19.30
Good To FirmApus Life Sciences Handicap
- Prize money: £5652.72
- 0m 7f 213y
- Class 4
- 13 runners
Runners: 13 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Light rain
Form: 028-17 D
Last run: 35 days
W: 9st 11lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 87
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 6 (5) |
1st May 2026 Good To Firm 1m 0f 0y Class 3 |
9st 6lb |
Went 0-14 after his winning debut at two but belatedly doubled his tally when comfortably accounting for his five rivals after a break at Southwell (1m); this is tougher, but he was runner-up in last year's Silver Bowl at Haydock which was a Class 2 handicap on turf; only 3lb higher than that day. |
7/1 |
Form: 252808 D
Last run: 11 days
W: 9st 11lb
6 yo Colt
OR: 87
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 6 (7) |
25th May 2026 Good To Firm 1m 0f 31y Class 3 |
9st 6lb |
Five-time AW scorer who is only 1-19 on turf; admittedly faced a stiffer task in Class 2 event returned to grass last time and this looks more suitable; mark is workable. |
14/1 |
|
11th 14 (12) |
16th May 2026 Good 1m 0f 0y Class 2 |
8st 10lb |
1-18 on turf but his only two appearances at this track saw him take third in the Spring Cup and this race in 2024; operating a bit below that level since last August, which, despite some AW success, has to put him down the pecking order in such a hot race. |
33/1 |
Form: 43-234 D
Last run: 41 days
W: 9st 9lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 85
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 1 (8) |
25th Apr 2026 Good 1m 2f 100y Class 4 |
9st 10lb |
Two wins over shorter as a 3yo; improved when second at Kempton on his seasonal return last month (1m) and when third at Nottingham 17 days ago he found himself poorly positioned; well worth another crack at this trip and he should make a bold bid. |
5/2 |
|
3rd 1 (5) |
8th Apr 2026 Good 1m 2f 50y Class 4 |
9st 10lb |
Turf (1m, good) and AW winner (7f) in 2025; ended last season with a placed effort at Lingfield and he reappeared with a good second at Kempton (1m, Polytrack) last month; looks interesting off unchanged mark and he has shaped as though this new trip should be within range. |
7/2 |
Form: 6124-
Last run: 311 days
W: 9st 8lb
4 yo Filly
OR: 84
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 (7) |
29th Jul 2025 Good 1m 0f 0y Class 3 |
8st 13lb |
Left May's debut at Yarmouth (7f, good to firm) miles behind for 33-1 win at Wolverhampton (8.6f, AW) and 2l second in Southwell novice (1m, AW); begins handicap life on a competitive mark and her pedigree provides hope she'll be capable of better still; one of two 3yos for her leading trainer. |
12/1 |
Form: 04-050 D
Last run: 21 days
W: 9st 6lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 82
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
14th 13 (2) |
15th May 2026 Good 1m 2f 56y Class 2 |
8st 11lb |
Won two in a row at Redcar (1m, good to firm) last spring for George Boughey and he's just 1lb higher than when last successful; effective at 1m2f earlier in career; however, he hasn't been at his best on his last four starts, for this yard on the last two occasions, and he has to raise his game. |
33/1 |
|
5th 4 (2) |
20th Apr 2026 Good To Firm 0m 7f 219y Class 3 |
9st 6lb |
Soundly beaten in mid-division on last month's stable/seasonal debut in the Spring Mile at Doncaster but that was his first encounter with slow ground and he may have needed the run; won twice over this C&D (good to firm) last spring, including this race, and could play a leading role back here. |
11/1 |
Form: 0-2526 D BF
Last run: 45 days
W: 9st 5lb
5 yo Colt
OR: 81
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 1 (5) |
21st Apr 2026 Good To Firm 0m 7f 3y Class 4 |
9st 11lb |
Sole win from 13 starts came in a 1m novice at Windsor on soft ground in May 2024 when trained by Charlie Hills; runner-up at Lingfield (1m, AW) on stable debut in February and again at Doncaster latest (7f, good to soft; first-time tongue-tie); hood is now added; quicker ground would be a concern. |
5/1 |
|
2nd 2 (15) |
29th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 0m 7f 6y Class 4 |
9st 10lb |
Novice winner who is 0-9 in handicaps but has started favourite in both runs (1m, AW) for new yard and the way he shaped last time suggests this return to 7f is worth exploring; tongue-tie fitted; possibilities. |
5/1 |
Form: 7170-4 CD
Last run: 20 days
W: 9st 4lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 80
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 7 (7) |
16th May 2026 Good 1m 0f 0y Class 4 |
9st 5lb |
Front-runner who won three handicaps last year, including in a big field at York (1m, good) in September; campaign ended with two lesser runs and off since, but he's just 1lb higher than at York and is not written off. |
40/1 |
|
10th 12 (11) |
25th Oct 2025 Heavy 1m 0f 0y Class 3 |
8st 12lb |
Front-runner; two C&D wins this summer and went in again in a big field at York (1m, good) under Sam Feilden last month; faded over 1m2f there a fortnight ago but can bounce back returned to shorter; acts on heavy. |
18/1 |
Form: 085-44
Last run: 48 days
W: 9st 4lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 80
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 5 (3) |
18th Apr 2026 Good 0m 7f 0y Class 4 |
9st 5lb |
Back-to-back wins at Ffos Las and Galway in June/July proved the highlight of his 2025 campaign; promising seasonal return when fourth of 16 at Doncaster three weeks ago; needs to take a step forward. |
5/1 |
Form: 51/6/
Last run: 1144 days
W: 9st 4lb
6 yo Colt
OR: 80
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 3 (4) |
18th Apr 2023 Soft 0m 7f 0y Class 2 |
9st 8lb |
One of two runners for Charlie Appleby; Kingman colt who cost 350,000gns as yearling; did well to get so close having blown the start on debut, then broke better and made all at Ascot (7f, good) in September; should progress further, provided he's as effective with the hood (worn both starts) discarded. |
7/2 |
|
1st 2 (9) |
2nd Sep 2022 Good 0m 7f 0y Class 3 |
9st 7lb |
raced freely, made all, shaken up 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on |
11/8 |
Form: 94-094
Last run: 27 days
W: 9st 3lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 79
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 5 (5) |
9th May 2026 Good 1m 0f 75y Class 4 |
9st 4lb |
Third in 2yo Group 2 in 2024; ran respectably off a falling mark on a few occasions last season but he's struggled in two 1m handicaps (good to soft/good to firm) this spring; has plenty to prove and overall record is now 1-14. |
20/1 |
|
9th 6 (5) |
20th Apr 2026 Good To Firm 0m 7f 219y Class 3 |
9st 2lb |
Third in 2yo Group 2 in 2024; unable to reproduce that promise last season and well beaten in last month's Spring Mile on stable/seasonal debut; however, he has a reduced mark to work with and his new trainer may well find the key to him sooner rather than later; the returning visor may be a plus. |
11/1 |
Form: 717-14 D
Last run: 37 days
W: 9st 2lb
5 yo Colt
OR: 78
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 6 (1) |
29th Apr 2026 Good 1m 0f 6y Class 4 |
9st 2lb |
Soft-ground win for Richard Fahey last November (1m); tongue tied for the first time when making a winning stable debut over C&D three weeks ago (good to soft); 3lb higher in a better race and going without cheekpieces today; handles good ground but perhaps wouldn't want it any faster. |
7/2 |
|
1st 1 (8) |
7th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 1m 0f 6y Class 5 |
9st 9lb |
Record of 2-21 for Richard Fahey; successful in most recent turf attempt but the market may prove best guide on stable debut; tongue-tie added; still in same ownership. |
12/1 |
Form: 117-56 CD
Last run: 119 days
W: 9st 1lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 77
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 8 (9) |
6th Feb 2026 Standard 1m 0f 5y Class 4 |
9st 2lb |
Scored comfortably twice over C&D in the autumn and ran creditably, amid traffic issues, returned to this scenario last time (effort can be marked up); may yet show that he can defy this sort of mark. |
14/1 |
|
1st 2 (5) |
27th Oct 2025 Standard To Slow 1m 0f 5y Class 6 |
9st 8lb |
Has run well to make the frame over 1m at Southwell (Tapeta) and Kempton (Polytrack) the last twice, but a record of 0-16 on the AW and a losing run of 17 suggests others are more likely. |
100/30 |
Form: 26-875 D
Last run: 16 days
W: 8st 12lb
6 yo Colt
OR: 74
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 7 (2) |
20th May 2026 Good To Firm 1m 0f 0y Class 4 |
9st 5lb |
Often ran well last year, including on turf, and won at Newcastle (1m, AW) in October; however, he's finished down the field on both outings this season; he may be of greater interest when the blinkers return. |
25/1 |
|
7th 9 (8) |
7th May 2026 Good 0m 7f 219y Class 3 |
8st 11lb |
In good form in blinkers towards the end of last year, winning at Newcastle (1m, AW) in October; however, he has a poor strike-rate and wasn't at his best in cheekpieces at Newcastle (1m, AW) six weeks ago following a break; cheekpieces remain on today. |
14/1 |
Betting Forcast
8/1 Tilted Kilt, 25/1 Talis Evolvere, 8/1 Cavolo Nero, 3/1 Rumba Numba, 25/1 Cadarn, 8/1 Miletus, 7/1 Canvas, 8/1 Itsneverjustone, 20/1 City Of Kings, 6/1 Intrusively, 13/2 Sailthisshipalone, 20/1 Bowood, 25/1 Mr Mistoffelees
Verdict
Preference is for the very lightly raced 4yo RUMBA NUMBA, who ended last season with an eye-catching fourth in a handicap at Glorious Goodwood. She returns after a lengthy absence but she still has potential and is an interesting contender off the same mark as last time. Dual C&D winner Canvas could make a bold bid back at this track and he’s feared most, ahead of Intrusively and Miletus. Others to consider are It’sneverjustone and Sailthisshipalone. [David Moon]
Selections
The Star:
CanvasDaily Record:
Sailthisshipalone