July 12 / 18.25 Chepstow

18.25

Good To Soft

Cruises Chase Handicap

  • Prize money: £2983.38
  • 0m 5f 16y
  • Class 6
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Cruises Chase Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £2.20

Form: /7-064

Last run: 32 days

W: 9st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Better with each of his three runs back from almost a year off, latterly on his first crack at this trip a month ago; that gave something to build on off the same mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(4)

4th Sep 2024

Good

0m 5f 10y

Class 5

16:05 Bath

Sovereign Slipper

9st 9lb

J: Trevor Whelan

T: Henry Candy

Pipped So Smart in the final strides at Chepstow in July (5f, good to soft) and he's 2lb better off with that rival today; subsequent Leicester run (6f) less convincing but returning to a stiff 5f should suit, especially with a fast pace looking assured.

6/1

10th

2

(3)

11th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

15:00 Leicester

Sovereign Slipper

9st 12lb

J: Trevor Whelan

T: Henry Candy

took keen hold, towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out

5/1

1st

4

(6)

12th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

0m 5f 16y

Class 6

18:25 Chepstow

Sovereign Slipper

9st 8lb

J: Trevor Whelan

T: Henry Candy

Better with each of his three runs back from almost a year off, latterly on his first crack at this trip a month ago; that gave something to build on off the same mark.

4/1

8/1

  • Place: £2.60

Form: 475713 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
The cheekpieces have had a positive effect and the forecast softer ground looks in her favour if anything; doesn't have a great strike-rate but she may be the one to take them along and needs considering.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

(1)

29th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 16y

Class 5

15:30 Chepstow

So Smart

8st 10lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: Grace Harris

Yet to build upon his pleasing seasonal debut in April, but didn't run badly when third of six over C&D (good to soft) eight days ago; 1lb lower now and Ashley Lewis claims his useful 5lb; considered.

4/1

3rd

6

(2)

21st May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 16y

Class 4

18:05 Chepstow

So Smart

8st 4lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Grace Harris

C&D (good to soft) winner in August 2024 who won at Lingfield (good to firm) and Ffos Las (again 5f, good) last year; couldn't repeat his win in that Lingfield event 12 days ago and this looks a warmer race than the ones he regularly contests; still not dismissed.

7/1

5th

5

(4)

9th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 4f 217y

Class 5

16:25 Lingfield

So Smart

9st 1lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Grace Harris

Turned in an excellent effort when winning the corresponding race from stall 1 (14 ran) last May, flying out of the stalls and able to get to the stands' rail after one furlong; also won at Ffos Las in July and both victories were achieved off a higher mark than today's; not at best last time but his reappearance had been encouraging; should make a bold bid.

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: -12756 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Not much wiggle room off this mark but she's capable of winning off it when things fall her way; shaped nicely back from a break on Tapeta recently; she's odds-on to fluff the start, though, and will need one of her better breaks; still considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(7)

31st May 2026

Good

0m 5f 8y

Class 4

15:55 Nottingham

Sugar Hill Babe

9st 11lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Lisa Williamson

Her front-running C&D win last May came off just 1lb lower; ended 2025 quietly but she returned to form after six months off, keeping on well for second at Musselburgh (5f, good) 32 days ago; takes on some less-exposed 3yos but likely to go well.

7/1

2nd

2

(3)

29th Apr 2026

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

15:15 Musselburgh

Sugar Hill Babe

9st 8lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Lisa Williamson

Reappears off the mark she defied at Nottingham (5f, good to firm) last May and has won first time up before; also a creditable third on previous C&D visit; no surprise were she to go well.

9/1

9th

3

(6)

24th Oct 2025

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 4

17:55 Southwell (AW)

Sugar Hill Babe

9st 8lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: Lisa Williamson

Dual C&D winner who has mainly performed well since winning from 2lb lower at Nottingham (5f, good to firm) in May; possible excuses for her last two defeats and could go well back here.

11/1

Form: 341627 D

Last run: 71 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
Wins have come on Tapeta and has generally been kept to faster surfaces in turf races since coming over from Ireland; drops from 6f and returns to cheekpieces from a visor after a ten-week break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(1)

16th Oct 2025

Good

0m 5f 215y

Class 6

13:45 Brighton

Thismydream

9st 4lb

J: Tommie Jakes

T: Michael Attwater

Has shown inconsistent form, mostly on AW, this year and ran below par over C&D in most recent turf attempt; far from sure to take advantage of a reduced mark.

20/1

5

(7)

22nd Sep 2025

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 6

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Thismydream

9st 5lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Michael Attwater

Won off 9lb higher at Bath (5.6f) last August but he's been up and down since then and has been well held in last three starts; has plenty to prove again and he's not run over this trip since 2021.

8/1

4th

1

(5)

11th Sep 2025

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

15:10 Chelmsford (AW)

Thismydream

9st 9lb

J: Tommie Jakes

T: Michael Attwater

Should be making a big impact off this sort of mark but mixed record early in the year and well held, albeit after 164 days off, at Brighton five weeks ago; others look safer.

12/1

5/1

Form: 543221 C

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Running consistently since returning from a lengthy absence and justified strong support in a weaker handicap here off 3lb lower last time; the drop back in trip on forecast softer ground shouldn't pose a problem and he ought to go well again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

(1)

6th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

20:30 Newcastle (AW)

Howzak

9st 8lb

J: William Pyle

T: Liam Bailey

Returned to form out of the blue when winning a C&D handicap last month (tongue tied first time); fair effort at Southwell (5f) one week later and he will be happier back up in distance.

11/4

4th

1

(5)

11th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 6

13:44 Southwell (AW)

Howzak

9st 10lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Liam Bailey

Almost a year off was followed by a couple of inauspicious efforts but he came good at a big price in a first-time tongue-tie at Newcastle (6f, Tapeta) last week; has had consistent spells once hitting form in the past and a 4lb penalty means he's still on a handy mark; big player.

3/1

1st

4

(8)

4th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

17:00 Newcastle (AW)

Howzak

9st 6lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Liam Bailey

Absent for 316 days before two modest course runs in December; tongue-tie now given a go; others look safer.

25/1

Form: 8-7207 CD

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Hasn't built on his Ripon second and is still to run well in the (retained) visor; won on soft ground over C&D as a 2yo and is well treated now but does have it to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(6)

3rd Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

20:12 Ripon

Betweenthesticks

9st 9lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Kicked off the season with back-to-back 5f wins at Wolverhampton and Pontefract before being run down by Vince L'Amour over C&D (Hurt You Never third) next time; nowhere near those same levels at Pontefract (ninth of ten) latest, so needs to bounce back.

9/1

9th

4

(9)

22nd May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

19:22 Pontefract

Betweenthesticks

9st 5lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

He has returned from a six-month break in rude health, winning at Wolverhampton and over C&D (second C&D success) last month and running well in his hat-trick bid at Ripon a fortnight ago; wide draw not ideal for a front-runner but he isn't handicapped out of things; trainer also runs Jojo Rabbit.

4/1

2nd

5

(4)

8th May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

18:45 Ripon

Betweenthesticks

9st 6lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Returned from six months off with a win at Wolverhampton and he followed up with another narrow success at Pontefract (5f, good) 17 days ago; 3lb higher than for his front-running win last time but remains feasibly treated and is tactically versatile; key player for yard that won this in 2023 and 2025.

5/2

Form: 065187

Last run: 18 days

W: 8st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 52

Form & Verdict
Gets it wrong at the stalls way more often than he nails it and can pull hard, so there will always be risks with him, especially back down from 6f; rain wouldn't have been ideal either.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(9)

29th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 215y

Class 6

16:58 Brighton

Neptune Legend

9st 9lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Tony Carroll

Third run back with Tony Carroll when taking advantage of his reduced mark at Bath (5.7f) last Friday and he did it in good style; that gives him a big chance under just a 4lb penalty but he's run with credit at Brighton only once from eight visits.

9/4

1st

6

(7)

22nd May 2026

Good

0m 5f 160y

Class 6

17:40 Bath

Neptune Legend

9st 5lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Tony Carroll

Hasn't threatened in two AW runs for new yard this spring but he's now 6lb lower than for his last win in November and two of his three turf wins have come over C&D (good to firm); should get a good tow into this race and he's in the mix back at this track.

6/1

4

(7)

13th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 10y

Class 6

17:09 Bath

Neptune Legend

9st 5lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Tony Carroll

Dual course winner but yet to fire this term, finishing only seventh of nine in 5f Wolverhampton AW handicap last month; has run well in these aids in the past.

8/1

Non-runners

Bama Lama, Rhubarb

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £24.20
Straight Forecast £21.90
Tricast £155.79
Trifecta £112.80

Selections

The Guardian:

Rhubarb

POSTDATA:

Betweenthesticks

The Sun:

Howzak

Daily Mirror:

Sovereign Slipper

SPOTLIGHT:

Sugar Hill Babe

RP RATINGS:

Neptune Legend

Telegraph:

So Smart

WEST COUNTRY:

Bama Lama

The Times:

Betweenthesticks

Daily Record:

Howzak

The Star:

Sovereign Slipper

Daily Mail:

Rhubarb

D Express:

Rhubarb