July 23 / 15.50 Salisbury

15.50

Good To Firm

Highclere Castle Gin Handicap

  • Prize money: £4579.74
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 6 runners
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Highclere Castle Gin Handicap

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £13.00
  • Place: £3.30

Form: 35-561

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Got up in the final strides when stepped back up to 7f at Brighton last time, opening his account while shaping as if this extra furlong is well worth exploring; may build on that success.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(1)

16th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 14y

Class 5

15:50 Chepstow

Kodi Fire

9st 2lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Charles Hills

Well placed to rattle off a fast-ground hat-trick last summer (7f/1m); this campaign has been harder work but he fared a bit better last time, is down to a winning mark and now wears cheekpieces for the first time; not solid, but a revival wouldn't be a complete bolt from the blue.

10/1

4th

1

(4)

21st Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 216y

Class 5

13:56 Brighton

Kodi Fire

11st 2lb

J: Mr James Hills

T: Charles Hills

Completed a hat-trick last summer, over 7f here and then twice at 1m; not at the same level this season but realistically treated if he can turn things around in a new tongue-tie.

14/1

8th

12

(12)

23rd May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

18:15 Salisbury

Kodi Fire

9st 2lb

J: Harry Vigors

T: Charles Hills

Landed a three-timer last summer, including one over C&D; should strip fitter following his recent fifth of 11 at Windsor (1m, good to firm) but may need to come down the weights.

8/1

2nd
4 (5)
Moutai

11/4

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 56-633

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Five-race maiden; outstayed over 1m2f on AW most recently; good third at Hamilton (1m) the time before and that race is working out very well; hugely interesting off same mark back down in distance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(1)

22nd Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

18:40 Kempton (AW)

Moutai

9st 11lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Ed Walker

225,000euros breeze-up buy; remains a maiden, and is on the verge of becoming frustrating, but the Newbury and Newmarket races he contested in August and September have worked out very well; rail draw.

7/2

8th

8

(6)

25th Sep 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:18 Newmarket

Moutai

9st 6lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Ed Walker

Made it 0-7 when below par at Newbury four weeks ago, when failing to settle; however, prior to that he went close in a small field at Salisbury (1m, good to firm) and can be in the picture if leaving last time behind.

8/1

6th

12

(6)

28th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

19:00 Newbury

Moutai

9st 1lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Ed Walker

Six-race maiden; similar form in two handicaps around 1m this term, a solid third of 13 at Hamilton (good) in May backed up by a narrow second at Salisbury (good to firm) last time; far from disgraced over 1m2f in between; this drop back in trip asks a question but he's in form and is yet another contender.

8/1

Form: 67-413 D BF

Last run: 33 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Solid record switched to handicaps (1m) this term, with Kempton AW win flanked by sound efforts on turf; close third to Political Power at Newmarket most recently and may do better still; shortlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

(9)

8th Jul 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

20:55 Kempton (AW)

Opening Bat

9st 6lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Harry Charlton

Gained a breakthrough victory over C&D last May but ended 2025 with a poor run over C&D and has fared no better in handicaps at Chepstow (7f) and Salisbury (1m) this season; not easy to make a case for.

14/1

11th

9

(10)

14th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:57 Salisbury

Opening Bat

9st 4lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Harry Charlton

Scored on AW last spring and subsequently ran well over C&D; on good mark if judged on those exploits but ended last season with a below-par effort and was well beaten when returning last month; now has a point to prove.

10/1

Form: 427915 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Recent form includes Newmarket success (1m) but he's something of an exposed sort, with record just 1-13, and latest effort was his third defeat off this mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(9)

4th Nov 2025

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 5

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Political Power

9st 10lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Charlie Clover

Got off the mark at Newmarket (1m, good) in June; showed the benefit of wind surgery when showing improved form when beaten a head by an unexposed sort at Newcastle (7f, AW) last month; looks sure to go close.

11/4

9

(5)

17th Oct 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

Political Power

9st 6lb

J: David Egan

T: Charlie Clover

Infrequent winner but he is effective on Tapeta and has undergone wind surgery since his latest start; not ruled out.

10/1

9th

8

(7)

8th Aug 2025

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

20:14 Newmarket (July)

Political Power

9st 6lb

J: David Egan

T: Charlie Clover

Only one win (14 races) but that 1m handicap in June was at this track; ran respectably next time and rallied into a close fourth of five for slowly run race on latest; needs to find extra but his tongue-tie (worn two and three starts back) is restored and new trip now looks worth a go.

8/1

OUR TIP

12/1

Form: 32-667

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Seven-race maiden; showed broadly progressive form as a 2yo but has gone the other way this season; may be helped by this drop in grade off a reduced mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

11

(11)

24th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

14:14 Lingfield (AW)

Troy Story

9st 6lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Maiden; respectable fifth over 1m3f at Kempton 17 days ago but Sonnerie Power and Voix De Bocelli were ahead of him; first-time cheekpieces worn on that occasion are now replaced by blinkers.

11/1

5th

2

(1)

23rd Jul 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:50 Salisbury

Troy Story

9st 8lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Alan King

Seven-race maiden; showed broadly progressive form as a 2yo but has gone the other way this season; may be helped by this drop in grade off a reduced mark.

12/1

7

(3)

5th Jul 2025

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 4

16:45 Sandown

Troy Story

9st 5lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Alan King

Suffered a near miss on handicap debut at Kempton (7f) but has finished a well-held sixth in two runs since being gelded and this could be tougher again; what might help is now going beyond 1m, being a son of Ulysses.

14/1

11/4

Form: 52-642

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Six-race maiden; heading firmly in the right direction (form figures 642) in handicaps this term, beaten only half a length at Ffos Las (1m; wore cheekpieces) most recently; turn looks near.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

12

(4)

7th Aug 2025

Good

1m 0f 14y

Class 4

18:00 Chepstow

Jarham

8st 8lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Clive Cox

Progressed this year in handicaps, beaten by half a length at Ffos Las (1m, good to soft) when in first-time cheekpieces; turn looks near but this is a higher grade.

7/1

1

(7)

23rd Jul 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:50 Salisbury

Jarham

9st 9lb

J: David Probert

T: Clive Cox

Six-race maiden; heading firmly in the right direction (form figures 642) in handicaps this term, beaten only half a length at Ffos Las (1m; wore cheekpieces) most recently; turn looks near.

11/4

8

(3)

30th Jun 2025

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:15 Ffos Las

Jarham

9st 4lb

J: David Probert

T: Clive Cox

Still unexposed after only five runs and looked suited by the step up to 1m when fourth of 14 at Newbury (good) this month; can pose a significant threat if the new cheekpieces have any positive effect here.

6/1

Non-runners

Mighty Ruler

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £28.10
Straight Forecast £26.32
Trifecta £68.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Moutai

TOPSPEED:

Jarham

Telegraph:

Kodi Fire

Daily Mail:

Opening Bat

NEWMARKET:

Political Power

POSTDATA:

Jarham

LAMBOURN:

Jarham

Daily Mirror:

Jarham

RP RATINGS:

Moutai

The Times:

Moutai

The Guardian:

Moutai

D Express:

Moutai

The Sun:

Moutai

The Star:

Kodi Fire

Daily Record:

Kodi Fire