May 05 / 15.00 Newmarket

15.00

Good To Firm

Nyetimber Handicap

  • Prize money: £25770
  • 0m 7f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 8 runners
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Nyetimber Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

11/2

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 02496- C

Last run: 190 days

W: 8st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Failed to score last term but went close off slightly higher marks on two occasions; gained his 2020 and 2021 wins on the Newmarket tracks; competitively handicapped and the scene is right.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

(10)

19th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

16:35 Ascot

Star Of Orion

8st 12lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Effective here (and on various ground); placed three times in a row this August/September (1m/7f) but only seventh of 18 in the Challenge Cup here (7f, soft) a fortnight ago and needs a bigger performance today.

33/1

10

(3)

5th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Ascot

Star Of Orion

9st 4lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Returned in July from ten months off and has run well in his last three starts, third of nine at Sandown (7f, soft) last time, but he has managed to win only one of his last 25 starts and is still 5lb higher; addition of a tongue-tie needs to make a difference.

25/1

3rd

1

(2)

13th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:15 Sandown

Star Of Orion

9st 10lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Shaped well on reappearance (found trouble) and bang there in his subsequent races, over 1m at Newmarket and C&D 13 days ago (first-time cheekpieces); hard to offer any excuses on either occasion and, now 3-31, he's looking a hard horse to catch right.

100/30

8/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 3982-0 D

Last run: 59 days

W: 8st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Dual winner for previous yard and placed four times for current stable; below par on rare AW start two months ago; interesting off a workable mark back on turf and with Billy Loughnane taking off a useful 3lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(6)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

17:25 Thirsk

Persuasion

9st 5lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: David & Nicola Barron

9yo who capitalised on some leniency from the handicapper to win at Musselburgh (7f, good) three weeks ago; goes well there but he's a C&D winner too and he should be in the thick of things again from just 2lb higher.

6/1

1st

3

(1)

26th Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 15y

Class 4

17:45 Musselburgh

Persuasion

9st 8lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: David & Nicola Barron

9yo who hasn't been at the top of his game on either start this season but wasn't beaten far when sixth of ten over C&D three weeks ago and he's down to a tempting mark; won over C&D last April; possible contender.

7/1

11/2

Form: 754-26 D BF

Last run: 6 days

W: 8st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Ex-French gelding who is 0-9 in Britain but has some encouraging form, notably close second at Redcar (7f) on seasonal debut; unplaced favourite at Ripon since but this venue may suit him better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

2

(5)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

14:50 Newmarket

Darkness

9st 8lb

J: Neil Callan

T: David O’Meara

Took a step back in the right direction with his close sixth at Haydock on latest start and he's back in the visor in which his last five wins have come, including two last season (7f, good to firm); entitled to respect.

18/1

6th

10

(3)

25th Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 37y

Class 2

14:35 Haydock

Darkness

9st 1lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: David O’Meara

Came good at Goodwood last August (7f, good to firm), running on strongly to bag a Class 2 handicap; faced a stiff task in a Thirsk conditions event on his reappearance two weeks ago; opposable with his usual visor remaining absent.

16/1

7th

1

(4)

10th Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:25 Thirsk

Darkness

9st 8lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Useful sort who landed fast-ground handicap wins over C&D and at Goodwood last year; however, he has plenty to find on these terms and failed to beat a rival on his reappearance in 2024 and 2025.

25/1

OUR TIP

Form: 70978- CD

Last run: 190 days

W: 9st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
The veteran of the field, being a 9yo, but holds every chance provided he retains ability (makes seasonal debut); last two wins came off this mark in Newmarket handicaps, latest on reappearance in 2022.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(13)

6th Nov 2024

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Kempton (AW)

Accidental Agent

10st 0lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

switched sharply right soon after start, in rear

16/1

3rd

1

(13)

6th Nov 2024

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Kempton (AW)

Accidental Agent

10st 0lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

switched sharply right soon after start, in rear

16/1

9th

1

(5)

4th Oct 2024

Heavy

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

17:05 Ascot

Accidental Agent

9st 7lb

J: Mia Nicholls

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

awkward start and slowly away

14/1

Form: -48353 D

Last run: 8 days

W: 8st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Only wins for current yard came on AW in December; currently in decent form but faces a tougher task back on grass; came up short (fifth of seven) in this contest 12 months ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(12)

18th May 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

16:45 Newmarket

Lord Rapscallion

9st 10lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Stuart Williams

Retains plenty of gusto aged nine and scored in big field at Chelmsford most recently, completing an AW hat-trick; successful (off just 1lb lower) in this race two years ago; likely player.

9/1

1

(12)

18th May 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

16:45 Newmarket

Lord Rapscallion

9st 10lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Stuart Williams

Retains plenty of gusto aged nine and scored in big field at Chelmsford most recently, completing an AW hat-trick; successful (off just 1lb lower) in this race two years ago; likely player.

9/1

1st

5

(5)

18th Apr 2025

Standard

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Lord Rapscallion

9st 7lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Stuart Williams

mounted in chute, raced wide, in touch with leaders, headway when ridden over 1f out, led inside final 110yds, stayed on

10/1

13/2

Form: 52049- D

Last run: 154 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Showed bits of useful form in his first season last year, including a narrow defeat off 3lb higher on the other course here; had wind surgery since last run (AW); return to turf looks ideal and has possibilities.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

(5)

31st May 2026

Good

1m 0f 75y

Class 5

17:25 Nottingham

Bass Player

8st 9lb

J: William Pyle

T: Kevin & Lauren Frost

Ended 2025 with two good runs but he has been well short of that level in two runs this year, a wind op before the latest making no difference; tongue tie returns; risky despite his reduced mark.

20/1

11th

9

(8)

8th May 2026

Good To Soft

1m 1f 170y

Class 5

19:45 Ripon

Bass Player

8st 11lb

J: William Pyle

T: Kevin Frost

First win was on turf (7f) and last two have been on Tapeta (8.6f); reached the frame in two starts at Wolverhampton in December but he had a major blip there the following month; had another wind operation since and needs a major revival after four months off.

12/1

Form: 6108-4 CD

Last run: 17 days

W: 8st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Has form figures of 1124 at the Newmarket courses, most recently coming from a difficult position to make a promising reappearance in handicap at the Craven meeting (good to soft); holds solid claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

(9)

12th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:45 Newmarket (July)

Final Watch

9st 9lb

J: Neil Callan

T: William Stone

Safely held in two valuable 7f handicaps on the Rowley Mile in May and needs to up his game today but it's worth noting he's now 3lb lower than when winning this race by a neck under Neil Callan a year ago (good to soft).

8/1

Form: 40/154 D BF

Last run: 27 days

W: 8st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 91

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

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £18.20
Straight Forecast £15.99
Tricast £90.36
Trifecta £113.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Final Watch

POSTDATA:

Darkness

RP RATINGS:

Accidental Agent

NEWMARKET:

Bass Player

Telegraph:

The Gatekeeper

TOPSPEED:

Lord Rapscallion

The Times:

Final Watch

The Guardian:

Final Watch

Daily Mail:

Final Watch

D Express:

Final Watch

The Star:

Final Watch

Daily Record:

Final Watch

Daily Mirror:

Darkness

The Sun:

Accidental Agent