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
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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

9th

9

(1)

28th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 10y

Class 5

15:00 Sandown

So Smart

9st 4lb

J: Laura Coughlan

T: Grace Harris

Dominated a four-runner apprentice handicap at Chepstow (5f, good to firm) last month, but he's taken two backward steps since then; handles most ground but he's still 4lb higher than for that last success and others are more convincing.

16/1

7th

7

(5)

17th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 21y

Class 5

17:20 Windsor

So Smart

9st 6lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: Grace Harris

Dominated a four-runner apprentice handicap at Chepstow (5f, good to firm) last month but not so good there eight days later; back up 4lb today and balance of form this term suggests he is not the percentage call.

10/1

3rd

4

(2)

24th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 16y

Class 6

20:11 Chepstow

So Smart

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Grace Harris

Took advantage of a drop in the weights when making all to record his second C&D success in an apprentice handicap (good to firm) eight days ago, beating stable-companion Savannah Smiles by 2l; races off the same mark (6lb well in) and a big chance of following up.

5/2

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

6th

2

(1)

20th Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 8y

Class 4

19:45 Nottingham

Sugar Hill Babe

10st 3lb

J: Ross Coakley

T: Lisa Williamson

Reappeared with a close second at Musselburgh in April and she built on that when forging clear over C&D (good) last month; up 6lb but she has form figures of 3211 at this track and was as good as ever last time; big player.

11/4

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

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

7th

5

(4)

4th Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 212y

Class 6

15:45 Catterick

Howzak

9st 10lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Liam Bailey

Seven of his eight wins have been on the AW, the most recent coming at Newcastle (6f; first-time tongue-tie) in February; well beaten on his last three starts but he did have an excuse here two weeks ago (blindfold was removed late).

33/1

6th

4

(5)

22nd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 212y

Class 6

16:42 Catterick

Howzak

9st 7lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Liam Bailey

Seven-time AW winner who is 1-7 on turf; paid for setting a strong pace when returned to this sphere last time but ended up achieving nothing in terms of form and he has become inconsistent.

20/1

8th

1

(1)

15th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 182y

Class 6

14:45 Carlisle

Howzak

10st 0lb

J: Jack Garritty

T: Liam Bailey

Seemingly aided by first-time tongue-tie when causing 28-1 surprise on AW in February (6f) but absent since running as though something was amiss the following month and has become far too inconsistent to rely upon; not the percentage call on first turf start since summer 2024.

12/1

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

8th

6

(3)

31st Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:10 Ripon

Betweenthesticks

9st 5lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Started his campaign with two wins in April, but he's been up and down since and was beaten 9l behind Our Absent Friends at Catterick last time; needs to bounce back again after that and others are more solid.

14/1

6th

5

(7)

17th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:15 Catterick

Betweenthesticks

9st 12lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Started his campaign with two wins in April and there have been plenty of solid runs since; should remain competitive but minor money perhaps his best hope.

8/1

4th

1

(5)

5th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

16:15 Pontefract

Betweenthesticks

9st 12lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Won this last year and kicked off this campaign with two wins in a row, the second of them over C&D; he's run well in defeat over C&D on his last two starts and there's every chance he'll again be bang there.

11/2

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

14th

4

(11)

23rd Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 215y

Class 2

15:50 Brighton

Neptune Legend

9st 3lb

J: David Egan

T: Tony Carroll

Three turf wins (fast ground) since rejoining Tony Carroll, one of them coming over C&D; up in the weights as a result and the recent rain will suit others more.

12/1

6th

7

(1)

23rd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 10y

Class 4

13:55 Sandown

Neptune Legend

9st 0lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Tony Carroll

Hold-up performer who won two in a row in May (5.7f/6f, good to firm) before keeping on for fifth of 13 at Windsor (5f, good to firm), and he was back on the scoresheet at Bath (5.7f, firm) three weeks ago; the return to a bare 5f may not be ideal but the stiff track compensates; respected.

11/4

1st

1

(1)

1st Jul 2026

Firm

0m 5f 160y

Class 6

19:08 Bath

Neptune Legend

9st 9lb

J: David Egan

T: Tony Carroll

Returned to Tony Carroll and left a couple of quiet AW runs behind when scoring over C&D (beat She Went Whoosh by nearly 3l) and at Brighton (6f) in May; came up short in hat-trick bid at Windsor on Monday but was out of his comfort zone early over the bare 5f before plugging on into fifth; not dismissed if turned out quickly.

9/4

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