April 17 / 16.20 Newbury

16.20

Good

Cityam.com Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

  • Prize money: £12885
  • 2m 0f 110y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
SKY
View Course
Cityam.com Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

33/1 (Won)

  • Win: £45.50
  • Place: £8.50

Form: 3/94-9 D

Last run: 44 days

W: 8st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
5-25; second in this race in 2023 and close third in the Chester Cup (2m2f, again on soft; favourite off 9lb higher than today) that May but absent for 758 days afterwards; while not disgraced on reappearance last October, he then tailed off on AW last month; major questions to answer regarding the ground and what he's currently capable of.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(9)

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:10 Goodwood

Call My Bluff

9st 5lb

J: J F Egan

T: Dominic Ffrench Davis

Won here in 2020 but last in this race last year; back to life at Newbury (2m, good; fine on soft) this April, making all in a six-runner race, but a sluggish start immediately put him on the back foot in the Chester Plate (10-1) one month ago and he ended up last of 17; well treated on old form but perhaps needs things to go his own way these days.

12/1

17th

8

(12)

8th May 2026

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

16:10 Chester

Call My Bluff

9st 6lb

J: J F Egan

T: Dominic Ffrench Davis

Bang there every time in his four races at Chester, including the Cup in 2023 but absent 758 days afterwards; back to life at Newbury (2m, good) three weeks ago, making all in a six-runner race; has a 3lb penalty and drawn higher than ideal but he was another 6lb higher at his peak and has returned to serious calculations.

12/1

1st

7

(2)

17th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

16:20 Newbury

Call My Bluff

8st 7lb

J: J F Egan

T: Dominic Ffrench Davis

5-25; second in this race in 2023 and close third in the Chester Cup (2m2f, again on soft; favourite off 9lb higher than today) that May but absent for 758 days afterwards; while not disgraced on reappearance last October, he then tailed off on AW last month; major questions to answer regarding the ground and what he's currently capable of.

33/1

OUR TIP

7/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 4111-6 D

Last run: 91 days

W: 9st 6lb

8 yo Filly

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Ended last year in storming form for 1m6f/2m hat-trick and not disgraced when never dangerous in January when last seen; peak efforts on softer than good but she's not dismissed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

9

(3)

27th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

15:15 Newcastle (AW)

Blazeon Five

9st 1lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Alan King

Ended last year in storming form with a 1m6f/2m hat-trick, the final leg on Southwell Tapeta; not disgraced when never dangerous here in January and made a satisfactory return to turf (second at Newbury) in April, but this 8yo needs to hit another new high.

20/1

2nd

2

(4)

17th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

16:20 Newbury

Blazeon Five

9st 6lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Alan King

Ended last year in storming form for 1m6f/2m hat-trick and not disgraced when never dangerous in January when last seen; peak efforts on softer than good but she's not dismissed.

7/1

Form: 91-148 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 8st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Has done best on AW, including three wins at Wolverhampton (1m6f/2m) in the last six months; well held at Lingfield two weeks ago but has a modest record there; has won twice on turf, latterly on good ground at Bath (1m6f) last June but none of his turf form matches today's mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

3

(12)

8th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 209y

Class 4

17:10 Ascot

Francesco Baracca

9st 10lb

J: Oliver Carmichael

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Best form on AW but has won on turf and it was his best effort on grass when third of six at Newbury (2m, good; plugged on) three weeks ago; each-way shout.

10/1

3rd

8

(8)

17th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

16:20 Newbury

Francesco Baracca

8st 5lb

J: Tyler Heard

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Has done best on AW, including three wins at Wolverhampton (1m6f/2m) in the last six months; well held at Lingfield two weeks ago but has a modest record there; has won twice on turf, latterly on good ground at Bath (1m6f) last June but none of his turf form matches today's mark.

25/1

8th

4

(12)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

14:05 Lingfield (AW)

Francesco Baracca

9st 8lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Something of a Wolverhampton specialist (3-5) though he has won on Polytrack at Kempton; the drop to 1m4f didn't help last time so the return to a longer distance should help, but his high draw may not be ideal even over this trip.

18/1

Form: 11650-

Last run: 188 days

W: 9st 1lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
First five handicaps were all over about 1m6f, with two wins (good/soft) and two respectable efforts in valuable races in late summer; just 10-1 for 2m2f Cesarewitch at Newmarket on final outing, which did not work out but he has been gelded and could still have more to offer in this second season.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

(4)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Newmarket (July)

Pole Star

8st 9lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Charlie Johnston

Respectable third to Goblet Of Fire on the other Newmarket track (1m6f, good to firm) in May in a first-time visor; perhaps any beneficial effect from the headgear has worn off, as he ran poorly on latest start, but he is now 1lb below his last winning mark (from last July) and the visor is removed.

14/1

11th

8

(8)

20th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 26y

Class 2

14:53 Ayr

Pole Star

9st 4lb

J: Mikey Sheehy

T: Charlie Johnston

Good third in first-time visor (retained since) at Newmarket (1m6f, good to firm) last month and again ran well at Thirsk (2m, good) last time, when outstayed; last win came on soft ground last July; he's one to consider.

9/1

5th

3

(11)

31st May 2026

Good

2m 0f 13y

Class 3

18:15 Thirsk

Pole Star

9st 10lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Charlie Johnston

Won two 1m6f handicaps last term; back-to-form third with a first-time visor at Newmarket (1m6f) four weeks ago, so he re-enters calculations despite earlier lesser efforts over 2m2f and 2m.

9/2

Form: 1-2

Last run: 23 days

W: 8st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Won Southwell maiden (1m4f, AW) in September on debut; second favourite to superstar hurdler Constitution Hill in Kempton novice (1m4f, AW) last month and chased him home 2l adrift, perhaps giving him more to think about than had widely been expected; not easy to pin down but 2m is plausible and his connections presumably like the look of his opening handicap mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

13

(15)

9th May 2026

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 3

14:55 Ascot

Classical Allusion

9st 0lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Won Southwell maiden (1m4f, AW) on debut last autumn and best of the rest behind superstar hurdler Constitution Hill in Kempton novice (1m4f again) on his return in March; on the back of that he was sent off 11-10 favourite for his 2m Newbury handicap and turf debut three weeks ago but pulled too hard; retains potential back down in trip, but the outside stall has the potential to make life awkward.

10/1

5th

4

(6)

17th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

16:20 Newbury

Classical Allusion

8st 11lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Won Southwell maiden (1m4f, AW) in September on debut; second favourite to superstar hurdler Constitution Hill in Kempton novice (1m4f, AW) last month and chased him home 2l adrift, perhaps giving him more to think about than had widely been expected; not easy to pin down but 2m is plausible and his connections presumably like the look of his opening handicap mark.

2/1

2nd

2

(1)

25th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 3

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Classical Allusion

9st 11lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Andrew Balding

Gained his Southwell 1m4f success six months ago in a time over three seconds slower than Constitution Hill recorded over the same C&D last month; however, this once-raced gelding is open to progress and, being so unexposed, looks one of the brighter opponents to the Henderson star.

9/2

Form: 1003-8

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
1m4f winner from the front (under Mason Paetel) at Newmarket last May who also scored with a prominent ride over hurdles at Cheltenham (2m5f) in November; had a bit to prove on AW (and over 2m on Flat) when always behind at Kempton three weeks ago but should be benefited from that run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

5

(2)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 210y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

Lavender Hill Mob

9st 6lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: James Owen

1m4f winner from the front off this mark at Newmarket last May who also scored with a prominent ride over hurdles at Cheltenham (2m5f) in November; has a bit to prove over 2m on Flat, including having been always behind on both starts this year; now tries a visor (often wears cheekpieces) and maybe there will be a change of tactics.

40/1

6th

1

(7)

17th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

16:20 Newbury

Lavender Hill Mob

9st 10lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: James Owen

1m4f winner from the front (under Mason Paetel) at Newmarket last May who also scored with a prominent ride over hurdles at Cheltenham (2m5f) in November; had a bit to prove on AW (and over 2m on Flat) when always behind at Kempton three weeks ago but should be benefited from that run.

14/1

8th

1

(5)

28th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 2

14:08 Kempton (AW)

Lavender Hill Mob

10st 0lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: James Owen

1m4f winner from the front (under Mason Paetel) at Newmarket last May who also scored with a prominent ride over hurdles at Cheltenham (2m5f, soft) in November; not seen since tailed off trying nearly 3m in December; returns to Flat with a bit to prove on AW and over 2m on Flat.

10/1

Non-runners

Maxident, Caprelo

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £256.40
Straight Forecast £238.10
Tricast £7220.21
Trifecta £1594.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Classical Allusion

RP RATINGS:

Pole Star

TOPSPEED:

Maxident

POSTDATA:

Classical Allusion

LAMBOURN:

Classical Allusion

Telegraph:

Classical Allusion

Daily Mail:

Classical Allusion

The Star:

Classical Allusion

Daily Record:

Classical Allusion

The Times:

Pole Star

D Express:

Pole Star

Daily Mirror:

Pole Star

NEWMARKET:

Maxident

The Guardian:

Maxident

The Sun:

Maxident