May 09 / 14.35 Chester

14.35

Good

Halliwell Jones Handicap

  • Prize money: £22932
  • 0m 7f 127y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
ITV4
View Course
Halliwell Jones Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

11/10 (Won)

  • Win: £2.00
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 22-1

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Very strong form last summer, finishing second in two races won by subsequent Group 1 scorers; comfortably went one better at Thirsk (7f, soft) on reappearance and should have plenty more to offer; opening mark looks very workable; highly respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(4)

15th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:10 Newbury

Never So Brave

9st 8lb

J: David Probert

T: Andrew Balding

7f wins include the Group 1 City Of York Stakes last summer; not quite at his best this year, although a sixth in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood last month (80-1) was no disgrace; back down in grade and returns to his optimum distance so should be thereabouts.

3/1

6th

3

(2)

29th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

16:10 Goodwood

Never So Brave

9st 10lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Proved somewhat resurgent with second-place finish behind Qirat over 7f at York last time, the C&D of his Group 1 success last August; however, faces a stiffer assignment back up in trip/class and possibly isn't crying out for this return to 1m, despite being a distance winner.

50/1

2nd

3

(5)

27th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

14:58 York

Never So Brave

9st 8lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Smart performer; completed a notable hat-trick (on good to firm ground) last summer, culminating in Group 1 honours over C&D; avoids a penalty for that success and holds a leading chance assuming he's back in similar form; best to forgive Epsom Group 3 effort last time (unsuited by the way the race unfolded).

4/5

16/1

  • Place: £6.00

Form: 6322-5 C

Last run: 33 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Only about 4l behind Notable Speech (subsequent 2,000 Guineas winner) in AW contest on seasonal debut; showed useful form on turf as a 2yo and now returns to the scene of his debut win; could go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

(7)

15th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:10 Newbury

Witness Stand

9st 8lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Dr Richard Newland

Ran as well as he's ever done when second in this race 12 months ago, and he was a creditable third in Group 2 at Glorious Goodwood (7f, good) last time; solid credentials and unlikely to be far away.

7/1

3rd

7

(3)

28th Jul 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Goodwood

Witness Stand

9st 6lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Best effort this year when going close in Group 3 at Epsom on penultimate start; record at Goodwood features two wins at this meeting, including in this race 12 months ago, and a good second to Qirat on worse terms in a handicap; shortlist material back here.

7/1

6th

6

(6)

11th Jul 2026

Good

0m 7f 1y

Class 1

15:52 Chester

Witness Stand

9st 7lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Went close behind Holguin in this race last year before winning the Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood (7f, good); had some struggles last autumn/winter, but he returned after wind surgery with a near-miss in a Group 3 at Epsom (tongue-tie added) last month; that was much more like it and he's a major player if he can back that up.

5/2

Form: P211-2

Last run: 20 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Scored twice over 1m on AW in December; good second in Newbury handicap (7f, good to soft; off 2lb lower) on reappearance, showing that he's just as effective on turf; open to further improvement and holds solid-looking claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

12

(13)

2nd May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 218y

Class 2

14:40 Thirsk

Dashing Darcey

8st 13lb

J: Oisin McSweeney

T: Geoffrey Harker

Just second outing for Geoff Harker when runner-up off 1lb higher at Haydock (1m, good) last May but never involved when dropped to 7f at York the following month and not seen since (gelded); this is a tough race to return in.

14/1

12th

4

(13)

14th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

13:50 York

Dashing Darcey

9st 13lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Geoffrey Harker

Just second outing for current yard when adding to his good Haydock record with a closing second over 1m three weeks ago; slight doubts as to whether the drop back to 7f will be ideal but his mark is definitely workable.

11/2

2nd

7

(14)

24th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 37y

Class 3

13:15 Haydock

Dashing Darcey

9st 5lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Geoffrey Harker

Won over C&D (good) for Roger Varian last summer and another fine effort over C&D when second on soft in the autumn; changed hands for 110,000gns after final 3yo start; never involved in the Lincoln at Doncaster on reappearance for new yard but he did meet trouble in running; stall 14 could make life tricky.

8/1

Form: 851-33 BF

Last run: 92 days

W: 8st 11lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Has shown fairly useful form on AW, winning twice as a 2yo and creditable third in both runs this year; however, faces a stiffer task in this grade returned to turf and back from three-month break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

(10)

20th Aug 2026

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 5

15:55 Lingfield (AW)

Gunfighter

9st 10lb

J: Pat Dobbs

T: John Butler

Turned things around with a win at Southwell (7f, Tapeta) last month but he was only seventh of ten in his follow-up bid at Wolverhampton (favourite); used to act on Polytrack; in-form yard also runs Split Elevens; inconsistent.

8/1

7th

2

(3)

31st Jul 2026

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 5

14:35 Wolverhampton (AW)

Gunfighter

10st 1lb

J: Jack Gilligan

T: John Butler

Unable to land a telling blow on first two stable starts but rewarded good market support when scoring by a neck at Southwell (7f) this month and remains well handicapped on older form; high on the list.

5/2

Form: 630-21

Last run: 36 days

W: 8st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Progressive results on AW, most recently winning a Kempton maiden (7f) by narrow margin; hit with a 4lb rise in his mark and has something to prove in this useful handicap back on turf.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

(4)

15th Oct 2024

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 4

16:58 Newcastle (AW)

Celtic Warrior

9st 10lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Heavy ground the likely reason for his modest effort at Chester (1m2f) last month, but was only been beaten a neck over the same trip at Epsom (good) the time before; record on the AW reads 321 and stable 31-131 (24%) here in past five seasons; respected.

11/2

4th

2

(7)

13th Sep 2024

Soft

1m 2f 70y

Class 4

17:40 Chester

Celtic Warrior

9st 11lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Andrew Balding

prominent, ridden 4f out, lost position 3f out, weakened 1f out

9/4

4/1

Form: 2083-1

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Gelded prior to his 8l romp in Wolverhampton novice event (8.5f, AW) on seasonal debut; could well build on that success and show further progress; revised mark looks kind if the bare result is taken literally; one for the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(1)

25th Oct 2025

Heavy

1m 2f 43y

Class 2

16:25 Doncaster

Grey Cuban

10st 2lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Hugo Palmer

Front-runner who defied top weight at York (1m2f, good) a fortnight ago and won over this C&D (good to soft) last September; has run some good races on soft ground in the past; he's just 2lb higher than last time and can produce another bold show.

5/1

1

(9)

11th Oct 2025

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 2

14:05 York

Grey Cuban

9st 9lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Hugo Palmer

Front-runner who won at Chester (1m2f, good) in July and returned to form when third of five in Listed race there (1m4f, good to soft) last month; he's saved his best for Chester this season but has shown promise at York in the past and the drop back in trip is a likely plus; can make a bold bid.

20/1

3

(1)

13th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 1

14:05 Chester

Grey Cuban

9st 5lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Hugo Palmer

This course rather dominates his turf record, most notably with a big career best to win 1m2f handicap in July in good style from the front; the scale of his defeats at other tracks on his last two outings is a concern and although better seems likely on this return to Chester, stamina is in doubt.

14/1

16/1

Form: 5-1221

Last run: 12 days

W: 8st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Solid record switched to AW this year, most recently winning at Wolverhampton (8.5f Class 5); however, faces a much tougher assignment upped three grades and returned to turf; 2lb out of weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(14)

11th Oct 2024

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

19:45 Kempton (AW)

Havanarama

9st 11lb

J: Brandon Wilkie

T: Hugo Palmer

in rear

10/1

9

(1)

21st Sep 2024

Good To Soft

1m 2f 70y

Class 4

17:20 Chester

Havanarama

9st 0lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Hugo Palmer

prominent early, in touch with leaders after 1f, weakened over 2f out

11/2

6th

8

(2)

10th Sep 2024

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

19:30 Newcastle (AW)

Havanarama

9st 6lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Hugo Palmer

Steady progression in handicaps this year but he's had plenty of racing now and the handicapper knows where he is; no obvious reason he won't go well again for his in-form yard but is vulnerable to improvers.

6/1

Non-runners

Nellie Leylax, Brunel Nation

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £17.50
Straight Forecast £24.49
Tricast £83.85
Trifecta £73.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Never So Brave

The Times:

Dashing Darcey

POSTDATA:

Celtic Warrior

The Star:

Grey Cuban

Daily Record:

Dashing Darcey

RP RATINGS:

Never So Brave

TOPSPEED:

Never So Brave

NEWMARKET:

Never So Brave

Telegraph:

Never So Brave

The Guardian:

Never So Brave

D Express:

Never So Brave

Daily Mirror:

Never So Brave

The Sun:

Never So Brave

Daily Mail:

Celtic Warrior