Today / 15.00 Epsom

15.00

Good To Soft

Betfred “The Classic Bookmaker” Handicap

  • Prize money: £10308
  • 0m 7f 3y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
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Betfred “The Classic Bookmaker” Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather:

Form: 091600 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Had a wind op in June and he was back to winning ways at Chepstow (7f, good to firm; blinkered first time) in July; ran well in a hot race at York one week later but his form since has been less convincing; back down in the weights; handles good to soft, untried on slower.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

4

(9)

8th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

15:40 Newmarket (July)

Morte Point

9st 6lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: William Muir & Chris Grassick

Record since wearing blinkers comprises a win at Chepstow, creditable sixth in competitive field at York and excusable effort (race didn't go smoothly) at Glorious Goodwood; could go well in the retained headgear.

16/1

14th

7

(15)

29th Jul 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

17:40 Goodwood

Morte Point

9st 8lb

J: Jason Hart

T: William Muir & Chris Grassick

He progressed well over this trip last term and, following a slow start to this season, he was back in the groove in first-time blinkers when scoring at Chester (7f, good to firm) earlier in the month; finished close sixth at York (Pellitory second) under a penalty one week later and he's not readily dismissed.

22/1

Form: 20-073 CD

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
His two C&D runs last season yielded a win and a close second (in this race off a 1lb higher mark); best effort this year when third of 13 at Southwell two weeks ago; handles good to soft but untried on slower.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

9

(12)

16th Aug 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 3

15:40 Southwell (AW)

Aurora Majesty

9st 5lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: Archie Watson

2-3 on AW surfaces; he's on a handy mark on last season's best efforts and the signs were more encouraging at Thirsk 15 days ago (7f), as although only midfield he wasn't beaten all that far; others are still preferred.

20/1

7th

4

(1)

1st Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

15:47 Thirsk

Aurora Majesty

9st 8lb

J: William Cox

T: Archie Watson

Well beaten on final outing last season and same story on reappearance at Epsom on Oaks day (pulled hard); he has something to prove but that latest outing may have got the freshness out of him and he's on a handy mark on last season's best efforts; not written off.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 5-3518 CD

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Better than ever when winning at Chepstow (7f, soft) in June; he was returning from a ten-week break when finishing behind Aurora Majesty at Southwell 15 days ago; 2-3 at the track and won't mind how slow the ground gets; no surprise to see him go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

14

(13)

16th Aug 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 3

15:40 Southwell (AW)

Kisskodi

9st 4lb

J: George Wood

T: Harry Eustace

Took strike-rate to 5-16 when winning comfortably at Chepstow (7f, good to soft) ten weeks ago, looking better than ever; 7lb higher in this classier contest but has run well here before and he's not easily knocked.

14/1

Form: 214-5 D

Last run: 44 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Promise in her three 2yo runs, including on soft; may have needed her reappearance at Newbury (7f, good to firm) six weeks ago but this mark doesn't look an obvious gift.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(4)

18th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

17:20 Newbury

New Vega

9st 12lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Absent since running creditably in valuable race at Deauville (6.5f) last August; won easily at Doncaster (7f) the time before; still unexposed and looks interesting on reappearance, especially if the market speaks positively.

7/2

2

(3)

2nd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 6y

Class 5

13:45 Doncaster

New Vega

9st 2lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Price shot up from £50,000 as yearling to 450,000euros at a breeze-up sale in May; attracted some support into 9-1 at Newmarket (7f, good to firm) last month and she kept on under a prominent ride to finish a clear second behind an emphatic winner; that was a promising start and this looks a golden opportunity.

1/4

Form: 005008 CD

Last run: 2 days

W: 9st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
On a reduced mark and this two-time C&D scorer can't have the ground soft enough; not at his best at Goodwood on Saturday.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

12

(9)

29th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

14:00 Goodwood

Rhoscolyn

8st 6lb

J: Shay Farmer

T: David O’Meara

Well suited by ground softer than good; six-time winner at Goodwood and had an excuse (unsuitable conditions) in most recent course start; doesn't have the prettiest form figures this term but he has slipped to a very attractive mark; record in this race reads 3100.

11/2

Form: -38117 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Could only manage a midfield finish at Goodwood (7f, good to firm) when bidding for a hat-trick; still has relatively low mileage but this is deeper than the Catterick event he won on his penultimate start.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(8)

1st Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

16:10 Goodwood

Naval Light

8st 6lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: K R Burke

Took a while to hit the target but he had some notable maiden form, including at this meeting last year, and now bids for a hat-trick after wins under Jack Nicholls at Pontefract (6f maiden, good to soft) and Catterick (7f handicap; good to firm); further improvement is possible; respected.

13/2

1st

3

(4)

15th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 6y

Class 4

16:10 Catterick

Naval Light

9st 5lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: K R Burke

Wore down a next-time-out winner (pair clear) late on when making it seventh time lucky in 6f Pontefract maiden (good to soft) under Jack Nicholls eight weeks ago; will be equally as effective back at 7f and can be made to look well treated on a few of his runs.

5/2

Form: 572582

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Still to add to his debut win but twice a runner-up in handicaps this summer, more recently at Lingfield (7f, AW) three weeks ago; handles good to soft but untried on slower; dangerous if left alone up front.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

(3)

11th Aug 2026

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 4

16:30 Lingfield (AW)

Do Bronxs

9st 9lb

J: David Egan

T: David Loughnane

Highly tried following his successful debut at Ayr (6f, good) in June last year and wasn't up to it; second of nine in a handicap at Chester (7.7f, good to soft) in June, but has enough to prove after a modest AW debut at Wolverhampton (7f, Tapeta) last month.

7/2

8th

1

(9)

17th Jul 2026

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 4

17:35 Wolverhampton (AW)

Do Bronxs

9st 11lb

J: Laura Pearson

T: David Loughnane

Highly tried last year; has shown this mark is within range since handicapping this season, including from wide stalls at Chester; again might have been better drawn on this AW debut (dam did her winning for the yard on turf) in first-time headgear.

7/1

Form: 811303 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 8st 10lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
The winner of four 7f handicaps this year, three of them at Catterick; better than ever when third at Musselburgh last week; untried on slower than good.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

(10)

24th Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 15y

Class 4

15:45 Musselburgh

Velvet Rhythm

9st 6lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Charlie Johnston

Down the field in a 6f Goodwood handicap last time; in good form earlier in the season with two wins in 7f fillies' handicaps at Catterick; a possible.

10/1

24th

18

(8)

29th Jul 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Goodwood

Velvet Rhythm

9st 4lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Charlie Johnston

Four 7f handicap wins on good/good to firm since May; travelled well in lead for long way when third of six off this mark at Newbury (7f, good to firm) 11 days ago; three of her wins were gained at sharp Cattrerick and she could be speedy enough to cope with a drop back to 6f.

8/1

Betting Forcast

10/1 Morte Point, 5/1 Aurora Majesty, 6/1 Kisskodi, 10/1 New Vega, 6/1 Rhoscolyn, 7/2 Naval Light, 5/1 Do Bronxs, 5/1 Velvet Rhythm

Verdict

Naval Light and Do Bronxs may prove the pick of the 3yos but this can go the way of the older horses. Last year’s runner-up Aurora Majesty ran his best race of the year at Southwell 15 days ago and is feared but KISSKODI, who finished behind him on that occasion, should be sharper for that first start in ten weeks and should face ideal conditions.[Paul Smith]

Selections

The Times:

Naval Light

RP RATINGS:

Aurora Majesty

SPOTLIGHT:

Kisskodi

NEWMARKET:

New Vega

TOPSPEED:

Do Bronxs

POSTDATA:

Rhoscolyn

Daily Mail:

New Vega

Telegraph:

Naval Light

Daily Mirror:

Naval Light

The Guardian:

Do Bronxs

D Express:

Aurora Majesty

Daily Record:

Aurora Majesty

The Sun:

Kisskodi

The Star:

Kisskodi