August 11 / 16.35 Brighton

16.35

Good

Star Sports Festival Of Racing Handicap

  • Prize money: £3245.08
  • 0m 5f 215y
  • Class 6
  • 5 runners
SKY
View Course
Star Sports Festival Of Racing Handicap

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Abandoned

Form: 433231 CD

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Reliable type who won this race last year and was also successful at Newmarket (6f, good) last week; made another bold bid when runner-up under a penalty at Yarmouth on Thursday and he's respected on this drop back in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

(2)

5th Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 160y

Class 6

19:15 Bath

Porfin

9st 9lb

J: Grace McEntee

T: Phil McEntee

Latest of his 11 wins came at Lingfield (6f, AW) in January and he went close at Wolverhampton next time; fair effort over 6f at Lingfield 36 days ago but this slight drop back in trip probably isn't ideal.

7/1

5th

4

(4)

30th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 6f 1y

Class 6

15:30 Lingfield (AW)

Porfin

9st 5lb

J: Connor Planas

T: Phil McEntee

11 wins, the latest off basement mark over C&D in January; largely consistent since and may benefit from this drop back in trip, having raced too freely when fourth over 7f here on latest outing; back from two-month break.

11/2

4th

5

(5)

25th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 6

15:12 Lingfield (AW)

Porfin

9st 6lb

J: Connor Planas

T: Phil McEntee

Ready win here (6f) in January; generally held his form since and Monday's low-key effort at Wolverhampton is excusable as he saw no daylight in the home straight.

8/1

Abandoned

Form: 00-245

Last run: 37 days

W: 9st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
13-race maiden but he's a strong traveller who returned from an absence with a good second at Doncaster (6f, good) in June; didn't match that in his final two runs for Ali Stronge but things didn't go his way in a tactical race last time and this is a big drop back in grade; not ruled out for new yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

1

(1)

21st Sep 2024

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:45 Newmarket

Musical Mystery

9st 11lb

J: Neil Callan

T: Ed Dunlop

7f specialist who made all at Doncaster (good to firm) in August and ran just as well when second at Thirsk three weeks later; edging up the weights but again likely to be thereabouts.

6/1

2nd

4

(8)

7th Sep 2024

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

18:10 Thirsk

Musical Mystery

9st 6lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Ed Dunlop

in touch with leaders

5/1

1st

2

(2)

17th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

0m 7f 6y

Class 5

15:42 Doncaster

Musical Mystery

9st 9lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Ed Dunlop

Brighton winner in May (7f, good); best run since when just over 2l fifth of ten at Ascot last time (7f, good); each-way chance.

7/1

Form: 695115 CD

Last run: 45 days

W: 9st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Emphatic winner of two classified events in June (one over C&D) but he didn't fire in his hat-trick bid here (6f handicap) last time; bit to prove again after that but he's 3-7 for this yard and still looks feasibly treated on his penultimate form.
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

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Bernard Spierpoint

9st 9lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Jim & Suzi Best

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

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Bernard Spierpoint

9st 9lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Jim & Suzi Best

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

15:10 Chelmsford (AW)

Bernard Spierpoint

9st 8lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Darryll Holland

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

Form: 973236 CD

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 54

Form & Verdict
Dual course winner (6f/7f, good to firm) who was placed twice her in June and she had an excuse on soft ground at Lingfield last time; now 2lb lower than for last win and has possibilities back in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(5)

19th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 135y

Class 6

15:40 Lingfield

Bear To Dream

9st 9lb

J: Kieren Fox

T: Michael Attwater

Six-time winner, with five of those wins coming on turf; ran well when second of 11 here on the AW in December and switches to turf on her first start since; seems unsuited by ground softer than good.

13/2

6

(12)

16th Oct 2025

Good

0m 6f 210y

Class 6

16:40 Brighton

Bear To Dream

9st 6lb

J: Tommie Jakes

T: Michael Attwater

Below par last time but generally consistent otherwise of late and may rebound; has plenty of Brighton form, including four wins; not dismissed.

12/1

Form: -47866

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 53

Form & Verdict
Placed in a 1m4f AW novice for the Gosdens last summer; has not come close to that form for new yard this year but she ran for a long way at Epsom (7f, good) last time and shaped as though this switch to sprinting could suit; could go well off a tumbling mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

(8)

13th Jul 2023

Good To Firm

0m 7f 3y

Class 5

19:35 Epsom

Stepmother

8st 10lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Michael Attwater

Placed in AW novice for the Gosdens last summer but not come close to that level in four runs for new yard in 2023; dropping down the weights but others safer.

33/1

Non-runners

Almodovar Del Rio, Bluebells Boy, Lilkian, Reckon I'm Hot

Verdict

Darryll Holland has an interesting contender in Bernard Spierpoint, while the reliable Porfin made another bold bid at Yarmouth on Thursday and would be strongly respected if turned out quickly on this drop back in trip. However, it might be worth taking a chance with STEPMOTHER, who looked dangerous before her effort flattened out over 7f at Epsom last month. She’s dropped another 4lb in the weights and could find something extra on this switch to sprinting.[David Moon]

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Musical Mystery

The Times:

Porfin

Telegraph:

Lilkian

The Guardian:

Bluebells Boy

SPOTLIGHT:

Stepmother

NEWMARKET:

Bernard Spierpoint

POSTDATA:

Musical Mystery

Daily Mail:

Musical Mystery

The Star:

Musical Mystery

D Express:

Porfin

Daily Mirror:

Porfin

Daily Record:

Porfin

The Sun:

Lilkian