June 27 / 16.00 Brighton

16.00

Good To Firm

Play With The Finest Bookmaker, Fitzdares Handicap

  • Prize money: £5129.32
  • 0m 6f 210y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Play With The Finest Bookmaker, Fitzdares Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.50
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 5-0212 CD BF

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Off the mark (eighth attempt) with a convincing win in a C&D handicap (firm) last month and found more progress when going close in his follow-up bid at Chepstow; only 1lb higher and he's a big player back at this track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

12

(14)

31st Jul 2024

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

17:20 Goodwood

Sir Winston

9st 6lb

J: C Y Ho

T: George Baker

Won three times over this trip last year when with Roger Varian; no wins in seven for current yard and this is a tough race in which to put that right; in first-time cheekpieces today.

40/1

8th

2

(12)

12th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:45 Newmarket (July)

Sir Winston

9st 13lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: George Baker

Triple 7f winner for Roger Varian last year; gave a pretty good account before fading into sixth at Epsom (7f, good) nine days ago but is now 0-6 for George Baker and needs to find something extra.

33/1

6th

1

(1)

3rd Jul 2024

Good

0m 7f 3y

Class 4

21:00 Epsom

Sir Winston

10st 0lb

J: Aidan Keeley

T: George Baker

prominent

11/1

13/2

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 486853

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Triple 6f winner but he can compromise his chance by starting slowly or pulling hard; finished well to snatch third over 5f at Sandown (good to firm) last time but he's now 0-16 since his last success 11 months ago and is untried at this trip; others preferred
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

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

4th

6

(6)

23rd Jan 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 4

18:45 Southwell (AW)

Tolstoy

9st 6lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Brian Ellison

Well treated on last year's high points and it wasn't a bad run from off the pace at Chelmsford 12 days ago, given how that race panned out (pulled hard/got behind/found trouble); the cheekpieces are worth persevering with.

4/1

7th

13

(5)

13th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

13:15 Doncaster

Tolstoy

8st 9lb

J: Shay Farmer

T: Brian Ellison

Well suited by York and went close there in June; inconsistent otherwise during a 2025 campaign that has been markedly less productive than 2024; cheekpieces refitted for the first time since 2022; opposed.

40/1

7/1

  • Place: £2.60

Form: 466646 C

Last run: 22 days

W: 8st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Multiple winner on turf and AW but the latter is more his scene, hence a 9lb lower mark on grass; didn't get much luck when a close sixth at Windsor (1m, good to firm) last time but this looks tougher back up in grade and he will need a good pace back in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(5)

4th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 6

17:50 Wolverhampton (AW)

Poetic Force

10st 0lb

J: Myla Coppins

T: Tony Carroll

Recorded the 18th win of his long career when leading late over C&D in February (for Myla Coppins); ran well behind a thriving rival at Lingfield next time but he failed to fire over C&D a fortnight ago (finished behind Coloane); he has bounced back from quiet runs before so can't be ruled out.

6/1

8th

7

(7)

20th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 5

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Poetic Force

9st 5lb

J: Olivia Tubb

T: Tony Carroll

18th success of his long career when getting the better of Antiquity (winner since and runs in the 6.00) over C&D last month; bumped into an in-form opponent at Lingfield two weeks ago (7f; blinkered first time); another 2lb rise is not ideal but he is likely to give his running.

5/1

2nd

2

(4)

5th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 6

13:53 Lingfield (AW)

Poetic Force

9st 9lb

J: Myla Coppins

T: Tony Carroll

Well into the veteran stage but he retains plenty of enthusiasm and ran on well to beat a subsequent winner (Age Of Time third) at Wolverhampton (8.6f) three weeks ago, his 18th success; a 2lb rise not excessive but late in the day to be giving blinkers a go (has run well in new headgear before).

10/1

Form: 7-0827 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 8st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Form figures of 827 in C&D races last month, so recent inconsistency leaves him somewhat hard to predict; however, he won off 1lb higher here (good to firm) last August and could make a serious impact if he's on song.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(1)

10th Jul 2026

Good

0m 7f 1y

Class 5

20:50 Chester

King Of War

10st 2lb

J: J F Egan

T: Michael Wigham

Habitual front-runner; reeled in after going off a bit too hard over 1m at Brighton recently but won over 7f there (good to firm) two starts ago and has the ideal draw here; could take some catching.

9/2

5th

5

(6)

30th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 216y

Class 5

15:13 Brighton

King Of War

9st 5lb

J: J F Egan

T: Michael Wigham

Ran well when third of 12 on his reappearance over C&D this month (Rogue Dynasty second), but all six wins have come over 7f including when recording his fourth course success back here eight days ago, for which he has a 4lb penalty.

2/1

14/1

Form: -88315 CD

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 7lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Four-time course winner (6f/7f), who recorded his 11th success when scoring at Lingfield (6f, AW) last month; flopped at Goodwood last time but he raced alone on the near side and it wouldn't be a surprise if he bounced back with a bold bid back at this track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

(9)

7th Nov 2023

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 4

14:22 Lingfield (AW)

Mamillius

9st 5lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Baker

Veteran who has been a bit in and out this year, but is 2lb lower than when successful over 6f here in May; return to this trip no problem having won twice over C&D, but he needs to better his two efforts since returning to the AW in September.

16/1

8th

1

(5)

26th Sep 2023

Standard

0m 6f 1y

Class 5

13:50 Lingfield (AW)

Mamillius

9st 12lb

J: Trevor Whelan

T: George Baker

held up in rear

10/1

Form: -32423 CD

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Won four times last season including this race (good to firm); now 0-11 since her last success ten months ago but she's been consistent and was only narrowly denied off 1lb lower at Bath (5.7f) on her penultimate run; dangerous on this step back up to 7f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(4)

25th Feb 2025

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 5

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Granary Queen

9st 4lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Six-time winner who is well treated on best form; however, below par during a light 2024 campaign and failed to revive on reappearance; best watched unless the betting suggests otherwise.

7/1

6th

11

(9)

11th Feb 2025

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 5

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Granary Queen

9st 1lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

held up in rear

10/1

6th

11

(9)

11th Feb 2025

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 5

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Granary Queen

9st 1lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

held up in rear

10/1

Form: 16-785 CD

Last run: 19 days

W: 8st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who is a dual C&D winner (good to firm) but he's finished down the field in his three runs this season and was beaten 10l at Yarmouth last time; now 4lb lower than for last success but he needs a major revival back at this track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(8)

29th Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

17:00 Pontefract

Ideal Guest

9st 12lb

J: Ethan Tindall

T: Harriet Bethell

Losing run is mounting up but he shaped well from the front over C&D (good) eight days ago, eventually tying up having kicked clear too soon in hindsight, beaten only 2l; big chance off same mark with Ethan Tindall taking off a bonus 5lb, provided his energy is used better.

3/1

4th

8

(2)

21st Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

14:05 Pontefract

Ideal Guest

9st 5lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Harriet Bethell

Ran poorly last time, failing to back up reappearance effort and continuing his long losing spell; otherwise well capable of taking a serious hand off current mark, provided he rebounds.

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: 7651-8 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Ended last year with a 4l win in a Chelmsford novice (7f, AW) but she returned from an absence with a low-key effort on her handicap debut at Kempton (15-2) two weeks ago; still has potential after only five starts but she needs to resume her progress back on turf.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

(4)

27th Jun 2023

Good To Firm

0m 6f 210y

Class 4

16:00 Brighton

Whispering Song

9st 10lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Sir Mark Prescott Bt

Ended last year with a 4l win in a Chelmsford novice (7f, AW) but she returned from an absence with a low-key effort on her handicap debut at Kempton (15-2) two weeks ago; still has potential after only five starts but she needs to resume her progress back on turf.

5/1

8th

1

(3)

14th Jun 2023

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

19:40 Kempton (AW)

Whispering Song

9st 11lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Sir Mark Prescott Bt

slowly away, towards rear

6/1

1st

10

(7)

10th Nov 2022

Standard

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

18:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Whispering Song

9st 2lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Sir Mark Prescott Bt

Big prices and out of the frame in her first three outings (around 2l behind Colombidea at Kempton on her second start); likely she won't come into her own until tackling handicaps over further.

9/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £12.90
Straight Forecast £12.82
Tricast £71.73
Trifecta £70.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Sir Winston

Daily Mail:

Granary Queen

TOPSPEED:

King Of War

NEWMARKET:

Whispering Song

The Star:

Tolstoy

RP RATINGS:

Sir Winston

The Times:

Sir Winston

Telegraph:

Sir Winston

The Guardian:

Sir Winston

The Sun:

Sir Winston

Daily Record:

Sir Winston

POSTDATA:

King Of War

D Express:

Granary Queen

Daily Mirror:

Granary Queen