May 20 / 15.50 Newmarket

15.50

Good

Aspall Blush Cyder Handicap

  • Prize money: £25770
  • 0m 7f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
Aspall Blush Cyder Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.50
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 442-04 D BF

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Didn't maintain his upward trajectory after winning first three races but he still ran creditably when fourth of 11 at Haydock (7f, good) three weeks ago, coming from a long way back; still lightly raced for his age and one of the leading contenders.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

(4)

23rd May 2026

Good To Yielding

0m 6f 0y

15:05 Curragh

Montassib

9st 5lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: William Haggas

Late-maturing type won the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock (good) in 2024; did not appear last year until September and failed to recapture his best form in three runs, only fifth behind Spycatcher when favourite at Doncaster on last of them; reversed that form (and had James's Delight behind) when fourth in a 6f Listed race at the same venue eight weeks ago.

4/1

4th

9

(1)

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

0m 6f 2y

Class 1

13:50 Doncaster

Montassib

9st 10lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

Arrives late on the scene and had a stellar 2024, his three wins including this race (soft) and the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock (good); wasn't seen last year until September and didn't fully fire in three runs, only fifth behind Spycatcher when favourite over C&D on last of them; dangerous if rebounding but has to prove he retains all his ability.

4/1

9

(3)

18th Oct 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

Montassib

9st 4lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

Made the leap from top handicaps to Listed/Group races last season, winning the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock (6f, good) by a head from Kind Of Blue, before finishing fifth to that rival in this event; 11 months off when an encouraging third of 11 in Group 3 at Newbury last month, getting going too late on his first attempt at 5f; that run suggests he retains all his ability and he's a serious candidate four weeks on.

11/2

9/2

  • Place: £2.40

Form: 2496-2 C

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Seems to come alive at Newmarket (has won on both courses) and he made a pleasing reappearance when 1l second to The Gatekeeper over C&D (good), keeping on well after a slow start; 3lb better off with the winner who already had three runs this season under his belt; may well turn the tables.
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

Form: 982-03 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 8st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Relatively exposed after 22 races but he ran close to his recent best when third to The Gatekeeper over C&D two weeks ago; represents an in-form stable and again unlikely to be far away.
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

10/1

Form: -51232 D BF

Last run: 79 days

W: 8st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Had a productive AW winter campaign over this trip, winning at Southwell and just touched off at Chelmsford when last seen 11 weeks ago; has shown some promise on turf, including over C&D, but he'll probably need a career best if he's to make his return to grass a winning one.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

(8)

26th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

19:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Chola Empire

9st 4lb

J: Luke Morris

T: David Simcock

Conditions to suit and he is back to the same mark off which he beat Captain Parma here in October; not at his best at Southwell last week but he is the type to bounce back quickly.

6/1

Form: 720202 D

Last run: 8 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
0-9 on turf but he ran close to his best when second of ten at Chester (7.5f, soft; 50-1) last Friday; a repeat of that form would put him in the picture but drying ground is a possible concern and others appeal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

4

(14)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:00 Newbury

Witch Hunter

9st 9lb

J: Tyrese Cameron

T: Richard Hannon

His only turf wins came in a Royal Ascot handicap and Newbury Group 3, but they were in 2023 and he needs the cards to drop right for his late bids; scored on AW in January but subsequent form, including when 40-1 in the Victoria Cup last Saturday, isn't good enough.

40/1

20th

1

(9)

9th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

14:20 Ascot

Witch Hunter

9st 12lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

Very useful but rather needs the cards to drop right and gained his only turf wins, namely in Royal Ascot handicap and Newbury Group 3, in 2023; peak AW form this year when scoring in January; finished seventh (off 4lb higher) in this contest 12 months ago.

25/1

Form: 0209-2 CD

Last run: 138 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Better record on turf than AW so his second of six at Newcastle (7f, Tapeta) early in the year has to be viewed positively in the circumstances; only 3lb higher than when making impressive winning reappearance at Yarmouth (7f, good to firm) last June; big player if ready to roll after five months off in a first-time tongue-strap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

(5)

1st Jul 2023

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 14y

Class 2

14:40 Newcastle (AW)

Air To Air

9st 6lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Boughey

Second to Zip over C&D in January two starts ago and can't be ruled out; however, following his return to action at Newmarket in May he's now finished last in three of his last four races so his claims are hardly solid.

8/1

7th

3

(2)

20th May 2023

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

15:50 Newmarket

Air To Air

9st 3lb

J: David Probert

T: George Boughey

Better record on turf than AW so his second of six at Newcastle (7f, Tapeta) early in the year has to be viewed positively in the circumstances; only 3lb higher than when making impressive winning reappearance at Yarmouth (7f, good to firm) last June; big player if ready to roll after five months off in a first-time tongue-strap.

7/1

2nd

2

(6)

2nd Jan 2023

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 14y

Class 2

16:10 Newcastle (AW)

Air To Air

9st 2lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: George Boughey

slowly away, raced in last, headway on far side of group and went second over 1f out, kept on final 110yds, no match for winner

9/1

OUR TIP

Form: 0/1541 CD

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Missed his 3yo season but making up for lost time now, posting a personal best when gamely making all over C&D (good) two weeks ago, Star Of Orion and Persuasion his closest pursuers; a 3lb higher mark should not prevent another bold bid from the front.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.20
Straight Forecast £9.87
Trifecta £50.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Star Of Orion

NEWMARKET:

Montassib

Daily Mirror:

The Gatekeeper

Telegraph:

Air To Air

The Guardian:

Persuasion

The Sun:

The Gatekeeper

Daily Record:

The Gatekeeper

The Times:

Montassib

D Express:

Montassib

The Star:

Montassib

RP RATINGS:

Star Of Orion

TOPSPEED:

Star Of Orion

POSTDATA:

Star Of Orion

Daily Mail:

Star Of Orion