August 02 / 18.30 Hamilton

18.30

Good

Margaret Smith Memorial Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4320
  • 1m 3f 15y
  • Class 5
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
Margaret Smith Memorial Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

Form: 78

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well beaten in two bumpers and in both of his runs on the Flat at 1m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

(8)

25th Aug 2026

Good

2m 2f 28y

Class 4

15:45 Musselburgh

Gallus Norman

8st 13lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Jim Goldie

Very lightly raced 7yo who won here (2m, good) in May and at Ayr (1m7f, soft) in June; returned to form with good third at Hamilton (1m5f, good) last time and he's a possible contender.

11/1

3rd

9

(11)

1st Aug 2026

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 4

19:00 Hamilton

Gallus Norman

9st 2lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

Lightly raced 7yo who won at Musselburgh (2m, good) in May and Ayr (1m7f, soft) in June; however, he seemed to find the trip too sharp over C&D (good) in between and ran poorly over 2m when favourite at Musselburgh on Friday.

9/2

5th

6

(7)

31st Jul 2026

Good

1m 7f 217y

Class 5

20:25 Musselburgh

Gallus Norman

9st 0lb

J: Jake Dickson

T: Jim Goldie

Improved for the switch to handicaps this year, making all for wins over C&D and at Ayr (1m7f, soft); there could well be more in the tank and he's a strong contender despite his latest 4lb rise.

13/8

Form: 06

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
0-3 in bumpers and 0-5 over hurdles; insufficient promise in his two Flat runs as well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

30th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

12:47 Stratford

Liberty Flame

11st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Stuart Coltherd

16-race maiden under rules; has been struggling on the Flat during the summer and made a belated return to hurdles when seventh of ten finishers at Perth (2m, soft) nine days ago; steps up in trip and has work to do.

14/1

4

30th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

12:47 Stratford

Liberty Flame

11st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Stuart Coltherd

16-race maiden under rules; has been struggling on the Flat during the summer and made a belated return to hurdles when seventh of ten finishers at Perth (2m, soft) nine days ago; steps up in trip and has work to do.

14/1

7th

8

21st Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

14:25 Perth

Liberty Flame

11st 4lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Stuart Coltherd

Belatedly returns to hurdling (0-5); has been struggling at a very modest level on the Flat.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 2-6

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beaten 10l at Goodwood (1m1f, heavy) and about 7l at Kempton (1m3f), though it was a valuable novice last time in which he was never ideally positioned out the back; has a bigger effort in him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

15th Aug 2026

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 5

20:04 Market Rasen

Ashdown Forest

11st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Left Jedd O'Keeffe for £21,000 in May and given wind surgery; first run since when justifying 5-6 favouritism in 11-runner handicap at Uttoxeter three weeks ago (2m, good); he did that narrowly but he was delivered late, so the 7lb rise could be very manageable.

2/1

Form: 4

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bred to be useful and kept on to finish fourth of ten at Doncaster (1m4f, good to firm); well held by the principals but improvement is on the cards.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

11th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

16:42 Southwell

Chico Magnifica

10st 12lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

2-4 on the Flat for Karl Burke and quite useful; no sign of that ability over hurdles but that could change now he's into handicap company; market confidence would be welcomed.

9/2

9th

11

18th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 4

13:17 Bangor-on-Dee

Chico Magnifica

10st 9lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Olly Murphy

2-4 on the Flat for Karl Burke and quite useful; no sign of that ability over hurdles and probably one for handicaps.

25/1

9th

13

27th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:20 Wetherby

Chico Magnifica

10st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Has failed to shine in two attempts over hurdles and may be more interesting in handicaps shortly; otherwise retains potential judged on Flat record (2-4; best RPR 85).

12/1

Form: 4

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Difficult to gauge what he achieved when fourth of the five runners behind a smart horse at Doncaster (1m4f, good; blinkered); this is easier.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(5)

26th Apr 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:25 Nottingham

Codiak

9st 8lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Edward Bethell

Raised his game for two 1m4f wins this winter and ran respectably in another AW race three weeks ago after 81 days off; a close call on turf on handicap debut (1m6f, good) last November gives plenty of encouragement that he will prove as effective moving away from AW this afternoon; in the mix.

5/2

3rd

2

(2)

4th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 4

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Codiak

9st 8lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Edward Bethell

Didn't need to improve to win an uncompetitive C&D novice in the winter but did it impressively and he bettered that at Southwell (off 2lb lower than today) next time, coming from off a steady pace to get up in a busy finish; remains open to further improvement.

2/1

3

(5)

4th Nov 2025

Good To Soft

1m 5f 218y

Class 5

14:25 Redcar

Codiak

9st 9lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Edward Bethell

Similar form in two middle-distance novice events (wearing blinkers that now return; 1m4f/1m3f) before a lesser effort on the AW when tried in cheekpieces; could easily make an impact in his first handicap.

3/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
First foal out of a 6f-1m winner (RPR 71) and half-sister to winners Ziggy's Secret (5f/7f) and Ziggys Star (7f/1m); gelded ahead of debut and would need to see market confidence behind him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(4)

2nd Aug 2025

Good

1m 3f 15y

Class 5

18:30 Hamilton

Orphan Ollie

9st 4lb

J: Barry McHugh

T: Lucinda Russell

First foal out of a 6f-1m winner (RPR 71) and half-sister to winners Ziggy's Secret (5f/7f) and Ziggys Star (7f/1m); gelded ahead of debut and would need to see market confidence behind him.

25/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.60
Straight Forecast £14.09
Trifecta £14.90

Selections

The Times:

Chico Magnifica

SPOTLIGHT:

Ashdown Forest

The Guardian:

Chico Magnifica

Daily Mail:

Chico Magnifica

D Express:

Chico Magnifica

Daily Mirror:

Chico Magnifica

Daily Record:

Chico Magnifica

POSTDATA:

Ashdown Forest

Telegraph:

Ashdown Forest

The Sun:

Ashdown Forest

The Star:

Ashdown Forest