20.00
StandardIlluminate Christmas Ball Handicap
- Prize money: £3996
- 0m 5f 0y
- Class 6
- 12 runners
Runners: 12 runners
Type: Flat AW
Surface: Polytrack
Weather: Showers
5/1 (Won)
- Win: £3.00
- Place: £1.20
Form: 547226 D
Last run: 8 days
W: 9st 8lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 59
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
12th 14 (8) |
10th Aug 2026 Good 0m 6f 0y Class 6 |
8st 12lb |
It's now 24 starts since his last victory though he shaped as if the run was needed after five months off when eighth of ten in 6f Wolverhampton handicap last month; needs to build on it. |
66/1 |
|
8th 9 (2) |
7th Jul 2026 Standard 0m 6f 20y Class 6 |
9st 0lb |
18 months since his last win but he is fully effective over C&D and he ran well for third here when last seen in January; this might not be the time to catch him. |
16/1 |
3/1
- Place: £2.10
Form: 255584
Last run: 24 days
W: 9st 9lb
3 yo Gelding
OR: 60
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 3 (1) |
31st Aug 2026 Good To Soft 0m 5f 16y Class 5 |
9st 12lb |
All ground seems to come alike to him and he gained his second C&D success (good to firm) last month, but a 4lb rise appeared to anchor him in his two outings since; may need the returning visor to perk him up a bit. |
5/1 |
|
7th 6 (9) |
28th Aug 2026 Good To Firm 0m 5f 10y Class 5 |
9st 9lb |
Prominent racer who was well held at Chepstow last time, but that was a Class 4 event and he won that track (5f, good to firm) on his penultimate run; remains well treated on his old form and has claims if he can bounce back on this drop back in grade; acts on fast and soft ground. |
5/1 |
|
6th 6 (3) |
6th Aug 2026 Good To Firm 0m 5f 16y Class 4 |
9st 3lb |
Exposed but very consistent and deserved to snap a losing streak over C&D recently when racing prominently and keeping on; back up 4lb. |
8/1 |
8/1
- Place: £1.90
Form: 23-075
Last run: 17 days
W: 9st 1lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 52
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
12th 6 (8) |
28th Feb 2023 Standard 0m 7f 14y Class 6 |
9st 7lb |
raced freely, in touch with leaders |
8/1 |
|
7th 1 (5) |
27th Jan 2023 Standard 0m 7f 36y Class 6 |
9st 12lb |
took keen hold, prominent on outer |
5/2 |
|
1st 7 (2) |
20th Jan 2023 Standard 0m 7f 14y Class 6 |
9st 7lb |
Ran out the easy winner of a 6f handicap here two weeks ago, recording a good Topspeed figure in the process; 5lb rise looks manageable but his stamina for 7f has to be taken on trust. |
11/2 |
4/1
Form: 582772 D
Last run: 5 days
W: 8st 13lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 50
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 1 (6) |
24th Mar 2026 Standard 0m 6f 20y Class 6 |
9st 9lb |
Nine-time winner; good runs few and far between in 2025 and he made a low-key return to action over C&D two weeks ago; revival not out of the question but others look safer. |
16/1 |
|
7th 2 (7) |
10th Mar 2026 Standard 0m 6f 20y Class 6 |
9st 9lb |
Most recent wins were over 5f/5.5f for Darryll Holland in August and September 2024; some fair runs since and just as effective at 6f but lacks a recent outing; back with a former yard. |
10/1 |
|
6th 2 (10) |
11th Sep 2025 Standard 0m 6f 0y Class 6 |
9st 8lb |
Nine-time winner, including once here (5f), and currently 6lb lower than for his last success; returned to Darryll Holland ahead of his fourth of eight at Brighton 11 days ago; market useful with the stable also running Kodi Red. |
15/2 |
50/1
Form: 487-
Last run: 454 days
W: 8st 9lb
3 yo Gelding
OR: 46
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11th 11 (3) |
16th Oct 2024 Soft 0m 5f 8y Class 6 |
10st 0lb |
Well beaten in 2021 on sole turf start; on the premises on AW two winters back but he's been a notch below that in his three runs this year (with a visor enlisted) following a 553-day layoff. |
33/1 |
8/1
Form: 445835
Last run: 21 days
W: 8st 9lb
4 yo Filly
OR: 45
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 5 (10) |
22nd Feb 2025 Standard To Slow 0m 6f 0y Class 6 |
9st 9lb |
slowly into stride, switched left soon after start, in rear |
33/1 |
|
6th 10 (8) |
2nd Feb 2025 Standard 0m 5f 6y Class 6 |
8st 11lb |
Record is just 1-59, the win on turf; never landed a blow in classified event last month on debut for new yard; opposed. |
33/1 |
|
6th 10 (8) |
2nd Feb 2025 Standard 0m 5f 6y Class 6 |
8st 11lb |
Record is just 1-59, the win on turf; never landed a blow in classified event last month on debut for new yard; opposed. |
33/1 |
20/1
Form: 000065
Last run: 31 days
W: 8st 9lb
5 yo Mare
OR: 45
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 7 (2) |
27th Mar 2023 Standard 0m 5f 21y Class 6 |
9st 2lb |
Long-standing maiden who has beaten just one rival in her three starts this year; she's hard to make a case for. |
16/1 |
|
4 (14) |
9th Mar 2023 Standard 0m 6f 16y Class 6 |
10st 2lb |
|
|
|
6th 3 (3) |
20th Feb 2023 Standard 0m 6f 0y Class 6 |
9st 2lb |
Long-standing maiden who beat only one rival in 5f handicap here 17 days ago; others make much more appeal. |
33/1 |
12/1
Form: 330650 C
Last run: 102 days
W: 9st 0lb
4 yo Filly
OR: 51
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 (10) |
3rd Feb 2023 Standard 0m 6f 1y Class 6 |
9st 2lb |
In good form last winter but she has been struggling this time round; too much to prove for comfort. |
25/1 |
|
6th 5 (12) |
5th Jan 2023 Standard 0m 6f 0y Class 6 |
9st 2lb |
One of last winter's two wins was achieved over C&D; rather going through the motions over 5f this winter and the return to 6f is not enough to tempt. |
10/1 |
Form: 183410 CD
Last run: 5 days
W: 9st 5lb
3 yo Gelding
OR: 56
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 8 (2) |
7th Aug 2026 Good 0m 6f 0y Class 6 |
9st 9lb |
Six-time winner but his last success was in February 2024; ended last year with a close call at Newcastle (5f, AW) but he's been out of sorts since and was last of 14 at Doncaster in April; has plenty to prove and he needs a major revival after a break. |
20/1 |
|
14th 7 (7) |
24th Apr 2026 Good To Firm 0m 5f 3y Class 6 |
9st 5lb |
Ended 2025 with two placed efforts on AW and he lines up here off a 6lb lower mark than when second at Newcastle in December; that is a result of four lesser efforts though and he now has a point to prove. |
20/1 |
|
9th 3 (2) |
23rd Mar 2026 Standard 0m 6f 20y Class 6 |
9st 8lb |
Close third over C&D in November off 3lb higher but he's finished down the field in his last three starts and his last win was over two years ago; others preferred. |
16/1 |
Form: 454524 CD
Last run: 17 days
W: 8st 13lb
11 yo Gelding
OR: 50
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 9 (5) |
2nd Mar 2023 Standard 0m 7f 0y Class 6 |
9st 2lb |
led narrowly, headed but pressed leader 5f out |
4/1 |
|
3rd 13 (2) |
28th Jan 2023 Standard 0m 7f 0y Class 6 |
9st 2lb |
disputing second |
8/1 |
|
3rd 6 (8) |
12th Jan 2023 Standard 0m 6f 0y Class 6 |
9st 2lb |
prominent, lost ground from 3f out, pushed along from 2f out, headway from over 1f out, stayed on |
9/4 |
Form: 5545
Last run: 52 days
W: 8st 12lb
3 yo Filly
OR: 49
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8 (12) |
8th Nov 2022 Standard 0m 5f 0y Class 6 |
8st 12lb |
|
|
|
5th 8 (12) |
17th Sep 2022 Standard 0m 6f 20y Class 6 |
9st 2lb |
took keen hold, held up in rear, headway over 3f out, ridden and outpaced over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong |
6/1 |
|
4th 6 (3) |
24th Aug 2022 Standard 0m 5f 6y Class 5 |
9st 2lb |
prominent, pushed along over 2f out, outpaced over 1f out, ran on inside final 110yds, not reach leaders |
10/1 |
Form: 68-007 CD
Last run: 24 days
W: 8st 9lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 45
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 8 (6) |
23rd Jan 2023 Standard 0m 5f 21y Class 6 |
8st 9lb |
14-time winner but his last success was in March 2020 and he was out of sorts last year. |
50/1 |
|
11th 11 (4) |
13th Dec 2022 Standard 0m 4f 214y Class 5 |
8st 4lb |
Veteran who hasn't looked like adding to his 14 career wins this year; 4lb out of the handicap. |
66/1 |
Non-runners
Thank The Lord, Shamshon, Kerkyra Island, Red Stripes
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £13.60 |
| Straight Forecast | £15.97 |
| Tricast | £52.47 |
| Trifecta | £40.80 |
Selections
Telegraph:
Thank The LordDaily Mail:
Thank The LordDaily Mirror:
Thank The LordThe Star:
Red WallsDaily Record:
Bernard Spierpoint