June 20 / 15.11 Newmarket (July)

15.11

Good

JCB Hydrogen Handicap

  • Prize money: £7731
  • 0m 6f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
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JCB Hydrogen Handicap

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 22-1 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Improved a touch on last summer's runner-up efforts, back from gelding and wind operations, when winning an ordinary-looking Newbury maiden early in the month; lightly raced still but will find this tougher now handicapping.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(2)

15th Sep 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 42y

Class 4

17:18 Yarmouth

Sea Cookie

9st 12lb

J: David Egan

T: Tom Clover

Both wins came over 6f on good to firm in June but he's been below his best in three starts since the most recent success; the tongue-tie, worn last time, is now removed and drops to 5f with a visor added.

10/1

11th

8

(8)

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

14:09 Newmarket (July)

Sea Cookie

9st 9lb

J: Neil Callan

T: Tom Clover

Won a Newbury maiden and followed up in a C&D handicap in June off 4lb lower; down the field at the July meeting and raced freely when no match for the winner in a small field at Leicester; remains open to improvement and a tongue-tie is added.

9/1

2nd

4

(5)

9th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:44 Leicester

Sea Cookie

9st 8lb

J: Neil Callan

T: Tom Clover

Won Newbury maiden (6f, good to firm) in June on third start and made it 2-2 for the year in handicap at Newmarket (6f, good to firm) later that month; down the field at Newmarket (6f, good to firm) since but it was a difficult race in which to make inroads from the rear; retains potential.

7/2

OUR TIP

16/1

  • Place: £4.30

Form: 9-2879 D

Last run: 73 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Drawn away from the action on his return to turf but was then said to have been unsuited by the undulations of Catterick last time, which would be a concern round here; 2lb above his last winning mark and has a bit to prove back from a short break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(3)

20th Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:11 Newmarket (July)

Valley Ofthe Kings

10st 2lb

J: Stevie Donohoe

T: Dylan Cunha

Drawn away from the action on his return to turf but was then said to have been unsuited by the undulations of Catterick last time, which would be a concern round here; 2lb above his last winning mark and has a bit to prove back from a short break.

16/1

12/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 00-350 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Didn't look to see it out on his final two runs last year and 7f has again looked beyond him the past twice, off the back of a solid AW comeback off 2lb higher; today's stiff 6f should be more up his street and he's worth a second look.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

(5)

9th Sep 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

20:30 Kempton (AW)

Goldwork

8st 13lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Can lead; sole win in 6f novice at Goodwood in May 2025; made a promising reappearance over this C&D in May but there's little since to suggest he's well treated, albeit with return to 6f on Polytrack offering some hope.

12/1

6th

5

(5)

1st Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 6y

Class 4

16:15 Doncaster

Goldwork

9st 0lb

J: Oliver Carmichael

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Goodwood novice winner in May of last year; 0-9 in the meantime and progress has levelled out; ran no more than okay when third of five in a new tongue-tie last week at Lingfield (6f, good to firm); swaps cheekpieces for first-time blinkers here.

6/1

3rd

2

(2)

25th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

20:00 Lingfield

Goldwork

9st 7lb

J: Oliver Carmichael

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Justified favouritism in a Goodwood novice (6f, good) last May but he's 0-8 since and has been inconsistent; now 7lb lower than for his opening mark but he struggled at Epsom last time and others are more convincing; tongue-tie added.

6/1

Form: 577-58 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Highly tried after a successful debut last year; never involved upped to 1m last time, having made a solid comeback over 7f, and the drop to sprinting would suggest stamina may have been the issue; one to consider down another 2lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

(9)

4th Sep 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:25 Ascot

Sapphire Steps

9st 2lb

J: Pat Dobbs

T: Richard Hannon

Seven defeats since winning debut at two and she trailed in last over C&D two months ago; her previous fourth at Newmarket was respectable off 3lb higher; that was over 6f, as was her win, but she should be fine at 7f.

14/1

11th

13

(12)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

16:55 Ascot

Sapphire Steps

8st 9lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Richard Hannon

Yet to add to her debut success at Newbury around this time last year and her fourth of nine at Newmarket (also 6f, good to firm), while respectable, will need building on.

20/1

4th

4

(1)

20th Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:11 Newmarket (July)

Sapphire Steps

9st 8lb

J: Sam Hitchcott

T: Richard Hannon

Highly tried after a successful debut last year; never involved upped to 1m last time, having made a solid comeback over 7f, and the drop to sprinting would suggest stamina may have been the issue; one to consider down another 2lb.

8/1

5/2

Form: 626-1 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
625,000gns yearling who offered bits of promise in three runs in a hood last autumn; very easy to back ahead of her handicap debut four weeks ago but won well and remains open to improvement upped 7lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

9

(4)

19th Sep 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:25 Newmarket

Bintola

9st 10lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Harry Charlton

20-1 winner on her seasonal debut at Windsor (6f, good to firm) in May; beaten 10l by a rapid improver at Salisbury one month ago but her pedigree strongly points to this extra furlong unlocking a better effort.

10/1

2nd

3

(7)

21st Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

18:27 Salisbury

Bintola

9st 9lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Harry Charlton

Improved for the switch to handicaps when winning at Windsor (6f, good to firm) in May; not quite so good twice since and needs to produce a career best.

6/1

6th

5

(5)

13th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 12y

Class 4

19:20 Windsor

Bintola

9st 9lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Harry Charlton

Hooded in three juvenile starts but not as 3yo, returning with a quite convincing win on handicap debut over C&D (good to firm) from one who won either side of that race; unable to improve on that at Newmarket next time when 7lb higher but she was tight for room at one stage and still has potential.

7/2

Form: 444121 CD

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 1lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
C&D winner this time last year who bounced back to form off 6lb lower on the Rowley Mile five weeks ago; not been this high in the weights for a good while but having Jack Callan (second ride for the yard) take off 3lb will help and he's high on the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

(5)

19th Sep 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:00 Newmarket

Expert Agent

9st 4lb

J: Jack Dace

T: Stuart Williams

Secured the latest of his eight wins when scoring over C&D (good) in May; last four form figures don't really do him justice, including his sixth of 26 at Glorious Goodwood in July, and when beaten less than 3l on the July course four weeks ago; down 2lb and a good show would come as no surprise.

16/1

8th

9

(4)

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

14:09 Newmarket (July)

Expert Agent

9st 8lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: Stuart Williams

Won on the Rowley Mile in May (6f, good; 4lb lower) and last time finished sixth of 26 at Glorious Goodwood, which wasn't a bad run; usually ridden from behind so needs a strong pace which he might get.

10/1

6th

1

(13)

29th Jul 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Goodwood

Expert Agent

9st 12lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Stuart Williams

Bounced back to form to win at Newmarket (6f, good) in May but two lesser runs have followed on the July Course there since.

20/1

Form: 13380- D

Last run: 282 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Had a couple of wide stalls to deal with over 7f on the AW lately and may yet have more to offer as a sprinter; interesting to see how he goes in the market, back from nine months off, for a yard also responsible for Expert Agent.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

2

(13)

6th Jul 2026

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 5

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Dutch Finale

9st 9lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Stuart Williams

Sole success came in June last year for George Boughey when 3lb lower; should be better for first run in nine months when seventh of nine at Newmarket (6f, good to firm) last month but may need to come down the weights.

12/1

7th

6

(6)

20th Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:11 Newmarket (July)

Dutch Finale

9st 7lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Stuart Williams

Had a couple of wide stalls to deal with over 7f on the AW lately and may yet have more to offer as a sprinter; interesting to see how he goes in the market, back from nine months off, for a yard also responsible for Expert Agent.

16/1

7

(9)

11th Sep 2025

Standard

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

16:20 Chelmsford (AW)

Dutch Finale

9st 8lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: Stuart Williams

Looked one to follow when producing a dominant display at Lingfield in June (6f, AW; second handicap run); only third behind H Key Lails over C&D next time but ran well for third at Windsor (6f, good to firm) in June; not seen to best effect on his stable debut last month but he's not fully exposed and could have a bigger run in him; stable form is hard to fault.

6/1

Form: 213064 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Only turf win came off a much lower mark more than two years ago and he remains weighted to his AW best after a couple of no-shows at Yarmouth last month; some way down the pecking order.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(3)

15th Sep 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 42y

Class 4

17:18 Yarmouth

Twilight Fun

9st 6lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Chelsea Banham

Front-runner whose sole success on turf came here over 6f in April 2024 (good to firm); his five other wins have been on the AW and he went close over 6f at Wolverhampton two months ago; likely to face competition for the lead from Diomed Duke.

9/2

2nd

7

(7)

14th Jul 2026

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 4

17:55 Wolverhampton (AW)

Twilight Fun

9st 9lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Chelsea Banham

Five AW wins, the latest from the front off 2lb lower at Newcastle (6f) in February; well below that form on turf lately but still worth keeping an eye on in the betting.

14/1

8th

3

(8)

20th Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:11 Newmarket (July)

Twilight Fun

9st 13lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Chelsea Banham

Only turf win came off a much lower mark more than two years ago and he remains weighted to his AW best after a couple of no-shows at Yarmouth last month; some way down the pecking order.

16/1

Form: 5016-0 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Best efforts last year came from the front but she had no chance of leading on her comeback behind Bintola four weeks ago thanks to a slow start; should do better then, but she was a big price at Windsor and is fully exposed now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

9

(12)

16th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 6f 3y

Class 5

17:15 Yarmouth

Romantic Twilight

9st 6lb

J: Laura Coughlan

T: William Stone

Made all in a C&D handicap last October off a 7lb higher mark than today's but she's been out of form since, and has failed to beat a rival home in each of her last four starts.

25/1

12th

8

(7)

14th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

19:02 Newmarket (July)

Romantic Twilight

9st 8lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: William Stone

Made all for a 14-1 win in a Yarmouth nursery (6f, good) last October; that was off 5lb higher but she's struggled since that success including in three runs this season; needs a major revival.

25/1

5th

5

(5)

22nd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

20:20 Leicester

Romantic Twilight

9st 4lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: William Stone

Made all at Yarmouth (6f, good) in October off today's mark but she's been well held in three starts since, most recently at Newmarket last month; others have stronger claims.

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £98.80
Straight Forecast £88.29
Tricast £445.03
Trifecta £701.70

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Expert Agent

The Times:

Bintola

RP RATINGS:

Sea Cookie

SPOTLIGHT:

Goldwork

POSTDATA:

Sapphire Steps

D Express:

Dutch Finale

The Guardian:

Bintola

Daily Mail:

Bintola

NEWMARKET:

Sea Cookie

Daily Record:

Sea Cookie

Telegraph:

Goldwork

Daily Mirror:

Expert Agent

The Sun:

Expert Agent

The Star:

Expert Agent