July 26 / 13.10 Ascot

13.10

Good

British EBF Crocker Bulteel ‘Confined’ Maiden Stakes (Not Run More Than Once) (Colts & Geldings)

  • Prize money: £27000
  • 0m 6f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
SKY
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British EBF Crocker Bulteel ‘Confined’ Maiden Stakes (Not Run More Than Once) (Colts & Geldings)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.63
  • Place: £1.25

Form: 8

Last run: 71 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Son of Lope De Vega from a family his connections know well; only eighth of 18 at Newbury (6f, good; 9-2) on debut but that race has already thrown up stacks of winners; returns to the fray having been gelded, and he could take a major step forward.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

12

(3)

18th Oct 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

13:30 Ascot

Words Of Truth

9st 7lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Gelded after debut; record of 3-3 (kept to 6f) since includes an Ascot win; led towards the finish in the Mill Reef at Newbury (good to soft; Group 2) most recently; top on ratings and still improving.

Evs

8

(8)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:15 Newbury

Words Of Truth

9st 3lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Gelded after debut effort in C&D maiden that has worked out well; justified favouritism in 6f events at Ascot (good) and Newmarket (good to firm; beat Watcha Snoop) since; improving sort who is bred to make his mark at this level, being related to a couple of 2yo Group 2 winners for his yard; respected.

9/4

1

(6)

23rd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

13:25 Newmarket (July)

Words Of Truth

9st 11lb

J: Dougie Costello

T: Charlie Appleby

Eighth of 18 on Newbury debut in a race that could barely have worked out better; gelded afterwards and was noticeably strong in the market at Ascot (6f, good; 13-8) where he raced close to the pace before running on best; the runner-up was fourth in yesterday's Convivial at York and the third also ran well in defeat at Newbury last week; the one to beat.

6/5

9/4

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 2

Last run: 44 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
180,000euros yearling by Acclamation; shaped well when 2l second of eight on debut at Newbury (6.5f, good; 8-1) six weeks ago, no extra after challenging 2f out; big player with that experience behind him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

(9)

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

13:25 Goodwood

New Monarch

8st 13lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Andrew Balding

Eased once beaten upped to 1m on Good Friday when bidding for an AW double; consistent sort otherwise, including on turf last year, and may rebound; however, balance of form suggests he's no certainty to defy his mark on handicap debut.

16/1

7th

4

(2)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 1

13:15 Newcastle (AW)

New Monarch

9st 4lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Progressive in defeat on turf across his four 2yo starts and he reappeared with a novice win at Kempton (7f, Polytrack) 16 days ago, when odds-on; further improvement is necessary if he's to follow up today, but that can't be ruled out and there's every chance 1m will be fine; yard in good form.

4/1

1st

6

(2)

18th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:30 Kempton (AW)

New Monarch

9st 7lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Improved with each start last year (in RPR terms), culminating in excellent fourth in valuable sales race at the Curragh (7f); the winner of that contest won a Group 3 next time, the second went on to land a Local Group 2 in Qatar and the third was sent off 100-30 for the Fillies' Mile on her next outing; sets the standard on AW debut; trainer/jockey took both divisions of this in 2025.

4/5

7/2

  • Place: £2.25

Form: 6

Last run: 60 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Weak in the market and never dangerous when 7l sixth of 13 at Leicester (6f, good; 16-1) two months ago, passing a few late on; that form is working out well and this well-bred colt could make significant progress.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

(15)

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

13:25 Goodwood

Wechaad

9st 2lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Ended his steadily progressive 2yo campaign by scoring readily at Doncaster (sole handicap attempt) then running well in the Horris Hill at Newbury, both over 7f (soft/good to soft); may well have more to offer this term and enters calculations on reappearance.

9/1

3rd

7

(3)

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:10 Newbury

Wechaad

9st 2lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Proved well ahead of opening mark in Doncaster nursery (7f, good to soft) most recently, scoring in emphatic style and taking record to 6321; ran well over C&D the time before; improving colt who is one to consider.

4/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
£60,000 yearling by Night Of Thunder; dam 1m winner (RPR 74), closely related to 7f Group 3 winner Hot Snap, half-sister to winners Midday (1m2f-1m4f Group 1) and Sun Maiden (1m2f Group 3), out of half-sister to Oaks winner Reams Of Verse; likely to be suited by longer distances in due course but still of some interest on debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

13

(4)

7th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 127y

Class 2

15:40 Chester

King Of Thunder

8st 5lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Hugo Palmer

Local runner who is 1-1 at handicap level and may well show further progress; gelded prior to that Haydock success (7f, good to soft; held on narrowly) in October; should be well primed for this reappearance assignment, given the location, and warrants major respect.

8/1

1

(8)

17th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 6f 212y

Class 5

15:40 Haydock

King Of Thunder

9st 9lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Hugo Palmer

Promising debut fourth in Ascot maiden (6f, good) in July but he disappointed when favourite on AW in September and was beaten 20l back on turf (also 7f, good to soft) later that month; subsequently gelded and makes handicap debut with something to prove.

10/1

12th

5

(11)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

15:50 Newbury

King Of Thunder

9st 4lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Hugo Palmer

Showed some promise in Ascot maiden (6f, good) won by today's Mill Reef contender Words Of Truth; disappointing favourite over 7f on AW since but may show progress back on turf.

14/1

OUR TIP

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
420,000gns yearling; Dark Angel half-brother to Listed-placed 7f 2yo winner Anna Swan (RPR 90); dam Group-placed 7f-1m2f winner (including 2yo; 106), sister to German/UAE 1m6f Group 3 winner Ispolini, is granddaughter of Fillies' Mile winner Playful Act; big-money purchase with a useful pedigree; connections had a winning 2yo newcomer at Haydock last Saturday.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(3)

22nd Oct 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:18 Newmarket

Dark Shore

9st 1lb

J: William Buick

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Maiden form stacks up nicely; seemingly outstayed over 1m, albeit wasn't disgraced, when favourite for Newmarket event (good) on handicap debut; gelded since; interesting back down in distance.

7/2

5

(5)

25th Sep 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:25 Newmarket

Dark Shore

9st 2lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Runner-up at Ffos Las (7.3f, good) on second start then filled the same position in a first-time hood (retained) at Newbury (6.5f, good), behind an easy winner who then went close in the Mill Reef; begins handicap life on a fair mark and this 420,000gns yearling may have more left in the tank.

3/1

3

(11)

28th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 110y

Class 5

16:48 Newbury

Dark Shore

9st 7lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

420,000gns yearling; showed promise at Ascot (6f, good) and built on that when second of ten in a maiden at Ffos Las (7.3f, good) 18 days later; looked in charge 1f out in the latter and now has a first-time hood and step back in trip; one of the top three candidates on form.

100/30

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Palace Pier half-brother to five winners including Dream Castle (7f-1m1f including UAE Group 1; RPR 116) and With The Moonlight (1m-1m2f including 2yo/UAE Group 2; 115); dam 5f/6f 2yo winner (including Group 2; 111); plausible pedigree for a race of this nature; already gelded; stablemate of Words Of Truth.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(6)

8th Aug 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

18:30 Newmarket (July)

Harbor Lock

9st 7lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Palace Pier half-brother to five winners; weak 12-1 chance when never that dangerous behind a well-backed stablemate at Ascot (6f, good) who was leaving his debut form well behind; this well-related colt could do something similar.

11/2

6th

2

(5)

26th Jul 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

13:10 Ascot

Harbor Lock

9st 2lb

J: James Doyle

T: Charlie Appleby

Palace Pier half-brother to five winners including Dream Castle (7f-1m1f including UAE Group 1; RPR 116) and With The Moonlight (1m-1m2f including 2yo/UAE Group 2; 115); dam 5f/6f 2yo winner (including Group 2; 111); plausible pedigree for a race of this nature; already gelded; stablemate of Words Of Truth.

7/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
£18,000 2yo; by Havana Grey; dam well held 7f AW 2yo only start, out of unraced half-sister to 1m2f Group 1 winner Romantica; breeze-up purchase; other newcomers make more appeal on paper.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

8

(1)

28th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 10y

Class 4

17:10 Sandown

Havana Smile

8st 10lb

J: David Probert

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Sole start at 5f came at this track and it was his best effort too, when second of nine in a maiden (good) in August; last two runs were at 7f and didn't scream he's desperate for this return to 5f; not handicapped out of things, though.

20/1

7th

3

(9)

27th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 5

16:45 Lingfield (AW)

Havana Smile

9st 8lb

J: Toby Moore

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Showed fair form in four runs at 2yrs, signing off with a good fourth in 7f Epsom nursery in September; since gelded and can't be discounted on his seasonal return.

20/1

5

(2)

28th Sep 2025

Good

0m 7f 3y

Class 4

13:45 Epsom

Havana Smile

9st 6lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Clear best effort in maidens when running-on second over 5f at Sandown; made no impression over 7f on AW last time but this return to turf may have a positive effect.

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.50
Straight Forecast £6.40
Trifecta £39.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

New Monarch

Daily Mail:

Harbor Lock

The Times:

Wechaad

NEWMARKET:

Words Of Truth

The Guardian:

Dark Shore

Daily Mirror:

Harbor Lock

The Star:

Wechaad

D Express:

Words Of Truth

RP RATINGS:

New Monarch

TOPSPEED:

New Monarch

POSTDATA:

New Monarch

LAMBOURN:

New Monarch

Telegraph:

New Monarch

The Sun:

New Monarch

Daily Record:

New Monarch