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

3rd

2

23rd Aug 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:38 Worcester

Baltic

11st 4lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

A fairly useful 1m4f Flat winner for Harry Charlton in 2024; not so good in that sphere for his current yard and came in last of six in 1m6f Newmarket handicap 15 days ago; hurdle debut.

16/1

6th

3

(6)

8th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

17:23 Newmarket (July)

Baltic

10st 1lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: Lucy Wadham

Won five in a row at around 1m4f on turf/AW for the Charltons between September 2023 and July 2024; suffered heavy defeats on first three starts back from an absence for new yard and latest second of three at Yarmouth (1m6f, good to firm) in this headgear combination was no big step back in the right direction as he was beaten 8l.

11/1

2nd

3

(2)

28th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 17y

Class 5

14:35 Yarmouth

Baltic

9st 4lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Lucy Wadham

Won five in a row at around 1m4f on turf/AW for the Charltons between September 2023 and July 2024, but has suffered heavy defeats in all three starts since returning for this yard in May; new headgear combination will need to make a big difference.

7/1

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

5th

3

(2)

15th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:20 Newbury

Tryfan

9st 11lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Harry Charlton

Peak efforts on AW but he won on good to firm last May and did so again when he first tried cheekpieces in eight-runner race at Ascot (1m4f; by a neck, led over 2f out) five weeks ago; back up 3lb but in the mix in small field.

7/2

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

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

4th

4

(7)

29th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:20 Goodwood

Appier

9st 8lb

J: David Probert

T: Tony Carroll

Eleven wins include one over C&D (soft; equally effective on good to firm) on yard debut in June; back up 6lb but has won off slightly higher marks on the AW and his latest Sandown third, where he kept persevering, suggests he should be on the premises again.

10/1

3rd

1

(5)

24th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

18:20 Sandown

Appier

9st 9lb

J: Neil Callan

T: Tony Carroll

Career win number 11 when coming clear at Goodwood (1m6f, soft) on his debut for Tony Carroll; effective on faster ground and a 6lb rise might not stop him if he's turned a corner.

3/1

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

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

6th

10

(6)

20th Aug 2026

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

18:19 Newcastle (AW)

Galahad Threepwood

9st 4lb

J: Greg Fairley

T: Ewan Whillans

Two Lingfield AW wins (1m4f) for Mick Channon in 2021 and he also nabbed a handicap hurdle for Ben Pauling in 2023; some fair runs without winning for this yard but he has not been at his best since returning from a 406-day absence this season; career-low mark and he lost a shoe last time so worth a market check.

33/1

8th

6

(1)

31st Jul 2026

Standard To Slow

2m 0f 56y

Class 6

15:20 Newcastle (AW)

Galahad Threepwood

8st 9lb

J: Barry McHugh

T: Ewan Whillans

Two Lingfield AW wins (1m4f) and a handicap hurdle win (2m4f) for Ben Pauling; some fair runs without winning for this yard but not at his best after 406-day absence this season.

25/1

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

+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