December 20 / 11.30 Lingfield (AW)

11.30

Standard

BetUK. Home Of The Acca-Fenwa Hands And Heels Apprentice Handicap (Part Of The REI)

  • Prize money: £3873.16
  • 1m 7f 169y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
BetUK. Home Of The Acca-Fenwa Hands And Heels Apprentice Handicap (Part Of The REI)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Polytrack

Weather: Cloudy

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 311658

Last run: 30 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Won twice for this yard (1m2f/11.5f) in the autumn; appeared to stay 2m, albeit in a race that didn't place the emphasis on stamina, when last seen in a Kempton Class 3; contender back at this level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(1)

10th Dec 2024

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 5

18:30 Southwell (AW)

Western Stars

10st 0lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Jim Boyle

Knows how to win as he showed when successful from four rivals at Wolverhampton (1m6f, Tapeta) last month, but he was allowed to dictate there and didn't back it up at Lingfield (2m, Polytrack) a week ago (has won over that C&D); needs to bounce back.

6/1

7th

1

(1)

10th Dec 2024

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 5

18:30 Southwell (AW)

Western Stars

10st 0lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Jim Boyle

Knows how to win as he showed when successful from four rivals at Wolverhampton (1m6f, Tapeta) last month, but he was allowed to dictate there and didn't back it up at Lingfield (2m, Polytrack) a week ago (has won over that C&D); needs to bounce back.

6/1

6th

6

(1)

3rd Dec 2024

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 5

14:27 Lingfield (AW)

Western Stars

9st 11lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Jim Boyle

Recorded his sixth win when making all to justify favouritism off reduced mark at Wolverhampton (1m6f) 18 days ago; this is a deeper race but he's only 2lb higher than last time and has won over C&D in the past; could be a major force again.

4/1

5/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 065/73

Last run: 7 days

W: 8st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 57

Form & Verdict
In form over fences in the autumn, winning twice, and he was doing good late work over 1m4f here on last week's return to the Flat; return to 2m in his favour and he's one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(5)

7th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 6

19:30 Southwell (AW)

Tamaris

9st 13lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: James Owen

Absent since justifying favouritism off only 1lb lower at Wolverhampton (won going away; stable debut) in April 2024 to complete a 2m double; major player provided he returns in similar form; the market signals may offer further guidance.

11/4

Form: 163222 CD BF

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Modest on turf but he's building a fine record on AW, winning three times in August/September (including C&D); runner-up on his last three starts (beaten favourite on each occasion) and he's a key contender once more; unexposed at 2m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

5

(2)

31st May 2026

Good

2m 0f 13y

Class 3

18:15 Thirsk

Artisan Dancer

9st 8lb

J: Oliver Stammers

T: Charlie Johnston

Industrious and dependable sort at 1m6f-2m2f but turf strike-rate is 1-19; not discredited on latest start (1m5f) but others are preferred.

16/1

4th

6

(5)

17th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 3

16:45 Hamilton

Artisan Dancer

9st 6lb

J: Jack Callan

T: Charlie Johnston

Industrious and dependable sort over 1m6f-2m2f but his turf strike-rate is just 1-18 and return to turf last time saw him well held.

25/1

10th

11

(3)

3rd May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:55 Newmarket

Artisan Dancer

8st 8lb

J: David Probert

T: Charlie Johnston

Industrious and dependable sort over 1m6f-2m2f, who's fit from AW, but his turf strike-rate is just 1-17 and that makes him look vulnerable.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 248639 D

Last run: 67 days

W: 9st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Won two staying handicaps at Nottingham in the summer of 2022; retained ability without winning this summer; sold for 10,000gns in October; starts out for new yard off a manageable mark; betting to guide.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(3)

29th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 2f 50y

Class 6

16:22 Nottingham

Alpine Stroll

11st 13lb

J: Mr Henry Callan

T: Lemos De Souza

Dual Nottingham winner; acts on soft, unraced on heavy; shot back to some form when storming home in an amateur riders' race at Bath (11.5f, good to soft) last month; well below form next time (1m6f, which he stays) but Henry Callan galvanised him to a 1m4f win at Newbury (soft) on Saturday; sole attempt at 1m2f was in 2021 but he had to hold on at Newbury after going clear and his appearance over this trip with 4lb penalty no longer looks ridiculous.

2/1

1st

1

(3)

29th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 2f 50y

Class 6

16:22 Nottingham

Alpine Stroll

11st 13lb

J: Mr Henry Callan

T: Lemos De Souza

Dual Nottingham winner; acts on soft, unraced on heavy; shot back to some form when storming home in an amateur riders' race at Bath (11.5f, good to soft) last month; well below form next time (1m6f, which he stays) but Henry Callan galvanised him to a 1m4f win at Newbury (soft) on Saturday; sole attempt at 1m2f was in 2021 but he had to hold on at Newbury after going clear and his appearance over this trip with 4lb penalty no longer looks ridiculous.

2/1

12

(7)

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

12:50 Newbury

Alpine Stroll

10st 11lb

J: Mr Henry Callan

T: Lemos De Souza

Acts on soft, unraced on heavy; shot back to some form when storming home in an amateur riders' race at Bath (11.5f, good to soft) last month; well below form off this 7lb higher mark at Haydock (1m6f, which he stays) 13 days later, however.

12/1

10/1

Form: 315068 CD

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Six times a C&D winner, including the corresponding event 12 months ago; latest win came off a 1lb higher mark in February; struggled since but a recent outing should have sharpened him up and he's not dismissed lightly.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

9

(2)

18th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 68y

Class 6

14:50 Lingfield

Smith

8st 9lb

J: Jack Dace

T: Lydia Richards

Seven wins over 2m on the AW here; getting on and lacks consisency now; hard to recommend having twice been pulled up over hurdles latterly.

16/1

7

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 116y

Class 5

17:10 Plumpton

Smith

10st 2lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Lydia Richards

Had lots of Flat racing and won eight times; has yet to offer a great deal over jumps (0-7) but soft ground was no good to him here last time; others are still far more convincing.

40/1

5

23rd Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 217y

Class 5

15:45 Plumpton

Smith

10st 12lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Lydia Richards

Eight-time Flat winner (1m2f-2m) who has yet to make a similar impact over hurdles and hasn't been seen in this sphere since pulling up over 2m4f here last April; others make more obvious appeal.

16/1

Form: 54-054

Last run: 179 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Fair effort when a close fourth on turf here in June; absent since but untried at 2m and not on a bad mark if his stamina holds out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

20th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 110y

Class 4

15:05 Lingfield

Dark Mystery

11st 6lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: B F Brookhouse

Has had a couple of close calls at Wolverhampton (1m6f, Tapeta) this winter but he's now 1-26 on the Flat and his only hurdle run was at Kempton (well-held sixth) in December 2022; probably best watched back in this sphere.

25/1

4th

3

(6)

30th Jan 2025

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 5

14:12 Southwell (AW)

Dark Mystery

9st 7lb

J: Sean Levey

T: B F Brookhouse

Only 1-26 but he's consistent and gone down narrowly over 1m6f at Wolverhampton the last twice; effective here and at this trip; chance.

100/30

4th

3

(6)

30th Jan 2025

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 5

14:12 Southwell (AW)

Dark Mystery

9st 7lb

J: Sean Levey

T: B F Brookhouse

Only 1-26 but he's consistent and gone down narrowly over 1m6f at Wolverhampton the last twice; effective here and at this trip; chance.

100/30

Form: 621825 CD

Last run: 184 days

W: 9st 8lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
C&D winner; ended losing run at Kempton in April and also ran well at that track in May; absent since a lesser effort over C&D in June; others appeal more today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

(3)

18th Jan 2025

Standard

2m 0f 120y

Class 6

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Anisoptera

9st 7lb

J: Laura Pearson

T: Brett Johnson

slowly away, towards rear

12/1

8th

4

(3)

18th Jan 2025

Standard

2m 0f 120y

Class 6

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Anisoptera

9st 7lb

J: Laura Pearson

T: Brett Johnson

slowly away, towards rear

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.70
Straight Forecast £9.44
Trifecta £19.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Artisan Dancer

NEWMARKET:

Dark Mystery

Daily Mirror:

Western Stars

The Star:

Tamaris

POSTDATA:

Artisan Dancer

Telegraph:

Artisan Dancer

The Guardian:

Artisan Dancer

Daily Mail:

Artisan Dancer

D Express:

Artisan Dancer

Daily Record:

Artisan Dancer

The Times:

Dark Mystery

The Sun:

Dark Mystery