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: J R Jenkins

Just one win from 27 starts but that came at Lingfield (7f) in January and he's finished a close third there in last two starts; remains feasibly treated off same mark as last time but he still has something to prove on turf and his best form has been at 7f.

5/1

3rd

7

(4)

25th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 6

14:22 Lingfield (AW)

Tilsworth Max

9st 5lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: J R Jenkins

Just one win from 26 starts but that came over C&D in January and he finished well to go close in a classified event here (7f) last time; should get a decent tow into this race and he's in the mix back in a handicap.

5/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £36.70
Straight Forecast £51.83
Trifecta £64.90

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Optimatum

NEWMARKET:

Cuban Fiesta

WEST COUNTRY:

Pessoa

SPOTLIGHT:

Roscioli

POSTDATA:

Optimatum

THE NORTH:

Optimatum

The Times:

Optimatum

Telegraph:

Optimatum

Daily Record:

Optimatum

Daily Mail:

Cuban Fiesta

D Express:

Cuban Fiesta

Daily Mirror:

Cuban Fiesta

The Sun:

Cuban Fiesta

The Star:

Pessoa

The Guardian:

Roscioli