August 17 / 16.52 Southwell (AW)

16.52

Standard

Coopers Marquees Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

  • Prize money: £5234
  • 1m 4f 14y
  • Class 4
  • 11 runners
SKY
View Course
Coopers Marquees Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Mostly sunny

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £53.00
  • Place: £10.20

Form: 60379-

Last run: 295 days

W: 9st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
In very good form over hurdles when last seen in December/January, winning three consecutive low-grade handicaps (all on soft ground); returns from 228-day break with usual cheekpieces missing, though, and his current Flat ability is hard to gauge.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

26th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 116y

Class 4

18:09 Plumpton

Motazzen

11st 1lb

J: J P O’Neill

T: Henrietta C Knight

Four-time hurdle winner and career-best form to win by 10l at Fontwell two runs ago (2m5f, good to soft); went up 8lb for that and was back down to earth on his return visit when beaten 20l; hard to know entirely what to expect from him.

100/30

8th

3

14th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 4

18:10 Fontwell

Motazzen

12st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Henrietta C Knight

Four-time hurdle winner who rewarded good market support and showed career-best form when drawing clear to score by 10l here (2m5f, good to soft) in March; 8lb rise asks a fair bit of him but the forecast faster ground should not be a problem.

5/1

1st

3

27th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

15:00 Fontwell

Motazzen

11st 12lb

J: J P O’Neill

T: Henrietta C Knight

Four Flat wins and three over hurdles; has yet to win this season over jumps but two of his three placed efforts came here and he's likely to be a strong contender, for all that last two runs (hurdle/AW) weren't his best.

3/1

7/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 572246

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Disappointed when upped to 1m6f last month (raced too freely) and is now 0-8 but made the frame in three consecutive turf handicaps in May-July (11.4f-1m4f) and those efforts make him of interest here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(10)

10th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 5

19:45 Kempton (AW)

Kingmaker

9st 8lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Andrew Balding

Still a maiden after ten runs but has finished second in three handicaps at around 1m4f this year and again ran well when third of six at Chelmsford (13.3f) last month; usually sticks to his task pretty well; probably won't be far away.

4/1

4

(3)

18th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 5f 66y

Class 5

19:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Kingmaker

9st 8lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

0-9 but did bounce back from a lesser effort at Sandown (1m6f) when second at Southwell (1m4f) last month in his first handicap on AW; thereabouts with a repeat.

3/1

3/1

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 0-1123

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Started off in handicaps with two turf wins (1m5f/1m6f) and made the frame on his next two outings (1m4f/1m6f); persistently denied clear run before running on for third at Sandown (1m6f, good) last time and may still have more improvement to come.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

9

(7)

9th May 2026

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 3

14:55 Ascot

Whatsgoingonmarvin

9st 2lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Mickey Bowen

A useful 1m5f Flat winner for Sir Mark Prescott last year; only fair form at best in four hurdle outings for this yard since, including when well-held sixth on Stratford handicap debut in that sphere four weeks ago; returns to the Flat with something to prove; first-time cheekpieces go on.

40/1

6th

9

28th Mar 2026

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 4

17:08 Stratford

Whatsgoingonmarvin

10st 11lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: Mickey Bowen

A useful 1m5f Flat winner for Sir Mark Prescott; changed hands for 115,000gns and shaped well when runner-up in 2m Catterick juvenile hurdle in January; faced a stiff task in Haydock's Victor Ludorum last time and remains with potential now handicapping.

9/2

6th

7

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 144y

Class 2

12:55 Haydock

Whatsgoingonmarvin

11st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

A fairly useful and three-time Flat scorer (at up to 1m6f) for Sir Mark Prescott in 2025; beat only one on his hurdling debut at Kempton but vastly improved when a clear second of nine in 2m Catterick juvenile 15 days ago; open to further progress but this demands plenty more.

25/1

11/2

Form: -80632

Last run: 20 days

W: 8st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Still a maiden after eight runs but suggested his turn is near when keeping on well for close second here (1m3f) three weeks ago; shortlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(1)

20th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 6

21:00 Kempton (AW)

Divot

9st 5lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: William Knight

14-race maiden but he's returned from a break with two placed efforts in 1m4f handicaps (AW) this spring; on same mark at for his third at Lingfield last time and he's a big player if he responds well to first-time cheekpieces.

2/1

3rd

7

(1)

30th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

18:10 Lingfield (AW)

Divot

9st 2lb

J: Luke Morris

T: William Knight

Still seeking his first win after 13 attempts but he has finished second on three occasions, including at Wolverhampton on his seasonal return three weeks ago (1m4f; hooded first time); that was a costly reverse for those that backed him into 11-10f but he didn't do a great deal wrong and the subsequent wins of the first and third give the form some ballast; major player with the hood now discarded.

6/4

2nd

4

(3)

10th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Divot

9st 9lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: William Knight

Yet to score but has posted some solid efforts since June, including when second over C&D in September; raced freely when disappointing at Southwell the following month but the added hood might help and Oisin Murphy's booking suggests he's ready for this return.

4/1

5th
5 (11)
Appier

12/1

Form: -73255 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Finished well to snatch second from Papagei at Lingfield (11.6f, good) in May and is also suited by Tapeta but his tendency to lose significant ground at the start is always a big drawback, and he was unable to land a telling blow on his last two outings; hooded for first time here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

(5)

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:45 Goodwood

Appier

9st 1lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: Richard J Bandey

Recorded his tenth win when scoring at Wolverhampton (2m, Tapeta) in January; held his form with creditable efforts in next three starts but his good spell came to a halt at Lingfield last month; has bit to prove again after that heavy defeat and his last turf win was in 2022.

10/1

13th

10

(11)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

14:05 Lingfield (AW)

Appier

9st 5lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Richard J Bandey

Three course wins have come over 1m4f, but he has won over this sort of trip elsewhere; finished half a length behind St Faz when third of four at Southwell (1m6f, Tapeta) and now 11lb better off; each-way claims.

18/1

3rd

1

(3)

26th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 5

14:37 Southwell (AW)

Appier

9st 12lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Richard J Bandey

Multiple winner who arrives in form, his success at Wolverhampton (Tapeta) in January followed by solid third at Kempton (also about 2m, Polytrack) a fortnight later; ran well for second over extended 2m2f here three weeks ago and just as effective over this shorter trip; warrants respect.

11/2

OUR TIP

10/1

Form: 355337

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Disappointed when last in action and remains on a losing streak but competes off new career-low mark here and will be suited by the trip-and-surface combination; hooded for first time; can't be ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

(12)

17th Aug 2025

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 4

16:52 Southwell (AW)

Lord Protector

10st 3lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Ruth Carr

Disappointed when last in action and remains on a losing streak but competes off new career-low mark here and will be suited by the trip-and-surface combination; hooded for first time; can't be ruled out.

10/1

7th

1

(2)

2nd Aug 2025

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 4

19:00 Hamilton

Lord Protector

10st 2lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Hasn't won for a while but his turn will come and a tactical race didn't suit when third to Spanish Hustle here recently.

7/1

3rd

1

(1)

18th Jul 2025

Good

1m 4f 15y

Class 4

19:45 Hamilton

Lord Protector

10st 2lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Ruth Carr

No win since taking a Class 2 at Sandown (1m2f) in July 2023; kicked off 2025 with a pleasing AW effort at Newcastle (runner-up from 4lb higher) but unable to build positively on that since; latest 1m4f Ripon third (Haptics sixth) respectable but the wait for another win may go on.

9/2

12/1

Form: 443347 C

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Won three times on Tapeta in December/January (1m4f-1m6f) and was still in good form in the spring; safely held on turf last week, after a break, but might have needed that outing and now returns to this surface on a workable mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

(2)

18th May 2026

Good

1m 6f 32y

Class 5

15:30 Carlisle

Swinging London

9st 4lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: John Mackie

Five wins on AW, including at Southwell (1m6f) last time; may remain competitive but looks by no means guaranteed to follow up, being 0-15 in Flat turf events; just 1-20 over hurdles.

6/1

1st

3

(2)

23rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 5

18:00 Southwell (AW)

Swinging London

9st 7lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: John Mackie

Dual C&D winner; beaten 2l when fourth of six here last month and he was unfortunate not to go even closer when fourth of 12 at Pontefract (1m4f, good to soft; short of room late on) 16 days ago; switches back to the AW with a good chance.

7/4

4th

3

(7)

7th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 5y

Class 5

16:27 Pontefract

Swinging London

9st 7lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: John Mackie

Returned to the Flat with respectable fourth of six at Southwell (1m4f, AW) last month but is still 3lb higher than for narrow AW win last autumn, and his Flat turf strike-rate is 0-14.

10/1

14/1

Form: 46428- C

Last run: 285 days

W: 9st 13lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
On workable mark if judged on pick of form from first half of last year but returned from break with disappointing run in the autumn and has been absent for another 285 days since.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

(8)

17th Aug 2025

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 4

16:52 Southwell (AW)

Real Terms

9st 13lb

J: Oliver Stammers

T: Grant Tuer

On workable mark if judged on pick of form from first half of last year but returned from break with disappointing run in the autumn and has been absent for another 285 days since.

14/1

8th

6

(6)

5th Nov 2024

Soft

1m 2f 1y

Class 3

14:00 Redcar

Real Terms

9st 1lb

J: Sam James

T: Grant Tuer

Has won on good to soft; losing turf run goes back more than a year but she ran up to her recent best when second of 14 at Hamilton (1m3f, good) in June; needs to be on song to win off this mark back from break.

10/1

Form: 303825 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Triple turf winner last year (1m2f-1m4f); probably doesn't have much margin for error off current mark but made bold bid from the front when close second at Salisbury (1m4f, good to firm) last month and subsequent run in a Racing League event was perfectly respectable; probably won't be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

13th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

18:50 Punchestown

Papagei

11st 12lb

J: James Smith

T: Thomas Gibney

Three-time British Flat winner for James Ferguson; no wins since 2024; three maiden hurdle runs for new trainer suggest he is best watched.

22/1

5th

16

4th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 4f 0y

15:50 Fairyhouse

Papagei

11st 12lb

J: James Smith

T: Thomas Gibney

Three-time Flat winner for James Ferguson; no wins since 2024; now rated 73 in that sphere; mid-field on hurdling debut at Naas; posed no threat when falling three out at Downpatrick last Sunday.

50/1

2

29th Mar 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 185y

14:07 Downpatrick

Papagei

11st 12lb

J: James Smith

T: Thomas Gibney

Three-time British Flat winner for James Ferguson; no wins since 2024; now rated 73 in that sphere; 80-1 for Naas hurdling/stable debut when 29l behind; others more likely.

33/1

Form: 931-57 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Returned from layoff with low-key turf run three weeks ago but won over about 1m4f on Tapeta at Newcastle in December and has obvious claims here if back at that level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(10)

18th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 5

20:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Desert Emperor

10st 1lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Michael & David Easterby

Won a Newcastle handicap over a similar trip last December off the same mark; best effort this year when second of five back at Newcastle three weeks ago; suspicion the 3yos will have his measure this time.

10/1

1

(4)

26th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 4

17:00 Newcastle (AW)

Desert Emperor

9st 8lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

Won over C&D in December but he's returned from a layoff with two low-key runs this summer; only 1lb higher than for that last success but tailed off at Southwell (1m4f, Tapeta) last month and needs a major revival.

20/1

10th

4

(1)

17th Aug 2025

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 4

16:52 Southwell (AW)

Desert Emperor

10st 1lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

Returned from layoff with low-key turf run three weeks ago but won over about 1m4f on Tapeta at Newcastle in December and has obvious claims here if back at that level.

14/1

12/1

Form: 14229- BF

Last run: 337 days

W: 8st 13lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 61

Form & Verdict
Won on turf (1m6f, good to soft) for Alan King last spring but signed off for him with a poor 2m AW run in September and may not be ideally suited by the drop back in trip for this seasonal/stable debut; visor removed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

11

(3)

17th Aug 2025

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 4

16:52 Southwell (AW)

Smart Charger

8st 13lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Ian Williams

Won on turf (1m6f, good to soft) for Alan King last spring but signed off for him with a poor 2m AW run in September and may not be ideally suited by the drop back in trip for this seasonal/stable debut; visor removed.

12/1

9th

3

(1)

14th Sep 2024

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 6

12:55 Lingfield (AW)

Smart Charger

10st 0lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Alan King

Series of good runs for new yard since April, winning at Yarmouth in May and runner-up in AW handicaps the last twice; should be in the thick of the action once again.

4/1

2nd

7

(8)

7th Aug 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 5

20:55 Kempton (AW)

Smart Charger

9st 9lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Alan King

Came away with Fictional at Lingfield early last month off a 3lb lower mark and is closely matched with that one on revised terms; should go well again switched from cheekpieces to a first-time visor.

6/1

Non-runners

Lancashire

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £331.10
Straight Forecast £267.83
Tricast £546.78
Trifecta £1202.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Whatsgoingonmarvin

The Times:

Divot

TOPSPEED:

Swinging London

RP RATINGS:

Lord Protector

POSTDATA:

Whatsgoingonmarvin

NEWMARKET:

Whatsgoingonmarvin

Telegraph:

Whatsgoingonmarvin

D Express:

Whatsgoingonmarvin

Daily Mirror:

Divot

The Sun:

Divot

The Star:

Divot

Daily Record:

Divot