October 12 / 16.25 Wolverhampton (AW)

16.25

Standard

Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 535 Handicap

  • Prize money: £5508
  • 1m 5f 219y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
SKY
View Course
Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 535 Handicap

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Showers

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £6.50
  • Place: £2.30

Form: 120024 C

Last run: 68 days

W: 9st 11lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
1m4f winner here (made all) and at Beverley (good to firm) earlier in the year; two near misses at Doncaster since, of which one came at around 1m6f and the other off 1lb higher; chance on a going day.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

25th May 2026

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 5

14:13 Cartmel

Achnamara

11st 8lb

J: Ian Power

T: Philip Kirby

Didn't run badly in a low-grade Flat marathon last month but he ended the last jumps season with two disappointing runs (both 2m4f) and has a bit more to prove than some of these.

14/1

3rd

8

(1)

21st Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 139y

Class 6

16:32 Pontefract

Achnamara

9st 0lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Philip Kirby

Well beaten over hurdles on his last two starts but hasn't run badly on his last two Flat outings (1m4f/2m, AW) and his trainer has won two of the last six runnings of this race; not discounted.

14/1

9th

3

11th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:07 Newcastle

Achnamara

11st 11lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Philip Kirby

Scored twice over hurdles (at about 2m4f) in 2024-25 but has failed to fire this term and beat just two in 2m4f Sedgefield handicap hurdle ten days ago; others appeal more.

25/1

9/2

  • Place: £2.40

Form: 0-15

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Got up close home in a 1m3f Southwell novice in August and showed better form again at Kempton (1m4f) since despite failing to defy the penalty; initial mark looks fine and her immediate family contains one scorer up at this new trip; shortlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

23rd Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 5y

Class 2

15:30 Warwick

Pretending

11st 4lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Third to Greyval 12 months ago off the same mark; hadn't been at her best this season but came good at Market Rasen (2m4f, soft) and clearly capable of having some say in the outcome.

6/1

1st

6

17th Feb 2026

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

15:02 Market Rasen

Pretending

11st 8lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Exposed mare who hasn't been quite at her best this season, but is on a good mark (3lb lower than for last win); has an each-way chance.

14/1

4th

5

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 3

14:50 Plumpton

Pretending

11st 3lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Rather hit and miss since her last win (2m4f, good to soft) in October 2024 and she was pulled up at Fakenham eight days ago; back on her last winning mark but has a bit to prove at present.

12/1

3/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: -41322 D BF

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Goodwood 1m6f maiden winner in June (good to firm) and only just failed to hold on over 2m on Polytrack the past twice; up 2lb and unraced on Tapeta but no surprise were she able to hold on back down in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(1)

28th Oct 2022

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:50 Newmarket

Country Pyle

9st 11lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: William Muir & Chris Grassick

prominent, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out

9/1

3rd

2

(8)

12th Oct 2022

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 4

16:25 Wolverhampton (AW)

Country Pyle

9st 12lb

J: P J McDonald

T: William Muir & Chris Grassick

midfield, not clear run but pushed along over 2f out, ridden and kept on from over 1f out, went third inside final furlong

3/1

2nd

4

(8)

2nd Sep 2022

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 4

19:55 Kempton (AW)

Country Pyle

10st 0lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: William Muir & Chris Grassick

held up in behind leaders, headway and pushed along over 2f out, ridden and made strong challenge over 1f out, led narrowly from over 1f out, sustained battle with winner final furlong, headed final strides

4/1

Form: 533162 C

Last run: 18 days

W: 8st 11lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
1-1 on Tapeta thanks to August's 1m4f maiden handicap win here and his career analysis of only 1-15 does include three losses by a neck or less, including last time out; back up in class but chance nonetheless.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

20th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:30 Warwick

Buxted Reel

11st 11lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

All three wins under rules on AW Flat; returns from a break and best watched unless the market speaks favourably.

6/1

1

(6)

9th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 6f 0y

Class 6

16:35 Chelmsford (AW)

Buxted Reel

10st 1lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Tom Lacey

Placed in both Flat outings this year, beaten only narrowly returned to AW latest; has form figures of 221 over C&D; solid claims.

5/2

2nd

1

(4)

27th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 6

20:00 Southwell (AW)

Buxted Reel

10st 2lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Tom Lacey

Two-time AW winner (including on Tapeta) who was fit from hurdling when a close third at Doncaster (1m6f) in July; not at his best over hurdles three weeks ago but lost a shoe and he could be thereabouts today.

4/1

Form: -32321 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Reproduced previous best form when successfully upped to 1m6f at Haydock latest (good to firm); 4lb rise is fair but there's a question of whether she'll get her own way out in front quite as much today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(7)

12th Sep 2024

Good

1m 6f 115y

Class 1

15:35 Doncaster

Night Sparkle

9st 7lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

In career-best form when at 1m6f-2m this season for three seconds and a fourth; the last two of those races were Group 2s at Goodwood (1m6f second against her own sex; ahead of Grateful) and York (2m fourth against the males) and she should be bang there once again.

7/2

4th

8

(7)

23rd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 56y

Class 1

14:25 York

Night Sparkle

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Career-best form to be runner-up at York (1m6f Group 3, good to soft), Sandown (2m Listed, good) and Goodwood (1m6f Group 2, good to firm) in three of her four races this term; those two Group races were against her own sex and she faces a significantly stiffer task today.

10/1

14/1

Form: 645165 CD

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
C&D win in August on sole Tapeta start but a rise for that has compromised him for win purposes since, despite him having defied significantly higher twice in autumn 2020; looks vulnerable again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

27th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 147y

Class 5

14:35 Hereford

Eagle Court

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Michael Blake

Quite useful on the Flat in his prime but has not shown a great deal in his five hurdling starts since September; beaten about 23l when fifth of sixth here (2m, good) a fortnight ago; tries a new trip today.

33/1

11

27th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 147y

Class 5

14:35 Hereford

Eagle Court

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Michael Blake

Quite useful on the Flat in his prime but has not shown a great deal in his five hurdling starts since September; beaten about 23l when fifth of sixth here (2m, good) a fortnight ago; tries a new trip today.

33/1

5th

7

12th Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 53y

Class 5

15:35 Hereford

Eagle Court

10st 2lb

J: David Noonan

T: Michael Blake

in rear, some headway 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon no impression

20/1

Form: -11466 C

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo Horse

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Well handicapped on the form of last winter's wins here (9.4f) and at Kempton (1m3f; dead-heated) but hasn't looked an entirely convincing stayer of trips from 1m4f to 2m in handicaps since; still very lightly raced for his age, but has a bit to prove just now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(6)

5th Apr 2023

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 5

17:45 Wolverhampton (AW)

Seven Pockets

9st 10lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Roger Varian

Lightly raced 6yo who has won twice, a C&D novice and 1m3f Kempton handicap; has raced over as far as 2m but back at 1m2f he fared best of those held up when third at Lingfield four weeks ago on his return from a break; should feature.

9/4

3rd

4

(9)

8th Mar 2023

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

14:30 Lingfield (AW)

Seven Pockets

9st 10lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Roger Varian

held up in last

12/1

7th

4

(6)

12th Oct 2022

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 4

16:25 Wolverhampton (AW)

Seven Pockets

9st 10lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Roger Varian

slowly into stride, always towards rear, hung right home straight (jockey said horse hung right handed under pressure)

9/1

66/1

Form: 47-350

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Looked potentially useful at two but has failed to beat a rival on either of his last two handicap outings (stable debut latest); now up 6f to the trip his half-sister Tribal Craft has won a Group 3 over.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

7

26th Dec 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:05 Kempton

Seattle King

11st 4lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Phil McEntee

Three times a winner on the Flat (7f-1m2f) but hasn't been in much form in recent months; difficult to recommend on hurdling debut.

100/1

9th

9

(1)

13th Dec 2023

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

13:00 Lingfield (AW)

Seattle King

8st 13lb

J: Grace McEntee

T: Phil McEntee

took keen hold, prominent, outpaced and lost position over 3f out

50/1

6th

11

10th Dec 2023

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

15:50 Wolverhampton (AW)

Seattle King

9st 6lb

J: Grace McEntee

T: Phil McEntee

Triple turf winner at up to 1m2f; 0-17 on AW; has been placed on Tapeta; 3lb lower than when a close second at Lingfield in March but hard to make a strong case judged on his last six starts.

33/1

OUR TIP

Form: 420334

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Only just above the mark he defied at Lingfield in May (1m5f, Polytrack); no win at today's trip but has managed to run into the frame over it more often than not; minor claims at least.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

4

(5)

1st Nov 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 4

19:15 Kempton (AW)

Ravens Ark

9st 10lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Hughie Morrison

blindfold off late and dwelt start, towards rear

14/1

4th

4

(5)

1st Oct 2023

Good

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

15:25 Epsom

Ravens Ark

9st 9lb

J: Rose Dawes

T: Hughie Morrison

Fourth in this 12 months ago off 4lb higher; started this campaign with two good seconds (1m4f/1m6f) but has been tailed off the last twice on good and soft ground; now has more to prove than some of these.

9/1

6th

8

(3)

26th Aug 2023

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:55 Goodwood

Ravens Ark

9st 4lb

J: James Doyle

T: Hughie Morrison

Three seconds and two thirds from his six runs at Goodwood; no win since May 2022 but good second at Ascot (1m4f) and Goodwood (1m6f; alongside Vaynor) in his first two appearances this season, before something seemed amiss at Newmarket six weeks ago; has a competitive mark if straight back to form and the cheekpieces (which received a positive initial response when fitted in the last two seasons) get their first airing this term.

13/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £43.00
Straight Forecast £45.74
Tricast £200.51
Trifecta £404.70

Selections

RP Ratings:

Night Sparkle

LAMBOURN:

Country Pyle

SPOTLIGHT:

Pretending

The Times:

Achnamara

The Guardian:

Pretending

TOPSPEED:

Night Sparkle

POSTDATA:

Night Sparkle

NEWMARKET:

Night Sparkle

Telegraph:

Night Sparkle

The Star:

Night Sparkle

Daily Record:

Night Sparkle

Daily Mail:

Country Pyle

Daily Express:

Country Pyle

Daily Mirror:

Country Pyle

The Sun:

Country Pyle