June 20 / 14.50 Chelmsford (AW)

14.50

Standard

Esprit Couture 1er Cru Handicap

  • Prize money: £6280.8
  • 0m 5f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Esprit Couture 1er Cru Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Polytrack

Weather: Partly cloudy

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £1.60

Form: -87532 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 8st 13lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Yet to win for his new yard but he made a bold bid when second at Lingfield 16 days ago (cheekpieces first time; Harry Brown back in third); well drawn but he might have to work harder to dominate this time though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(13)

13th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 42y

Class 3

14:40 Yarmouth

Almaty Star

9st 3lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Robert Cowell

Had been running well on the AW this winter and wasn't for catching after setting a strong pace over this C&D last month (third has won since); an 8lb rise still leaves him on a fair mark based on his previous form but he does now step back up in grade.

5/1

1st

5

(4)

11th Apr 2026

Good

0m 5f 42y

Class 4

17:40 Yarmouth

Almaty Star

9st 5lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Robert Cowell

Ultra-reliable operator on AW, running another solid race when second to a class-dropper at Wolverhampton (5f; first time visor) last month; lesser strike-rate on turf but he is fully effective on it and he has been given a real chance by the handicapper, dropped 10lb for his last two turf defeats (in Class 3); should go well.

15/2

8/1

  • Place: £4.70

Form: 37162- C

Last run: 376 days

W: 9st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Front-runner; given a peach of a ride when winning at Lingfield last April (6f, AW) and ran well at Haydock when last seen 376 days ago; can go well fresh but there is other pace to deal with on this rare 5f run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

(10)

1st May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

16:20 Ascot

Emperor Spirit

9st 7lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Michael Keady

Made a winning debut for this yard at Newmarket last July (5f, good to firm) and he is now 3lb lower; patchy record since but he can go well fresh and he has a good C&D run on his record.

20/1

8th

1

(7)

29th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

19:00 Kempton (AW)

Emperor Spirit

9st 11lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Michael Keady

Prominent racer; made a winning stable debut at Newmarket (5f) in July off 2lb higher; fair third at Chelmsford two weeks ago (6f) but more will be needed to come out on top this time.

10/1

8th

1

(7)

29th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

19:00 Kempton (AW)

Emperor Spirit

9st 11lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Michael Keady

Prominent racer; made a winning stable debut at Newmarket (5f) in July off 2lb higher; fair third at Chelmsford two weeks ago (6f) but more will be needed to come out on top this time.

10/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 4-5111 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 8st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Five wins from ten starts in C&D handicaps, including his last three; up in class today but he's on the up and shouldn't be underestimated.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(3)

27th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 6

20:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Dark Side Prince

9st 8lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Jessica Macey

Prolific 5f winner, including over C&D, most recently at Chelmsford in October off 2lb lower; however, he was disappointing back at Chelmsford in February and has a bit to prove this time.

5/1

8th

5

(3)

21st Feb 2026

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

18:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Dark Side Prince

9st 3lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Jessica Macey

Recorded his 11th AW win when narrowly beating Shalaa Asker over C&D in October; been absent since then but he's only 2lb higher than for that last win and he has won after a break in the past; dangerous on return.

4/1

14/1

Form: 131105 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 8st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Cheekpieces have turned things around for him, winning four handicaps since March (including C&D; last two runs suggest the handicapper has caught up now though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(8)

24th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 6

17:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Buraback

9st 9lb

J: Jack Callan

T: Derek Shaw

Conditions to suit and he ran well in defeat at Chelmsford (5f) in February/March; didn't run badly in a stronger C&D handicap last week and he can feature prominently back into 0-55 company.

6/1

7th

10

(8)

20th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 5

16:22 Wolverhampton (AW)

Buraback

8st 4lb

J: Faye McManoman

T: Derek Shaw

Finished a solid second at Chelmsford (5f Class 6) on his last two starts and his turn looks near; back up in grade but receives weight all round and remains favourably treated on plenty of form; not dismissed.

7/1

Form: -24553 CD

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Losing run up to ten but he ran as well as he ever has when third of six at Lingfield (5f, AW; Almaty Star second) 16 days ago; 1-1 over C&D; drawn widest but this should be run to suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

(4)

1st Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 34y

Class 5

16:00 Newbury

Harry Brown

8st 9lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Peter Crate

Took advantage of a career-low mark to land his first win on turf at Lingfield (good to firm) three weeks ago; up 4lb but he has the ability to deal with it.

6/1

1st

9

(5)

9th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 4f 217y

Class 5

16:25 Lingfield

Harry Brown

8st 5lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Peter Crate

Has form on good to firm but 0-15 on grass as opposed to 5-29 on AW; short of his best on AW of late and others bring more convincing claims.

9/1

Form: 25-450 CD

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Never going the pace in the Dash at Epsom 19 days ago; has a fine record over C&D, is down to a dangerous mark and much better is expected from him this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

12

(2)

30th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

16:10 Goodwood

Lord Riddiford

8st 4lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: John & Sean Quinn

Has a stunning record at this meeting, winning four of his five attempts, including this race for the last three years (soft, good and good to soft); well held of late but he ran no worse last time out than he had in his prep race before the 2023 win and he's weighted to have a big chance despite being 3lb wrong; Hollie Doyle rode for his 2021 win; drying ground could be the sticking point, however.

5/1

6th

4

(5)

20th Jun 2024

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

14:50 Chelmsford (AW)

Lord Riddiford

9st 7lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

bumped start, midfield, switched right and some headway 2f out, weakened from 1f out

10/1

12th

10

(3)

1st Jun 2024

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

15:45 Epsom

Lord Riddiford

8st 2lb

J: Paddy Mathers

T: John & Sean Quinn

Unplaced in this race in 2021 and 2023 and short of his best when last seen on AW in February; his last three wins have come in the same 5f handicap at Glorious Goodwood and that race looks a better fit than today's.

20/1

16/1

Form: 40-504 C

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Two creditable 7f runs on AW this year but she looks to be on the downgrade and it won't be easy trying to dominate now dropped back to 5f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(7)

19th Nov 2024

Standard

0m 6f 1y

Class 5

14:15 Lingfield (AW)

Princess Shabnam

9st 9lb

J: Ben Sanderson

T: S Woods

Seen more regularly on turf and it's over two years since her one AW win (6f) but she's been running well off much-reduced mark of late; shouldn't be too far away if no ill effects from leaving off the headgear.

9/2

6th

1

(7)

19th Nov 2024

Standard

0m 6f 1y

Class 5

14:15 Lingfield (AW)

Princess Shabnam

9st 9lb

J: Ben Sanderson

T: S Woods

took keen hold, prominent, pressed winner over 4f out, lost second over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong

9/2

3rd

1

(7)

7th Nov 2024

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

20:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Princess Shabnam

9st 9lb

J: Ben Sanderson

T: S Woods

took keen hold, led, headed over 1f out, weakened and lost second towards finish

3/1

OUR TIP

Form: -90315 D BF

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Strong at the finish when winning a Windsor handicap on his stable debut last month (5f, good to firm); solid run off this mark last time and he's likely to be in the shake-up once again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(1)

13th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 42y

Class 3

14:40 Yarmouth

Rocking Ends

9st 9lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Tom Clover

Three-time winner on good to firm last year, including over C&D in August off a mark 1lb higher than today's; 0-4 in Bahrain this winter but now returns to Britain on a handy mark having been off for 83 days; could have this run to suit and holds claims.

11/1

7

(14)

21st Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 4f 214y

Class 2

16:07 Southwell (AW)

Rocking Ends

9st 2lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Tom Clover

Has gone 3-4 in cheekpieces and was drawn out of contention in the defeat at Goodwood; however, the handicapper is creeping closer and this race demands his best form yet.

12/1

1

(1)

24th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 42y

Class 3

15:20 Yarmouth

Rocking Ends

10st 0lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Tom Clover

Has won two of his last three and was drawn out of contention when beaten at Goodwood; always in a good place before doing it comfortably at Windsor (5f, good to firm); 7lb rise asks a question but he's on top of his game.

6/4

Non-runners

The Defiant

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £77.70
Straight Forecast £70.99
Tricast £401.63
Trifecta £311.10

Selections

NEWMARKET:

Almaty Star

POSTDATA:

Dark Side Prince

RP RATINGS:

Harry Brown

SPOTLIGHT:

Rocking Ends

The Times:

Buraback

TOPSPEED:

Lord Riddiford

D Express:

Almaty Star

Daily Mirror:

Almaty Star

Daily Record:

Almaty Star

The Sun:

Harry Brown

Telegraph:

Rocking Ends

The Guardian:

Dark Side Prince

Daily Mail:

Dark Side Prince

The Star:

Dark Side Prince