May 04 / 16.20 Kempton (AW)

16.20

Standard To Slow

Brooke Handicap (London Mile Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £4187.2
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
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Brooke Handicap (London Mile Series Qualifier)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Polytrack

Weather: Mostly cloudy

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 981-03 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 8st 12lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Won over C&D in November and probably put up an even better performance when beaten half a length into third of nine in a 0-80 back here four weeks ago (runner-up has won since); races off the same mark and remains unexposed for a 4yo; high on list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(5)

8th Jul 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 5

17:28 Kempton (AW)

Valentine Boy

9st 13lb

J: Jude Fernandes

T: Luke Dace

Gained a second 1m win here in May but only eighth of 11 in 1m Newmarket handicap 18 days ago; goes well round here but has his stamina to prove on his first try beyond 1m.

9/1

8th

2

(4)

20th Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

13:24 Newmarket (July)

Valentine Boy

9st 10lb

J: Jude Fernandes

T: Luke Dace

Majority of starts on AW and he scored on that surface at Kempton (1m) off 4lb lower in May; things didn't pan out ideally when good fourth of 14 over that C&D three weeks later and he brings some momentum to this switch back to turf.

5/1

4th

6

(11)

27th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:25 Kempton (AW)

Valentine Boy

9st 11lb

J: Jack Dace

T: Luke Dace

Managed third in a C&D 0-80 last month and duly did the business in 0-75 company, also over track and trip, 23 days ago; this is even easier, although he's up 4lb, and Jack Dace can keep the ride in this apprentice contest; headgear (hood) goes on, presumably in attempt to settle him.

4/1

OUR TIP

7/2

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 552-7

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Placed once in four starts and that was when a well-held second of three in a Newcastle novice (1m, Tapeta) in October; surprising if he isn't capable of better, though, given his pedigree and 240,000gns price tag.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

(8)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 3y

Class 4

16:25 Yarmouth

Influential

9st 7lb

J: Robbie Downey

T: Roger Varian

Promise over C&D (good to firm) on debut last May; best efforts since have come on AW, including his breakthrough success at Kempton four weeks ago (1m); up in class and back on turf but he does smack of one with a fair bit more to come.

5/2

1st

2

(9)

20th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Influential

9st 9lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Five-race maiden but he's finished runner-up twice including in a C&D handicap (5-1) two weeks ago; looks interesting off only 1lb higher and he still has potential as a handicapper.

9/2

2nd

3

(5)

4th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:20 Kempton (AW)

Influential

9st 8lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Placed once in four starts and that was when a well-held second of three in a Newcastle novice (1m, Tapeta) in October; surprising if he isn't capable of better, though, given his pedigree and 240,000gns price tag.

7/2

16/1

  • Place: £2.90

Form: 29-794

Last run: 53 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
2-17 on turf for Tim Easterby, but unplaced in three starts on Polytrack (1m/1m2f) since joining this yard; down again in grade, but a longer trip back on grass may be what he needs.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

(2)

29th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 31y

Class 4

19:00 Windsor

Bubbles Wonky

9st 7lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Mark Pattinson

Had dropped to a good mark prior to making all in a lower grade at Sandown (1m, good to firm); solid chance off 3lb lower and goes on all ground.

7/1

1st

2

(2)

6th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

19:58 Sandown

Bubbles Wonky

9st 8lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Mark Pattinson

His losing run is up to 13 and he's not as good as he was, but off a reduced mark he's run well to be third on his last three outings, over C&D (good to firm) last time after a two-month break; could be thereabouts.

9/1

3rd

4

(4)

24th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

19:30 Sandown

Bubbles Wonky

9st 8lb

J: Kieren Fox

T: Mark Pattinson

Dual winner on turf for Tim Easterby; has dropped to a good mark and close up in a couple of Class 5s over 1m at Kempton; likely to need more here.

10/1

Form: 46861- D

Last run: 195 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Ended his time with Roger Varian with success at Newcastle (1m, Tapeta; first-time blinkers, now removed) in October; changed hands for 22,000gns soon afterwards; market useful on stable debut after 195 days off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(2)

12th Aug 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Grey Soul

9st 13lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Dan Horsford

Built on his stable debut when winning in first-time cheekpieces at Ffos Las (1m, good to soft) in June and followed up next time over that same C&D, taking his record in headgear to 3-3 (won in first-time blinkers for Roger Varian); 3lb higher but respected on his return to the AW.

3/1

1st

1

(2)

29th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:22 Ffos Las

Grey Soul

9st 9lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Dan Horsford

Blinkers did the trick when winning a Tapeta handicap for Roger Varian last autumn and he made it 2-2 in headgear off 3lb lower over C&D (good to soft; cheekpieces) early in the month; been taken out on account of good to firm going before; player otherwise.

9/4

1st

4

(5)

4th Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

19:20 Ffos Las

Grey Soul

9st 6lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Dan Horsford

Signed off for Roger Varian with a victory at Newcastle (1m AW) in first-time blinkers; shaped okay on yard debut when in no headgear at Kempton (1m) and could be a factor now tried in cheekpieces.

6/1

Form: 0487-0

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Eight-race maiden who has shown ability on a couple of occasions; his last three efforts leave plenty to be desired though, including on his Yarmouth reappearance (7f, good to firm) 13 days ago; look elsewhere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

(8)

30th Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 23y

Class 5

15:25 Yarmouth

Man Of Desert

9st 0lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Chris Dwyer

Seemingly aided by first-time tongue-tie when keeping-on second of five here (1m good to firm) last month but his subsequent AW run was underwhelming and he's now 0-13; yet to convince stamina-wise over 1m2f; not the percentage call.

12/1

7th

9

(8)

12th Aug 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Man Of Desert

9st 3lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Chris Dwyer

12-race maiden but he ran well with a tongue-tie added when runner-up at Yarmouth (1m, good to firm) three weeks ago; this is a deeper race but he could go well again off the same mark.

10/1

Form: 2-3213

Last run: 29 days

W: 8st 12lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Most consistent since switched to the AW in October (1332321) and ran well back on turf when beaten a length into third of 11 at Bath (1m, good) last month; gets on well with Laura Coughlan; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

(1)

30th Jul 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 6

17:10 Wolverhampton (AW)

The Dark Baron

9st 8lb

J: Laura Coughlan

T: Kathy Turner

Two of his three wins have come here (9.5f/7f), the latest in March; ran with credit when fourth of ten at Lingfield (7f, Polytrack) last time and he makes the shortlist.

10/1

4th

4

(8)

13th Jul 2026

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 6

18:40 Lingfield (AW)

The Dark Baron

9st 7lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Kathy Turner

Turf and dual Tapeta winner who justified favouritism with a narrow success at Wolverhampton (7f, AW) in March; still looks feasibly treated on that form but he flopped at Bath (1m, firm) last time and needs to bounce back after that heavy defeat.

12/1

4th

2

(4)

26th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

14:30 Bath

The Dark Baron

9st 11lb

J: Laura Coughlan

T: Kathy Turner

Course winner (1m2f, good to soft) last September and he has made good progress since, adding two AW successes (9.4f/7f) to his tally; close third over C&D last month (good ground) but not in the same form at Kempton three weeks ago; can't ignore if as effective on today's faster ground.

7/2

10/1

Form: 72260-

Last run: 191 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
In the frame in all four starts on the AW, but yet to win after 12 attempts; returns from 191 days off having undergone wind surgery and he may be best watched despite having run well fresh in the past.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(3)

25th Aug 2026

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 5

14:30 Lingfield (AW)

Dannick

9st 13lb

J: Jude Fernandes

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Course winner over 7f three starts back off 9lb lower; went close at Southwell (7f, AW) when ridden by Jude Fernandes next time but blew his chance by hanging right over this C&D three days ago; visor is removed and he needs to bounce back.

4/1

5th

2

(7)

22nd Aug 2026

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 5

19:15 Lingfield (AW)

Dannick

9st 8lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Took advantage of a career-low mark when scoring here (7f) last month; a shade unlucky when beaten a short head at Southwell (7f, AW) since and should not be far away.

7/4

12/1

Form: 10-690 CD

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
All 11 wins on the AW, including one over C&D, though his latest success for the Moores was in a Newcastle seller (1m, Tapeta) in October; out of the frame in all four starts for this yard since then and may be best watched despite his declining mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

6

(10)

30th Jul 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 6

17:10 Wolverhampton (AW)

Cephalus

9st 8lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Chelsea Banham

11-time AW winner, the latest a Newcastle seller for the Moores (1m, Tapeta) last October; regressive for this yard in the meantime despite plummeting in the weights; best watched unless the market suggests otherwise.

11/1

10th

7

(12)

7th Jul 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 5

18:10 Wolverhampton (AW)

Cephalus

9st 4lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Chelsea Banham

11-time AW winner; quiet for Chelsea Banham this year but dropping down the weights and he is one of four runners on the card for connections that all require close market surveillance.

9/1

9th

13

(1)

20th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Cephalus

9st 2lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Chelsea Banham

11-time AW winner but he's been out of sorts for new yard since December and was last of eight over C&D last time; mark is tumbling but he has lots to prove and needs a major revival.

66/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £18.30
Straight Forecast £17.30
Tricast £119.96
Trifecta £148.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Valentine Boy

The Sun:

The Dark Baron

NEWMARKET:

Influential

D Express:

Dannick

RP RATINGS:

Valentine Boy

POSTDATA:

Valentine Boy

The Times:

Valentine Boy

Telegraph:

Valentine Boy

The Guardian:

Valentine Boy

Daily Mail:

Valentine Boy

Daily Mirror:

Valentine Boy

The Star:

Valentine Boy

Daily Record:

The Dark Baron