May 20 / 17.00 Newmarket

17.00

Good

Aspall Cyder Vinegar Handicap

  • Prize money: £8100
  • 0m 5f 0y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Aspall Cyder Vinegar Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £8.00
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 0874-2 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 9st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Consistent 5f performer; showed himself as good as ever when second of ten over C&D (good to soft; Al Barez fourth) at the Craven meeting here, and that form has been boosted by subsequent wins from the first and third; won't be inconvenienced if the ground dries out; in the mix once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

12

(7)

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

14:09 Newmarket (July)

Spring Bloom

9st 3lb

J: David Probert

T: John Butler

In-form 9yo whose last four runs have been over C&D; failed narrowly under a penalty two weeks ago (behind Fifty Nifty) but 1lb lower here and should be involved.

11/2

3rd

4

(7)

7th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

19:12 Newmarket (July)

Spring Bloom

9st 9lb

J: Neil Callan

T: John Butler

Retains plenty of vitality aged nine; record over C&D features wins in this race two years ago and in his last two starts, latest by a neck seven days ago; rock-solid kept to this scenario and likely to remain competitive even with 4lb penalty.

4/1

1st

3

(3)

31st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

19:00 Newmarket (July)

Spring Bloom

9st 12lb

J: Neil Callan

T: John Butler

His last three wins have been over C&D and latest was in a Class 4 on good to firm 13 days ago; that was a narrow success but he finished well to beat the favourite and is only 2lb higher here; respected.

7/2

9/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 214-74 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Notched two 5f wins last season, one on the July course here, and he shaped as if coming to hand when fourth of 11 at Ascot 17 days ago; 2lb lower today and high on the list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(6)

27th Aug 2026

Standard

0m 5f 6y

Class 5

15:52 Lingfield (AW)

Isle Of Lismore

9st 8lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Robert Cowell

Ended a two-year losing run with a hard-fought success at Ffos Las (5f, good) in June; 3lb higher on a first AW outing since April 2024; others appeal more.

9/4

1st

5

(5)

23rd Jun 2026

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

15:00 Ffos Las

Isle Of Lismore

9st 5lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Robert Cowell

Broke slowly but finished well when 4l behind on good to soft at Catterick recently; that was his second run after a lengthy break; has won on soft.

5/2

4th

4

(5)

11th Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

19:52 Catterick

Isle Of Lismore

9st 5lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Robert Cowell

C&D winner in May 2021 (heavy); wasn't in top form last season so has dropped to a good mark but he was well beaten on soft at Haydock on reappearance.

9/2

10/1

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 855-36 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Formerly smart (won 5f Group 3 in July 2021) but not the force of old and he failed to build on a fairly encouraging reappearance run when last of six at Goodwood two weeks ago; down to his lowest mark since 2019 but needs to rediscover his spark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

15

(2)

23rd Sep 2023

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

16:20 York

Came From The Dark

8st 11lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Ed Walker

Formerly smart including winning a Group 3 at Sandown in July 2021, but 0-11 since and tailed off in the Stewards' Cup when last seen; not hard to look elsewhere.

25/1

OUR TIP

Form: 12024- D

Last run: 231 days

W: 9st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Front-runner; progressed well last season, winning two 5f handicaps and putting up a career best when second to Celsius on the July course here; reappears in a first-time tongue-strap with his stable in excellent form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

(1)

1st Sep 2026

Good

0m 5f 60y

Class 5

19:15 Brighton

Ancient Times

9st 1lb

J: George Wood

T: Harry Eustace

Won for a second time at Epsom (6f) before a near miss over 5f at Doncaster (off this mark); faced a stiffer task here last time when never in with a shout.

7/1

9th

9

(10)

7th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 215y

Class 4

16:00 Brighton

Ancient Times

9st 3lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: Harry Eustace

Made it 2-3 round Epsom off a 3lb lower mark a month ago and ran to a similar level in defeat last time; might have been better drawn for one happiest on the sharp end but has tended to be reliable once striking form in the past; should go well again.

12/1

2nd

2

(1)

18th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

17:40 Doncaster

Ancient Times

10st 0lb

J: Travis Ford

T: Harry Eustace

Scored off a career-low mark to land his eighth success, at Epsom (6f, good to firm) nine days ago; back up 2lb but has recorded back-to-back wins previously so cannot be discounted.

11/4

Form: 673-15 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 8st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Made a winning return at Yarmouth (5f, soft; has won on good to firm) in April and was ridden by a claimer when only fifth of six at Windsor two weeks later; could bounce back but others have more compelling claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

(7)

30th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 5f 8y

Class 5

15:38 Nottingham

Stone Circle

9st 7lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Michael Bell

Well handicapped on his Yarmouth win (5f, good to soft) last summer but he has a mixed record this season and has finished down the field in last two runs; losing run is now up to 11 and others are more solid.

7/1

7th

4

(7)

30th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 5f 8y

Class 5

15:38 Nottingham

Stone Circle

9st 7lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Michael Bell

Well handicapped on his Yarmouth win (5f, good to soft) last summer but he has a mixed record this season and has finished down the field in last two runs; losing run is now up to 11 and others are more solid.

7/1

5th

8

(3)

8th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:53 Leicester

Stone Circle

8st 5lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Michael Bell

raced in last, headway over 1f out, not reach leaders

9/1

5/2

Form: 11/1-4

Last run: 32 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 4yo; beaten for only the second time when 2l fourth of ten over C&D (good to soft; 100-30) last month; that was his first outing after wind surgery and a year off, and he met trouble in running too; unexposed stablemate of Celsius, with improvement to come.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(2)

11th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 42y

Class 5

15:20 Yarmouth

Al Barez

9st 7lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Tom Clover

Losing run up to 15, but has been running well in defeat as when beaten less than a length into third of ten at Windsor (5f, good) last month; races off the same mark, but he is another for whom this trip looks sharp enough.

100/30

3rd

7

(8)

18th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 21y

Class 5

18:40 Windsor

Al Barez

9st 7lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Tom Clover

His last win was off 15lb higher but that was on AW in April 2024 and he has mixed record in four runs this year; ran well at Kempton (6f) in March but he was remote when third at Leicester last time and needs to bounce back again after that disappointing effort.

10/1

3rd

2

(5)

13th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

15:22 Leicester

Al Barez

9st 8lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Tom Clover

Losing turf run goes back four years and he wasn't particularly convincing on grass in the middle months of 2025; however, he is 11lb lower than the latest attempt and his recent AW run at Kempton was quite encouraging; revival on the cards with Rossa Ryan up for the first time.

5/2

7th
3 (8)
Celsius

4/1

Form: /1102- D

Last run: 245 days

W: 9st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
7yo with a strike-rate of 7-24 on turf; ran only four times last season but he won the first two (including over 5f on the July course) and ended the campaign with a close call over 6f here; only 1lb higher today and has an excellent record when fresh so must be considered after 245 days off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

2

(12)

5th Jun 2024

Good

0m 6f 18y

Class 4

15:27 Nottingham

Celsius

9st 9lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Tom Clover

Won off 2lb higher at Newmarket (5f, good to firm) in July 2022 but he's had only five runs since and was well held here on his return last month; may have needed that run but he has a mixed record at this trip and others are more solid.

12/1

6th

5

(7)

11th May 2024

Good To Soft

0m 5f 8y

Class 4

15:30 Nottingham

Celsius

9st 6lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Tom Clover

raced near side, towards rear

10/1

6th

5

(7)

11th May 2024

Good To Soft

0m 5f 8y

Class 4

15:30 Nottingham

Celsius

9st 6lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Tom Clover

raced near side, towards rear

10/1

12/1

Form: 426486

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Well treated on his best form but 0-8 this year and blotted his copybook with a temperamental display (got upset preliminaries; pulled hard once under way) last time; too much to prove for comfort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

17th

15

(12)

15th Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

14:55 Ripon

Tolstoy

9st 4lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Brian Ellison

Low-key return to turf at York (6f, good to firm) three weeks ago; should be well treated but he comes with risks attached.

25/1

14th

11

(2)

24th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

19:15 York

Tolstoy

9st 4lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Brian Ellison

Drew a blank in 2025 but he has slipped a long way in the weights; absent since a poor run at Newcastle (7f) in February; headgear absent for his return and dropping back to 6f isn't sure to suit.

33/1

10th

12

(11)

6th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 4

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

Tolstoy

9st 4lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Brian Ellison

Too headstrong in a clear lead at Southwell (7f) last time, so did fairly well to be beaten only 2l in the end; gained last win off 10lb higher at Newcastle in August 2024; fighting chance provided he settles.

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £28.70
Straight Forecast £52.04
Tricast £292.80
Trifecta £256.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Al Barez

The Guardian:

Spring Bloom

TOPSPEED:

Stone Circle

The Star:

Tolstoy

LAMBOURN:

Came From The Dark

RP RATINGS:

Al Barez

NEWMARKET:

Al Barez

The Times:

Al Barez

Telegraph:

Al Barez

Daily Mirror:

Al Barez

POSTDATA:

Stone Circle

Daily Mail:

Stone Circle

D Express:

Spring Bloom

The Sun:

Spring Bloom

Daily Record:

Spring Bloom