July 27 / 14.35 Newcastle (AW)

14.35

Standard

County Hotel Handicap

  • Prize money: £4972.3
  • 1m 4f 98y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
County Hotel Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Light rain

4/5 (Won)

  • Win: £2.50
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 01-111 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Highly progressive since handicapping in cheekpieces, completing the four-timer when winning easily over C&D late last month; an 8lb rise demands more but he may well be up to it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(5)

5th Jul 2026

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 5

16:50 Southwell (AW)

Baltic

10st 2lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Lucy Wadham

Won over C&D in October 2024 off 9lb higher; however, he's run just five times since and has been disappointing in the main, particularly on both starts this season.

14/1

6th

4

(1)

11th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 3f 104y

Class 4

16:28 Yarmouth

Baltic

9st 0lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Lucy Wadham

Five-timer for the Charlton stable between September 2023 and July 2024 included a win over C&D, but he was beaten out of sight on his stable debut/reappearance at Kempton 15 days ago; has plenty to prove now.

25/1

10th

2

(2)

27th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 4

21:00 Kempton (AW)

Baltic

9st 11lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Lucy Wadham

Won his first five handicaps (including on Tapeta, unproven on Polytrack) but the last of those was in July 2024; generally disappointing since and, after 307 days off, this is a new trip on first run since changing hands and leaving Harry Charlton.

10/1

5/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 3-5216 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Seemingly found out by the step up in class back on turf last time but may not have seen out 1m6f; had previously shown the right attitude in a small field over C&D off a 4lb lower mark and remains lightly raced.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

(5)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

16:12 Ascot

Tryfan

8st 11lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Harry Charlton

Better on AW but he did win on good to firm last May; placed in two of his AW starts last winter but tailed off in a hot 2m race at Easter (hooded) and well beaten when returned to turf at Salisbury in May; now tries cheekpieces and a lower turf mark is largely negated by being 4lb out of the handicap.

10/1

7th

5

14th May 2026

Good

1m 6f 44y

Class 3

14:40 Salisbury

Tryfan

9st 1lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Harry Charlton

Three-time winner whose sole success on turf came over C&D (good to firm) just under one year ago; also scored off this mark on AW (1m6f) in September but has been very in and out on last four starts, including when tried in a hood (removed) and beaten 32l in valuable AW event last time; drops back down in grade from lower turf mark and can make presence felt if on a going day.

12/1

20/1

Form: -70030 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
C&D winner who's become highly inconsistent, typically failing to build on a better effort when well beaten last time; the handicapper's proving slow to relent and he'd be a surprise winner.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

(8)

25th Oct 2024

Heavy

1m 4f 0y

Class 3

16:01 Newbury

Thundering

9st 6lb

J: Sam James

T: Kevin Ryan

Two wins from 24 starts; heavy defeats in four of seven races this term but also now placed in three of his last four; more to prove on soft or heavy.

8/1

2nd

5

(8)

3rd Oct 2024

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 4

17:05 Newcastle (AW)

Thundering

9st 10lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Kevin Ryan

held up in rear, smooth headway on outer over 2f out, led narrowly over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on

7/1

16/1

Form: 591458 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Wins have all come on the AW in the spring/autumn and never off a mark quite this high; is 9lb better off with Baltic than when behind him over C&D last time but will do well to turn things round.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

1

(6)

26th Sep 2024

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 5

17:00 Southwell (AW)

Fox Flame

10st 1lb

J: Joe Fanning

T: Charlie Johnston

slightly awkward start, midfield

12/1

4

(6)

30th Aug 2024

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 5

19:05 Southwell (AW)

Fox Flame

9st 8lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Charlie Johnston

Two of her five AW wins have been here; recent efforts haven't been her best but her mark has eased; hard to rule out.

9/2

9th

4

(9)

14th Aug 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 5

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Fox Flame

10st 1lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Charlie Johnston

Five AW wins elsewhere, two in the spring, but has C&D form; holding her form and this is a lower grade than at Newcastle 18 days ago but she probably needs a bit extra off her current mark.

8/1

5th
1 (4)
Appier

7/2

Form: 941225 CD

Last run: 8 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Serial slow starter who's 5-12 on the AW and 2-2 over C&D; is currently 3lb above his highest successful mark and there's little margin for error off this mark but he's capable back on Tapeta if getting one of his better breaks and a decent pace up front.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

8

(2)

12th Jun 2026

Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

18:39 Goodwood

Appier

9st 2lb

J: Neil Callan

T: Tony Carroll

Mainly seen on the AW these days, but he did win three times on turf as a 3yo; interesting to see how he fares in the market on debut for Tony Carroll (same owner).

10/1

6th

5

(5)

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:45 Goodwood

Appier

9st 1lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: Richard J Bandey

Recorded his tenth win when scoring at Wolverhampton (2m, Tapeta) in January; held his form with creditable efforts in next three starts but his good spell came to a halt at Lingfield last month; has bit to prove again after that heavy defeat and his last turf win was in 2022.

10/1

13th

10

(11)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

14:05 Lingfield (AW)

Appier

9st 5lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Richard J Bandey

Three course wins have come over 1m4f, but he has won over this sort of trip elsewhere; finished half a length behind St Faz when third of four at Southwell (1m6f, Tapeta) and now 11lb better off; each-way claims.

18/1

OUR TIP

12/1

Form: 0015-8 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Ex-French gelding who's low mileage for his age and finished last season on an upswing, hitting traffic over C&D after his surprise Wolverhampton win; didn't offer a lot on his comeback from eight months off recently but is entitled to improve.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

12

24th Sep 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 2f 0y

15:15 Listowel

Met Office

10st 13lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: Eoin Doyle

Three-time flat winner showed a little bit more over timber at Tramore (16.5f, good) last time but was still beaten 7.5l into eighth; down 2lb but needs to improve again to be competitive here.

22/1

8th

9

17th Aug 2025

Good

2m 0f 140y

15:00 Tramore

Met Office

11st 1lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Eoin Doyle

Three-time Flat winner (twice in France, once in Britain) at up to 1m4f; has shown little over hurdles, but can be forgiven his recent run at Cork, failed to recover after being badly hampered four out; may do better.

12/1

8th

11

4th Aug 2025

Good

2m 1f 20y

14:30 Cork

Met Office

11st 0lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Eoin Doyle

Three-time Flat winner (twice in France, once in Britain) at up to 1m4f; has shown little over hurdles; first handicap now.

14/1

Form: 40344/ D

Last run: 980 days

W: 9st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Well over two years since he ran on the Flat and he's been off since well held over hurdles for Ben Pauling in the winter (picked up for £12,000 in May); it would be a surprise were he still up to his current mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

(5)

6th Jul 2026

Good

1m 5f 26y

Class 5

17:30 Ayr

Galahad Threepwood

9st 4lb

J: Greg Fairley

T: Ewan Whillans

Well handicapped on old form but hasn't won on the Flat since 2021 and, following a 406-day absence, he finished last in recent 1m3f Hamilton race won by Annandale; has too much to prove.

40/1

7th

2

(4)

17th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 3f 15y

Class 6

17:52 Hamilton

Galahad Threepwood

9st 13lb

J: David Nolan

T: Ewan Whillans

Dual AW Flat winner (1m4f) in 2021 who also won a 2m3f hurdle race in March 2023; that's from 44 starts and he may prove best watched on this first appearance since May 2025, despite the reduced mark.

20/1

3rd

1

7th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:25 Kelso

Galahad Threepwood

12st 0lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

Dual AW Flat winner (1m4f); only hurdle win was for Ben Pauling off 11lb higher at Doncaster in March 2023 (2m3f, good); some fair form last term, stable in good form and he's a possible.

7/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.90
Straight Forecast £4.49
Trifecta £16.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Baltic

NEWMARKET:

Appier

POSTDATA:

Tryfan

TOPSPEED:

Met Office

RP RATINGS:

Baltic

The Guardian:

Baltic

D Express:

Baltic

Daily Mirror:

Baltic

The Star:

Baltic

The Times:

Tryfan

The Sun:

Tryfan

Telegraph:

Appier

Daily Mail:

Appier

Daily Record:

Appier