June 08 / 18.45 Lingfield

18.45

Good To Firm

Ben Martin Big Birthday Bash Handicap

  • Prize money: £4972.3
  • 1m 2f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Ben Martin Big Birthday Bash Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 322-32

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Placed in all five starts, most recently second in 1m Redcar handicap on good to firm; came back for more when headed there so the return to 1m2f could be a good move; should go well again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(6)

18th Sep 2024

Good

1m 1f 21y

Class 3

16:05 Yarmouth

Arctic Mountain

9st 12lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Saeed bin Suroor

took keen hold, pressed leader

6/1

4th

1

(4)

13th Aug 2024

Soft

1m 1f 35y

Class 3

19:00 Hamilton

Arctic Mountain

10st 3lb

J: Joe Fanning

T: Saeed bin Suroor

Placed on first five starts (including on soft) before dominant display in Lingfield handicap (1m2f, good to firm) in June; saddle slipped and lost weightcloth at York six days later (eased; disqualified); he's 11lb higher than two starts ago but this unexposed 4yo could have more to offer.

9/2

16th

1

(1)

14th Jun 2024

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 4

16:45 York

Arctic Mountain

10st 0lb

J: Christian Howarth

T: Saeed bin Suroor

started quickly, took keen hold, led

15/8

11/2

  • Place: £3.50

Form: 54-115 BF

Last run: 119 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Improved when winning at Wolverhampton (9.4f) and Kempton (1m3f) in January; possibly stretched by 1m4f when fifth in hat-trick bid back at Wolverhampton in February; freshened up since; first handicap start on turf.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(3)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 23y

Class 4

15:15 Yarmouth

Charlies Choice

9st 9lb

J: Taryn Langley

T: David Simcock

Won three handicaps at Lingfield (1m4f-1m5f, AW) this winter; never a threat when fourth back on turf at Windsor last month; others hold stronger claims.

14/1

4th

6

(8)

18th May 2026

Good

1m 3f 99y

Class 4

19:40 Windsor

Charlies Choice

9st 2lb

J: Taryn Langley

T: David Simcock

All eight wins have been on AW but he's lost his way with heavy defeats at Newcastle (12.4f, Tapeta) and Lingfield (2m, Polytrack) in last two runs; still lightly raced on turf but he needs a major revival back in this sphere.

20/1

11th

2

(5)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

14:05 Lingfield (AW)

Charlies Choice

9st 9lb

J: Taryn Langley

T: David Simcock

Three-time winner over 1m4f/1m5f here and Taryn Langley gets on well with him, but he has never attempted this far before and he must put an uncharacteristically poor effort at Newcastle 13 days ago behind him.

16/1

Form: 72-356 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Started the season with creditable efforts over C&D and at Windsor last month; failed to stay when stepped up to 1m4f on AW here last weekend; eased 2lb and back to the mark he defied on good to firm at Windsor last summer; good shout if the first-time blinkers have a positive effect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

(2)

13th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 4

20:20 Windsor

Morcar

9st 7lb

J: Pat Dobbs

T: Richard Hannon

Prevailed narrowly at Newbury last time, taking record to 5-28 and confirming that he's well suited by fast ground; back up 3lb but remains well handicapped on peak form and is a dual C&D winner; good third in this race last year; one of the main players.

5/1

1st

1

(2)

2nd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

18:15 Newbury

Morcar

10st 2lb

J: Pat Dobbs

T: Richard Hannon

Four-time winner who is 3lb beneath his last winning mark; however, he hasn't offered all that much in three runs following a break and wind surgery.

20/1

6th

6

(9)

1st Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 4

17:10 Newbury

Morcar

9st 1lb

J: Pat Dobbs

T: Richard Hannon

1lb lower than for his last win; two runs back from wind surgery haven't been his best and he is taking on some potential improvers today.

14/1

OUR TIP

11/2

Form: 3-5236 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Placed twice over 1m2f at Windsor (good/good to soft) this spring and beaten only 1.5l when sixth (Morcar fifth) there latest; likely to be on the premises.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

5

(2)

20th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

20:20 Windsor

Fast Steps

9st 7lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Rod Millman

His last win was two years ago but he's been placed in all three runs this season including close calls over C&D (good to firm) and at Ffos Las (1m2f, good); remains well handicapped on his old form and he should make another bold bid.

3/1

2nd

5

(8)

23rd Jun 2026

Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

17:10 Ffos Las

Fast Steps

9st 1lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Rod Millman

Losing run is mounting up but on a good mark and placed in his last two races (1m2f); goes on all ground; hard to rule out.

4/1

3rd

9

(8)

1st Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

20:45 Windsor

Fast Steps

9st 1lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Rod Millman

C&D winner whose losing run is up to 17 but he had dropped 14lb below his last winning mark when beaten less than a length into third of seven here four weeks ago; respected if building on that.

11/2

Form: 2411-4 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 9st 10lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Ended last season in career-best form, winning twice over 8.5f at Epsom (good to firm) in cheekpieces; reappearance fourth of seven over 1m2f at Brighton was respectable but underlines she needs a bit more from her new mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(1)

31st Oct 2024

Standard

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

20:00 Chelmsford (AW)

New Heights

10st 2lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Jonathan Portman

Won her novice on Polytrack but hasn't run well on the AW since and has rather struggled this year, coming 9lb down the weights; needs a revival back from six weeks off.

6/1

6th

1

(1)

31st Oct 2024

Standard

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

20:00 Chelmsford (AW)

New Heights

10st 2lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Jonathan Portman

Won her novice on Polytrack but hasn't run well on the AW since and has rather struggled this year, coming 9lb down the weights; needs a revival back from six weeks off.

6/1

7th

5

(2)

21st Sep 2024

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 4

17:05 Newmarket

New Heights

10st 11lb

J: Mr James Harding

T: Jonathan Portman

led, led narrowly 4f out, headed over 2f out, soon weakened

14/1

Form: 943-08

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Did well in novices as a 2yo but has struggled to get competitive in handicaps since; dropped 7lb in two starts this year but need to see more before lending support.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(8)

1st Jul 2026

Good

1m 2f 17y

Class 5

17:20 Epsom

Oj Lifestyle

10st 3lb

J: Toby Moore

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Five-time winner who has been placed in half of his six visits here, including when third in this race in 2024; carries a 5lb penalty for winning at Brighton (1m2f, good to firm) ten days ago but Toby Moore's 7lb claim will aid his bid to go back-to-back; considered.

4/1

1st

1

(3)

21st Jun 2026

Good

1m 1f 207y

Class 5

15:56 Brighton

Oj Lifestyle

10st 2lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Goes on any ground; all his handicap wins have been here over 1m (seems to stay 1m2f), the latest in October off this mark; down the field in both races this year but those were after lengthy breaks; hard to dismiss.

13/2

6th

6

(1)

29th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 198y

Class 5

15:20 Brighton

Oj Lifestyle

9st 6lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Three wins here (1m, good to firm), most recently in October, immediately raise interest and he stuck at it when third over 1m2f on his final start of last term; quiet reappearance in February probably best ignored and he's worth another go at this trip (tried once two years ago); respected.

100/30

10/1

Form: 4-34

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Reached the frame in Dundalk maidens (10.7f/1m4f) for Joseph O'Brien over the winter; ran to a similar level when fourth in 1m Nottingham maiden (good) for new yard 18 days ago; brings unexposed potential to handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

22

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 3f 81y

15:05 Punchestown

Moab

10st 4lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Henrietta C Knight

British challenger; dual-purpose; has won on the AW on the Flat but is 0-10 over hurdles; went close off 1lb lower at Huntingdon (20.5f, soft) in January; ground may have been too lively at Southwell latest; could outrun his odds back on easier ground.

28/1

4th

9

24th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

16:30 Southwell

Moab

11st 4lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Henrietta C Knight

No match for the winner in his last two races over hurdles but both were well handicapped and returning to a longer trip looks the right move; on the shortlist.

5/1

2nd

10

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 4

15:10 Exeter

Moab

11st 2lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Henrietta C Knight

Flattered by close proximity to one who hacked up at Huntingdon (2m4f, soft) but still ran well; fine over this shorter trip and didn't run too badly on the AW last time.

14/1

Non-runners

Rockit Tommy

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.20
Straight Forecast £19.51
Tricast £53.41
Trifecta £53.10

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Arctic Mountain

SPOTLIGHT:

Morcar

The Star:

New Heights

The Times:

Fast Steps

NEWMARKET:

Arctic Mountain

Telegraph:

Arctic Mountain

The Guardian:

Arctic Mountain

Daily Mail:

Arctic Mountain

Daily Mirror:

Arctic Mountain

The Sun:

Arctic Mountain

RP RATINGS:

Morcar

POSTDATA:

Morcar

Daily Record:

New Heights

D Express:

Fast Steps