December 15 / 18.30 Southwell (AW)

18.30

Standard

BetUK. It’s Where The UK Bets Handicap

  • Prize money: £7955.68
  • 2m 0f 102y
  • Class 3
  • 9 runners
SKY
View Course
BetUK. It’s Where The UK Bets Handicap

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Mostly cloudy

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £11.10
  • Place: £2.90

Form: 12-605

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Won twice over 1m4f for Ian Williams in August 2022; scored over hurdles on stable debut in February and when behind Aqwaam at Newcastle four weeks ago it was his first run after a summer break; not sure to turn the tables despite the revised terms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(1)

21st May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:10 Nottingham

Sarsons Risk

9st 13lb

J: Jack Gilligan

T: B F Brookhouse

Not gone on from his Southwell success (16.5f, AW) in December, though front-running may not have suited him at Lingfield (2m, AW) last time; only seen on Flat turf once since August 2022, but he does act on it (2-8); interesting, especially if taking to the first-time cheekpieces.

7/1

3

(1)

21st May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:10 Nottingham

Sarsons Risk

9st 13lb

J: Jack Gilligan

T: B F Brookhouse

Not gone on from his Southwell success (16.5f, AW) in December, though front-running may not have suited him at Lingfield (2m, AW) last time; only seen on Flat turf once since August 2022, but he does act on it (2-8); interesting, especially if taking to the first-time cheekpieces.

7/1

11th

8

(8)

29th Mar 2024

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 3

15:15 Lingfield (AW)

Sarsons Risk

9st 6lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: B F Brookhouse

Hit a personal best with his comfortable win at Southwell (2m, Tapeta) in December and he had an excuse when dropped back to 1m3f there the following month; can be a bit hit-and-miss but he still looks feasibly treated and has possibilities back up in trip.

10/1

3/1

  • Place: £1.20

Form: 420211 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Found his niche as a stayer, winning at Chelmsford when upped to 1m6f last month and following up over 2m at Newcastle ten days later; only 2lb higher ahead of his hat-trick bid and there could be more in the tank.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

1

(1)

27th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 3

20:30 Kempton (AW)

Aqwaam

9st 9lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Ian Williams

Four wins (three on AW at 1m6f and 2m) and was last seen finishing third in the 2024 Cesarewitch; has gone well over this shorter trip but can only be considered if market vibes are positive.

14/1

3rd

13

(22)

12th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 2f 0y

Class 2

15:40 Newmarket

Aqwaam

8st 9lb

J: Trevor Whelan

T: Ian Williams

Reached new heights during a pretty busy AW campaign prior to his creditable and none-too-lucky sixth in the 2m2f Chester Cup in May when last seen (finished lame); that was on good to firm and easily his best turf form, but he won on soft in 2022; withdrawn twice last month; on the Chester Cup evidence he could still be capable of better.

28/1

OUR TIP

6/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 71/304

Last run: 34 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Disappointing over hurdles for Paul Nicholls given his Flat ability for Roger Charlton in 2021; solid start for his new yard when fourth in the November handicap at Newcastle five weeks ago; this trip likely to suit and he's one to take seriously.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

29th May 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 5

18:05 Wolverhampton (AW)

Pleasant Man

11st 0lb

J: Mr Simon Walker

T: Joey Ramsden

On a losing run and he beat only one in 11.5f Lingfield handicap ten days ago; not ruled out though if back on his A-game.

16/1

7th

2

(4)

19th May 2026

Good

1m 3f 133y

Class 5

14:10 Lingfield

Pleasant Man

9st 9lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Joey Ramsden

Five wins from 43 starts, the most recent at Southwell (1m6f, AW) last January off a mark 10lb higher than today's; bounced back from a disappointing run when fourth of six at Doncaster (1m4f, good to firm) 17 days ago and has place claims.

10/1

Form: 438512

Last run: 51 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
One win and two close seconds from three AW runs; encouraging first run over 2m at Kempton when last seen in October and there could be more to come at this trip; the only 3yo in the field and he commands respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

8

(9)

29th Mar 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 2

14:05 Kempton (AW)

Cool Party

9st 3lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Charlie Johnston

Can front-run; completed a double over C&D last autumn; has come up short in his five starts since (three here) and was a notch below his best on last three occasions, but no fitness concerns and he's 1lb below his last winning mark.

8/1

3rd

2

(4)

28th Feb 2025

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 2

16:10 Lingfield (AW)

Cool Party

9st 3lb

J: Joe Fanning

T: Charlie Johnston

midfield, headway over 3f out, went modest third over 1f out, just held third

10/1

5th

3

(6)

5th Feb 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 2

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Cool Party

9st 3lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Charlie Johnston

Overall strike-rate of 6-20 and a four-time winner on the AW; finished behind Cello last time despite having the run of things but he's likeably reliable and should give backers a run for their money.

5/1

14/1

Form: 53/204

Last run: 111 days

W: 9st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Solid start for this yard when second of eight at Doncaster in June; not quite so good in two runs since and his stamina for 2m is still to be proven.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(7)

4th Feb 2024

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

13:32 Lingfield (AW)

Apparate

10st 2lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Jamie Osborne

Won the 2020 Mallard at Doncaster for previous yard; mixed results for new stable since returning from long absence but looks quite interesting off a handy mark dropped in class for second AW attempt.

14/1

5th

3

(3)

15th Dec 2023

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 3

18:30 Southwell (AW)

Apparate

9st 13lb

J: Shane Kelly

T: Jamie Osborne

Solid start for this yard when second of eight at Doncaster in June; not quite so good in two runs since and his stamina for 2m is still to be proven.

14/1

4th

2

(1)

26th Aug 2023

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 3

14:45 Newmarket (July)

Apparate

9st 12lb

J: Shane Kelly

T: Jamie Osborne

Down the field at Newbury last month but prior to that he'd returned from a long absence with a near-miss at Doncaster (1m4f, good to firm) and he's won over 1m6f in the past; not written off.

5/1

20/1

Form: 233-10

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Popped up at Ascot in October (2m, good) when nicking a slowly-run race from the front; struggled in a competitive AW handicap last month though and others look safer here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

6th Oct 2024

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

14:05 Kelso

Oceanline

11st 9lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

raced in second

11/4

1st

5

11th Sep 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:10 Worcester

Oceanline

11st 8lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Fit from the Flat when capitalising on a reduced mark in 2m7f handicap hurdle here 23 days ago; back up 4lb now but he's well in the mix again.

4/1

1st

11

19th Aug 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Worcester

Oceanline

11st 6lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Sole win over hurdles at this track in July 2022 but unraced in this discipline since pulling up last October (only effort over this distance); fit from the Flat, a market watch is advised.

14/1

11/2

Form: 204746 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
2m on Tapeta no problem and he's now 1lb lower than when a close second in the Northumberland Plate consolation; fair effort at Kempton last month; one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

1st Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 5y

Class 3

16:28 Warwick

Mostly Sunny

11st 12lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Consistent gelding who ran up to his best when third in a Class 2 handicap over this trip at Newton Abbot in August (2m5f); unlikely to be far away.

4/1

6

30th Aug 2025

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 2

16:30 Newton Abbot

Mostly Sunny

10st 9lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Dan Skelton

Collected a good prize at Plumpton (2m4f, good) in April and has made the frame on all fourth subsequent appearances; can cope if the ground softens here and will probably be on the premises again.

8/1

Form: 196123

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Underwent wind surgery in September and showed the benefit when getting the better of Aqwaam at Lingfield in October (1m5f); the tables were turned at Chelmsford last month though and he may have to give best to his old rival once again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(3)

5th Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 5

20:47 Kempton (AW)

Sharp Distinction

9st 9lb

J: Luke Catton

T: Lemos De Souza

3-34, with latest win last November on Lingfield Polytrack; shot back to some form when beaten a neck off career-low mark in six-runner race on turf at Leicester (1m4f) on latest outing and he's notched up a few placed efforts at this track, so he's one to consider back up 2lb.

100/30

2

(5)

10th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 179y

Class 5

15:30 Leicester

Sharp Distinction

10st 0lb

J: Luke Catton

T: Lemos De Souza

3-33 and has shown little in two runs since switching to current yard; has dropped to a career-low mark but needs to raise his game.

14/1

6

(7)

21st Jun 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:25 Newmarket (July)

Sharp Distinction

8st 9lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Lemos De Souza

Has struggled on AW in recent starts but has dropped back to a winning mark if staging a revival back on turf.

10/1

Form: 137959

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Thrived for this yard last winter, winning five times over shorter trips; stays 2m and edging back down the weights but he will need to step up on his two runs back from a summer break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

(8)

1st Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:35 Newbury

Barenboim

9st 8lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: Tom Dascombe

Just 1lb above his last winning mark, but is 6-31 on the AW and 0-18 on turf, including six starts over hurdles; others more solid.

20/1

9th

12

(2)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

16:42 Newcastle (AW)

Barenboim

8st 2lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Tom Dascombe

Made all at Kempton (2m, Polytrack) in January and head second to Berkshire Sundance at Lingfield (2m, Polytrack) later that month; not quite at the same level at Southwell (2m2f, Tapeta) last month but he failed to settle; Newcastle form figures read 12139 and he has an each-way shout.

16/1

6th

2

(5)

4th Mar 2026

Standard

2m 2f 98y

Class 4

17:40 Southwell (AW)

Barenboim

9st 13lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: Tom Dascombe

Kempton winner (2m Class 4; 3-1, from 3lb lower) on penultimate start; went close to following up - pipped on the post - at Lingfield (2m; 9-2) subsequently; this asks a slightly sterner question over a new distance on the Flat; likely to give another positive account.

4/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £29.90
Straight Forecast £20.28
Tricast £85.73
Trifecta £157.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Cool Party

Telegraph:

Aqwaam

RP RATINGS:

Mostly Sunny

The Guardian:

Sharp Distinction

TOPSPEED:

Barenboim

POSTDATA:

Cool Party

The Times:

Cool Party

Daily Mirror:

Cool Party

Daily Record:

Cool Party

Daily Mail:

Aqwaam

D Express:

Aqwaam

The Sun:

Aqwaam

The Star:

Aqwaam