September 09 / 18.55 Ffos Las

18.55

Heavy

Happy Retirement Ricky Leeson Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

  • Prize money: £5338.68
  • 1m 6f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
SKY
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Happy Retirement Ricky Leeson Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

Form: 41/D457

Last run: 70 days

W: 10st 1lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Landed a Newmarket maiden (1m2f, soft) in October 2023, but missed the whole of last year; fair efforts in first two starts after returning in April, but not so good at Chelmsford (2m, AW) in July; off another ten weeks since and others come into this in better form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

18:41 Worcester

Anzac Day

11st 4lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

1m2f Flat winner (soft) but has only made the track four times since that success for Andrew Balding in October 2023; has changed hands since beaten a distance at Ffos Las last September; looks best watched unless market vibes are strong.

6/1

1

(4)

9th Sep 2025

Heavy

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

18:55 Ffos Las

Anzac Day

10st 1lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Andrew Balding

Landed a Newmarket maiden (1m2f, soft) in October 2023, but missed the whole of last year; fair efforts in first two starts after returning in April, but not so good at Chelmsford (2m, AW) in July; off another ten weeks since and others come into this in better form.

8/1

4

(12)

1st Jul 2025

Standard To Slow

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

20:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Anzac Day

9st 5lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Lightly raced 4yo who missed last season; latest effort suggests this step up to 2m will suit; registered a useful win (RPR 99) as a 2yo and is interesting off current mark with a resurgent display plausible.

11/2

Form: -11654

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
In good form between last October and May this year, winning three times over 1m4f/1m5f on turf/AW; no problem with soft ground and not easy to dismiss.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

28th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:30 Worcester

Kings Scholar

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Useful three-time Flat winner (1m4f/1m5f) and was consistent until getting too high in the weights; his Ludlow run from off the pace was encouraging and he then won comfortably under a more forward ride at Southwell (2m, good; first-time tongue-tie); carries a penalty but has clear claims.

4/9

1st

1

11th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

17:17 Southwell

Kings Scholar

11st 4lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Three Flat wins for Ed Walker (1m4f/1m5f) and was consistent until getting too high in the weights; never got seriously involved under a patient ride at Ludlow but that run was promising; now tongue tied.

7/2

4th

6

30th Mar 2026

Good

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

14:27 Ludlow

Kings Scholar

11st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Three Flat wins for Ed Walker (1m4f/1m5f) and was consistent until getting too high in the weights; should enjoy good ground on hurdle/stable debut and he's of clear interest.

11/2

OUR TIP

Form: -40651 CD

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Made the most of a drop in the weights when winning in fine style under a positive ride over C&D (good) five weeks ago (his other two wins came on soft ground); back up 6lb, but was twice placed off this mark around this time last year and he doesn't have to lead; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

12:45 Aintree

Mighty Bandit

11st 7lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Flat and hurdles winner but already a far superior chaser; jumped well in front (although sometimes to the right) when completing a handicap hat-trick at Doncaster (2m, soft) six weeks ago by 17l; firmly on the up and deserves his chance in this higher grade.

9/2

1st

3

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 78y

Class 2

13:55 Doncaster

Mighty Bandit

11st 6lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Flat/hurdle winner but he's looking a far superior chaser; bumped into a very smart novice on his chase debut and has since won two handicaps, the latest over C&D by some 8l (soft); an 8lb rise could have been worse for one firmly on the upgrade.

7/4

1st

3

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 78y

Class 2

15:13 Doncaster

Mighty Bandit

11st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Flat/hurdles winner; very solid form at Newbury (2m, good to soft) since switched to fences, finishing a good second (behind subsequent Grade 2 scorer) prior to going one better in a race that is working out nicely; may well have more to offer in this sphere and warrants major respect.

10/11

Form: P24-42

Last run: 72 days

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Goes well on testing ground and again ran well under a positive ride when second of eight over C&D (soft) in June, though the form may not be totally reliable due to a messy flag start; makes his stable debut (same owners) after 72 days off; may find a couple too good.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 7221

Last run: 4 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner who made all on handicap debut at Haydock (11.6f, good) on Friday; has a 5lb penalty to carry, but bigger questions may be the presence of other front-runners and the suitability of soft ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

10

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 178y

Class 2

17:15 Sandown

Gnomon

10st 5lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Toby Lawes

Fairly useful Flat racer; runner-up on first three hurdle starts (all 2m) before cruising clear in four-runner Ascot maiden (2m3f, good) last month; could easily have more improvement to come in handicap hurdles; interesting.

7/2

1st

2

29th Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 63y

Class 2

13:55 Ascot

Gnomon

11st 7lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

Bumper winner who then won two Flat handicaps for Ralph Beckett; he's getting there over hurdles judged on his near miss at Taunton (2m, good) and this longer trip could trigger the improvement he'll need to trouble West Hill Verde.

9/4

2nd

4

9th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

14:40 Taunton

Gnomon

11st 6lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

Bumper winner who then won two handicaps on the Flat for Ralph Beckett, the latest at Haydock (1m6f, good to soft) in October; runner-up on both starts over hurdles, last time finishing 10l second at Kempton (2m, good; third has won since); contender.

3/1

Form: 5-0961 CD

Last run: 61 days

W: 9st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
C&D winner who very much enjoyed the run of the race when making all at Newbury (1m5f, good to firm) in July; 6lb higher and likely to face competition for the lead, while soft ground would also pose a question.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

13

(9)

8th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 209y

Class 4

17:10 Ascot

Lusaka

9st 2lb

J: Millie Wonnacott

T: John & Rhys Flint

Scored for the sixth time when making all at Newbury (13.5f, good to firm) off 1lb lower in July and gave it a fair go from the front when second at Bath (2m1f, good to firm; Educator third) three weeks ago; same mark and should make his presence felt.

16/1

2nd

5

(1)

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 1f 24y

Class 5

16:15 Bath

Lusaka

9st 2lb

J: Millie Wonnacott

T: John & Rhys Flint

Often a front-runner but he's a tactically versatile; six wins on turf (1m4f-1m6f) but he's not easy to predict and has been quiet on AW this winter; now only 1lb higher than for his last success but he still has stamina to prove at this trip and others are preferred.

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £15.00
Straight Forecast £17.30
Trifecta £38.60

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Maxident

The Times:

Gnomon

SPOTLIGHT:

Mighty Bandit

POSTDATA:

King's Scholar

Telegraph:

Gnomon

Daily Mirror:

Gnomon

D Express:

King's Scholar

Daily Mail:

Mighty Bandit

The Star:

Mighty Bandit

TOPSPEED:

Maxident

NEWMARKET:

Maxident

The Guardian:

Maxident

The Sun:

Maxident

Daily Record:

Maxident