Today / 16.55 Carlisle

16.55

Good To Firm

Armstrong Watson Handicap

  • Prize money: £4187.2
  • 0m 5f 182y
  • Class 6
  • 8 runners
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Armstrong Watson Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

Form: 019325

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
Made the breakthrough when making all in a Redcar handicap (7f, good) in May; mixed form in four subsequent runs, but he went close at Leicester (6f, good to firm; cheekpieces added) last month and had an excuse at Thirsk (stumbled at the start) last time; still unexposed at this trip and he's a big player if he can recapture his penultimate form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(7)

7th Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

16:40 Thirsk

Maximum Velocity

9st 9lb

J: Faye McManoman

T: Nigel Tinkler

Sole win from 11 starts came over 7f at Redcar in May off a mark 10lb lower than today's, but he posted his best effort when going close at Leicester (6f, good to firm; first-time cheekpieces) last time; can go well.

9/2

2nd

5

(3)

22nd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

20:50 Leicester

Maximum Velocity

9st 6lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Nigel Tinkler

Off the mark when making all at Redcar (7f, good) in May and bounced back from a lesser effort when a solid third at Doncaster (6f, good to firm) last month; he isn't the most consistent and cheekpieces now go on.

5/1

Form: 044452

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Sole win was in a small-field novice at Musselburgh (5f, soft) last autumn but she's on a reduced mark and was an eye-catching second at Thirsk (6f, good) 12 days ago; should go well again and it would be a positive if rain arrives.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

(10)

7th Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

16:40 Thirsk

Yellow Diamonds

9st 8lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Julie Camacho

Won a soft-ground 5f novice last October on her final start for Kevin Philippart De Foy; has posted some respectable efforts for this stable but couldn't get involved over 5f here three weeks ago; down 2lb and has each-way claims stepped up to 6f.

7/1

5th

7

(9)

16th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

15:03 Thirsk

Yellow Diamonds

9st 3lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Julie Camacho

Won a fillies' novice at Musselburgh (5f, soft) on her final start for Kevin Philippart de Foy and has posted some respectable efforts for this stable, including when fourth at Newcastle three weeks ago; place claims.

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: 0436

Last run: 77 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 58

Form & Verdict
Showed some promise in four runs for Donnacha O'Brien this season including when fourth of 15 in a Cork maiden (6f, soft) in May; never dangerous in a Curragh handicap in June but it's still early days and she needs watching in market on stable debut (changed hands for 14,000gns).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

12

(18)

3rd Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 63y

16:40 Curragh

Kilmac Air

9st 4lb

J: Paddy Harnett

T: Donnacha Aidan O’Brien

Has made the frame twice at Cork; opening mark seems fair and she may improve on better ground with cheekpieces fitted; 5lb claim will help too.

8/1

3rd

12

(12)

19th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

18:42 Cork

Kilmac Air

9st 3lb

J: Gavin Ryan

T: Donnacha Aidan O’Brien

Recent fourth here (6f) a step in the right direction but a lot more likely required here.

12/1

Form: 302875

Last run: 8 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 58

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 437176 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 56

Form & Verdict
Made the most of a favourable draw, running down the pacesetter at Redcar (6f, good) in June; down the field in both subsequent runs, but he looked stretched over 7f at Doncaster last time and is now only 3lb higher than for his win; could be dangerous back in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

(2)

1st Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 6y

Class 6

16:50 Doncaster

Hares Bredth

9st 3lb

J: Jake Dickson

T: Tim Easterby

Made the most of a favourable draw, running down the pacesetter at Redcar (6f, good; from 4lb lower) in June; below that level at Thirsk, but this is easier, and Jake Dickson's 5lb claim is handy; stamina is untested beyond 6f.

5/1

7th

12

(7)

1st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

15:10 Thirsk

Hares Bredth

8st 11lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Tim Easterby

Off the mark at the eighth attempt with a ready win at Redcar (6f, good) 11 days ago, strong at the finish; up 5lb in a higher grade but he's not fully exposed just yet.

7/1

Form: 6468

Last run: 19 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 083465

Last run: 44 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 54

Form & Verdict
Raced prominently when a creditable third in a Ripon handicap (6f, good) in May but he's been well held in three runs since; record is now 0-9 and he needs to get back on track after wind surgery.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

(2)

6th Jul 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

20:52 Ripon

Northern Tempest

9st 0lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Michael Dods

Lacks consistency but it's best to forgive his latest effort (met major traffic issues); showed best handicap form when third over C&D in May; now 4lb lower and Rhys Elliott takes off a bonus 5lb; interesting back here.

11/2

6th

3

(4)

20th Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 217y

Class 6

16:40 Redcar

Northern Tempest

9st 8lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: Michael Dods

Looks capable of being involved but is proving an inconsistent maiden; modest fourth when favourite at Wetherby most recently, failing to back up his placed effort at Ripon (6f, good).

9/2

Form: -24000

Last run: 90 days

W: 8st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 46

Form & Verdict
Started this year with a second at Newcastle (6f, AW) in February but he's lost his way in last three starts including a heavy defeat here (7f, good) in May; resumes off a reduced mark but he needs a big turnaround with blinkers added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

8

(5)

21st May 2026

Good

0m 7f 6y

Class 6

16:15 Catterick

Dream Forever

9st 2lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

Maiden (0-9); runner-up on AW at Newcastle (6f; 18-1) in February; beaten 29l (13th of 14) and 8l (12th of 14) at Pontefract and Redcar respectively on his last two appearances; easing mark and claimer ridden but difficult to make a case for on recent form.

20/1

12th

9

(8)

7th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 217y

Class 6

20:20 Redcar

Dream Forever

9st 4lb

J: Jack Garritty

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

Reached the frame in 6f/7f handicaps at Newcastle this year; beaten a long way on all three outings on turf, although the outside stall provides an excuse for his heavy defeat in a big-field handicap at Pontefract last month.

14/1

Betting Forcast

3/1 Maximum Velocity, 2/1 Yellow Diamonds, 9/2 Kilmac Air, 16/1 Oasis Cover, 11/2 Hares Bredth, 20/1 Heathers Feather, 13/2 Northern Tempest, 25/1 Dream Forever

Verdict

Preference is for YELLOW DIAMONDS, who didn’t get the best of runs when an eye-catching second behind an improver at Thirsk 12 days ago. She looks interesting off an unchanged mark and it would be a positive if the forecast rain arrives. Maximum Velocity had an excuse behind the selection last time and could pose the main threat if he can recapture the form of his close call at Leicester last month. Hares Bredth is also in the mix on his drop back in trip, while another to keep an eye on is the unexposed Kilmac Air.[David Moon]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Yellow Diamonds

RP RATINGS:

Maximum Velocity

D Express:

Hares Bredth

POSTDATA:

Maximum Velocity

Daily Mirror:

Maximum Velocity

The Times:

Yellow Diamonds

Telegraph:

Yellow Diamonds

The Guardian:

Yellow Diamonds

Daily Mail:

Yellow Diamonds

The Sun:

Yellow Diamonds

The Star:

Yellow Diamonds

Daily Record:

Yellow Diamonds