October 03 / 16.40 Ascot

16.40

Good

BetMGM Handicap

  • Prize money: £23193
  • 0m 6f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 10 runners
SKY
View Course
BetMGM Handicap

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

Form: 338006

Last run: 6 days

W: 9st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
On the premises in a Group 3 over C&D last October but he hasn't won a handicap for two years and it's hard to call him well treated on this year's form, even allowing for some thankless tasks; due further 2lb drop.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

(11)

30th May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 1y

Class 2

15:30 Chester

Korker

9st 1lb

J: Jason Hart

T: K R Burke

Slow-starter; on a dangerous mark but he is without a win since October 2023 and one 7f run didn't see him improve for the trip.

28/1

10th

9

(13)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

16:20 Newbury

Korker

9st 1lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: K R Burke

Useful on his day but is on a long losing run and has a doubt over current form; by no means sure to take advantage of a reduced mark.

25/1

8th

11

(6)

25th Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 37y

Class 2

14:35 Haydock

Korker

9st 1lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: K R Burke

Well beaten at Doncaster on his return but he wasn't well drawn and has a modest record fresh; stepping up to 7f will give him more time to claw back the ground he's likely to forfeit at the start; on a dangerous mark and he's a lively outsider, for all his losing run stretches back to October 2023.

20/1

Form: 164937 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Sterling sprinter in 2025 who was a rock-solid marker over 6f on the AW and turf before the handicapper caught up; has a less demanding task than in his last two 6f runs on turf, when beaten around 3l in the Wokingham at the Royal meeting (good to firm) and in the Ayr Gold Cup (soft; first home in his group), so he probably still has cards to play.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(7)

13th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:30 York

Aramram

9st 10lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

Steadily progressive over 6f, mostly in handicaps prior to showing bigger things this season by bagging Listed honours at Doncaster (good to soft) and finishing a good second in Group 3 at Newmarket (good); at the top of his form and may rate higher still; in the mix.

9/1

2nd

1

(12)

16th Apr 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

Aramram

9st 9lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

Steadily progressive, mostly in handicaps, throughout his career; won by 1l going away from Jasour in Listed event at Doncaster (6f, good to soft) on seasonal debut, looking better than ever and taking record to 6-23; solid second in both C&D starts; enters calculations upped further in grade.

11/2

1st

4

(11)

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

0m 6f 2y

Class 1

13:50 Doncaster

Aramram

9st 10lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

Notably tough and consistent in handicaps, posting another personal best when winning narrowly at Ascot (6f, soft) last October; this Listed event requires another step up the ladder but he always gives his all and it's not out of the question.

10/1

Form: 206611 CD

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
First two wins over 5f but he's flourished back at 6f of late, winning in good style at Windsor (good to firm) and having no problem with the stiffer test and better company when following up over C&D last month (good to soft; formed worked out); up 6lb but has scope to move on up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

2

(1)

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 182y

Class 3

14:00 Carlisle

Brosay

9st 10lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Charlie Pike

Back-to-back 6f wins at Windsor (good to firm) and Ascot (good to soft) in 2025; has taken a while to get going this season but he shaped as if coming to the boil when sixth of 14 at Newbury (led briefly over 1f out) two weeks ago; back to his last winning mark and should be at concert pitch now.

12/1

6th

10

(7)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

16:20 Newbury

Brosay

9st 0lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Charlie Pike

Proved somewhat resurgent at Ascot last week in third start for Charlie Pike and may build on that effort; only 1lb above last winning mark and can't be ruled out.

20/1

5th

3

(3)

8th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

15:25 Ascot

Brosay

9st 8lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Charlie Pike

Two 6f wins at the end of last summer, at Windsor (good to firm) and over C&D (good to soft); just 2lb higher than for the latter but he's hard to assess now, having been well held over an inadequate 5f on his yard debut (AW) then eased following serious interference at Newbury; too much to prove just now but one to keep an eye on.

16/1

20/1

Form: 35-409 D

Last run: 57 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Two 6f wins as 2yo (good to soft and soft); useful comeback when fourth of ten in a Group 3 over C&D (good to firm) in April but even allowing for the trip query over 7f on last two starts, he cried enough a long way out on handicap debut at Chepstow in August; gelded since; up against it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

(1)

2nd May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

13:45 Newmarket

Brian

9st 4lb

J: David Egan

T: J S Moore

Patchy overall record; didn't enjoy the smoothest of passages at Newbury two weeks ago but he was beaten over 5l at the finish; others are stronger.

25/1

8th

3

(7)

17th Apr 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

17:25 Newbury

Brian

9st 7lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: J S Moore

Heavy defeats on his last three starts, including his Kempton reappearance three weeks ago; he's on a fair mark on the pick of his efforts though and this track does seem to suit him well; Tom Marquand is a notable booking for the stable (his nine rides for Stan Moore have yielded two wins, a second, three thirds and two fourths); lively outsider.

25/1

10th

2

(10)

28th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

17:03 Kempton (AW)

Brian

9st 9lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: J S Moore

Useful on his day and he was a good second at Newbury last October (7f, soft) off this mark; effective over C&D but an extra furlong probably wouldn't go amiss.

25/1

Form: 211272 CD

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Not yet truly exposed over 6f since visored, winning on two occasions (on good to firm and soft) and first home on his side for the two defeats, over C&D and in the Ayr Silver Cup; the handicapper may not have weighed him up yet and he can be a big threat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

17th

12

(19)

13th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:55 York

Sondad

9st 2lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Michael & David Easterby

Won two in a row last May/June (6f, soft/good to firm) when this visor first went on and he ran well to be placed on his final two outings last autumn; each-way claims if fully tuned up for this reappearance outing.

11/1

6

(9)

3rd Oct 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

16:40 Ascot

Sondad

9st 6lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

Not yet truly exposed over 6f since visored, winning on two occasions (on good to firm and soft) and first home on his side for the two defeats, over C&D and in the Ayr Silver Cup; the handicapper may not have weighed him up yet and he can be a big threat.

7/1

2nd

6

(14)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:25 Ayr

Sondad

9st 12lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

Has won on good to firm and soft this year; a big improver since visored over 6f, winning in fine style at Ascot in May then followed up at Epsom; he lost nothing in defeat when first home in his group at Ascot in July on his latest 6f start but was said to have never travelled during an abortive 7f attempt at Chepstow since; much respected if recapturing earlier 6f form.

14/1

Form: 678788

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Acts well over C&D and a close third in a Group 3 here (soft) last October was his best effort yet; has laid low for most of 2025, including when down the field behind Brosay here last month, but he did good late work at Doncaster recently and his current mark is begging to be exploited.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

(3)

31st May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

17:45 Thirsk

Russet Gold

8st 13lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Kevin Ryan

Beaten on his last 20 starts going back to June 2023 but he's shown promise in fifth this spring on his first two starts for this yard, most recently behind a couple of these in a big field at York (6f, good); he continues to edge down the weights and might not be far away.

10/1

5th

14

(1)

13th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:55 York

Russet Gold

8st 13lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Kevin Ryan

Beaten on his last 19 starts going back to June 2023 but, following a wind op, he was an encouraging fifth off his reduced mark behind Strike Red on last month's stable and seasonal debut at Leicester (6f, good to firm), where he was short of room late on; could build on that with a big run today.

12/1

5th

9

(1)

25th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:05 Leicester

Russet Gold

8st 12lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Kevin Ryan

Two 5f wins for Roger Varian but latest was in June 2023 and he was quiet last season; returns for new yard after wind surgery but he has a mixed record when fresh and this is highly competitive; down the list.

10/1

Form: 238115 D BF

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Five wins this year, the latest two with authority in Racing League races over 6f at Yarmouth (soft) and on Newcastle AW; travelled strongly but the Red Sea failed to part in a big Curragh handicap (6f, yielding) last month; still improving and one of the more interesting ones.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

(5)

13th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:55 York

Tuco Salamanca

9st 8lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Ollie Sangster

Five wins last year (AW/soft) and he improved again to win in good style on his reappearance at Kempton (6f, AW) in March; he's 5-9 on AW as opposed to 1-7 on turf but there can be optimism that he is just as good on grass (has shown promise on various ground) and he's firmly in calculations.

6/1

1st

5

(6)

28th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

17:03 Kempton (AW)

Tuco Salamanca

9st 6lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Ollie Sangster

Hold-up sprinter who won five times in 2025; fifth in a big-field event at the Curragh last September when he had to wait for an age for a gap to appear; appeals as the type to progress again this year and he's high on the list, for all he will need luck in running.

6/1

Form: -52634

Last run: 55 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Has led; won sole 2yo start (7f, AW); well held when attempting 6f at Leicester in May and he didn't look to be crying out for a return to this trip when plugging on into fourth of eight at Newmarket (7f) in August; could be tough against the specialists; blinkers fitted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

(8)

3rd Oct 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

16:40 Ascot

Sea Baaeed

8st 13lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Richard Hughes

Has led; won sole 2yo start (7f, AW); well held when attempting 6f at Leicester in May and he didn't look to be crying out for a return to this trip when plugging on into fourth of eight at Newmarket (7f) in August; could be tough against the specialists; blinkers fitted.

14/1

4th

6

(6)

9th Aug 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

15:07 Newmarket (July)

Sea Baaeed

8st 10lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Richard Hughes

Showed the immediate benefit of surgery with a career-best third at Haydock (7f, good; same mark), where he was keen under restraint but kept on; enters the reckoning.

4/1

3rd

3

(7)

5th Jul 2025

Good

0m 7f 37y

Class 3

16:55 Haydock

Sea Baaeed

9st 9lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Richard Hughes

Won sole 2yo start (7f, AW); three runs this year, with a fair sixth at Leicester (6f, good to firm) last time on handicap debut; improvement needed but he's been gelded since and his trainer has won the last two runnings; interesting to see how he goes in the betting.

7/1

Form: 240052 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
All three wins on ground slower than good, the latest two on heavy, and he's been taken out of races on good and quicker ground; rarely seen the best of him in 2025 but a latest close second of 15 at Doncaster (6f, good) offered hope; rain welcome; yard runs two.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

(7)

3rd Oct 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

16:40 Ascot

Bob Mali

8st 12lb

J: David Egan

T: Charles Hills

All three wins on ground slower than good, the latest two on heavy, and he's been taken out of races on good and quicker ground; rarely seen the best of him in 2025 but a latest close second of 15 at Doncaster (6f, good) offered hope; rain welcome; yard runs two.

7/1

3

(14)

12th Sep 2025

Good

0m 6f 2y

Class 4

17:20 Doncaster

Bob Mali

9st 13lb

J: Tommie Jakes

T: Charles Hills

Not in top form since reappearance but will be an interesting type when back on slower ground; has a record of 1112 in 6f contests on softer than good; mark is workable.

12/1

Form: 437396 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 8st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Regularly thereabouts in competitive 6f handicaps this year but his mark has hardly varied and a losing run goes back to June 2024; unlikely that he'll find the extra needed to win in this company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

(9)

2nd Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:48 Pontefract

Rock Opera

9st 0lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

In reasonably good form having made the frame in last two starts, rallying both times; on a two-year losing spell but remain 7lb below last winning mark; enters calculations.

6/1

4th

11

(1)

17th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 6y

Class 4

18:15 Hamilton

Rock Opera

8st 13lb

J: Ethan Tindall

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

Winless in two years but has slid to a handy mark and resumed in decent form; holds each-way claims but this is a stronger race than the Thirsk handicap in which he was a bit unlucky not to finish closer last time.

10/1

3rd

7

(4)

2nd May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:55 Thirsk

Rock Opera

8st 13lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

Hold-up sprinter and on a losing run of 21; well handicapped as a consequence and should be sharper for his Ripon reappearance 16 days ago.

5/1

Non-runners

Trefor, Righthere Rightnow, Zoulu Chief

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £68.40
Straight Forecast £68.84
Tricast £257.76
Trifecta £434.90

Selections

THE NORTH:

Sondad

NEWMARKET:

Righthere Rightnow

SPOTLIGHT:

Brosay

RP RATINGS:

Bob Mali

D Express:

Sea Baaeed

Telegraph:

Tuco Salamanca

Daily Mail:

Aramram

POSTDATA:

Russet Gold

The Times:

Righthere Rightnow

The Star:

Righthere Rightnow

TOPSPEED:

Bob Mali

LAMBOURN:

Brosay

The Guardian:

Brosay

Daily Mirror:

Sondad

The Sun:

Sondad

Daily Record:

Sondad