September 14 / 14.05 Chester

14.05

Heavy

Virgin Bet Stand Cup Stakes (Listed Race)

  • Prize money: £33612
  • 1m 4f 63y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
ITV
View Course
Virgin Bet Stand Cup Stakes (Listed Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

7/4 (Won)

  • Win: £1.80
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 245252 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Often front-runner; acts on heavy; won this race last year and an Ascot Group 3 next time; solid efforts in five of six races this term and similar form would give him a good chance to win this for the second year running.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(8)

7th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 84y

Class 1

15:05 Chester

Al Qareem

9st 5lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Justified favouritism in Listed grade at Musselburgh (1m6f, soft) on seasonal debut, making it five wins from his last nine starts and taking overall record to 13-36; Chester record reads 112, most recently running creditably in this race 12 months ago; again likely to give his running.

9/1

1st

1

(5)

4th Apr 2026

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 1

14:30 Musselburgh

Al Qareem

9st 7lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Front-runner who keeps pulling out more, with 12 wins; the four last season (April-October) included career-best form; unraced here; has never won first time out but he has run creditably and is the clear form pick.

4/5

1

(5)

18th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 209y

Class 1

12:55 Ascot

Al Qareem

9st 9lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Front-running 6yo who keeps pulling out more, with 12 wins now to his credit, including three of his four starts at Ascot; latest was over 1m4f two weeks ago, with three 1m6f wins earlier this season; he's never been at his best over this far, admittedly with stiff tasks but it's hard to ignore that Trawlerman gave him 3lb and a comprehensive beating at York in August.

12/1

20/1

  • Place: £5.90

Form: 446224

Last run: 43 days

W: 9st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Acts on heavy; came up short when 11-8 favourite for hurdling debut in August on latest outing; useful on the Flat in Ireland over the last two seasons, never better than when second in 1m4f Listed race three starts back, but he needs a fair bit extra to win this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

(6)

23rd May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 4f 0y

13:55 Curragh

Cristal Clere

9st 10lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: John J Nallen

Third career win came on final start last season in 1m Listowel Listed in testing conditions under a positive ride (just a day after being well beaten in handicap); balance of form is over shorter than this so others preferred on seasonal return.

16/1

1

(5)

23rd Sep 2025

Heavy

1m 0f 0y

15:50 Listowel

Cristal Clere

9st 9lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: John J Nallen

Top rated at 98 and mostly in good form this season; beaten 1.75l when second in a 1m5f Ballinrobe handicap on latest in July; placed in listed company at Chester (12.5f soft) a year ago but this trip surely on the sharp side; fifth 4.20 here on Monday.

11/2

5th

2

(8)

22nd Sep 2025

Yielding To Soft

1m 3f 15y

16:20 Listowel

Cristal Clere

9st 13lb

J: W J Lee

T: John J Nallen

Four-time winner but last win came two years ago; however, went close at Ballinrobe last time when stepped back up in trip to 1m5f and many of his better efforts have come on softer ground so this should be up his alley; interesting.

13/2

13/8

Form: 512-61 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Excels on soft/heavy going and hit new heights when clearcut winner of a handicap at Hamilton (1m4f, heavy) on latest start; that puts him into serious contention in this Listed race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

(8)

14th Sep 2024

Heavy

1m 4f 63y

Class 1

14:05 Chester

La Yakel

9st 5lb

J: Adam Farragher

T: William Haggas

in touch with leaders on outer

13/8

3

(4)

23rd Aug 2024

Soft

1m 4f 15y

Class 2

19:05 Hamilton

La Yakel

9st 11lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

Won at Doncaster (1m2f, soft) last September and good second at York (1m2f, soft) next time; reappeared with respectable sixth at Ascot (1m4f, good) last month and this lightly raced 5yo could build on that latest performance now back on a slow surface; firmly in calculations for top yard.

5/1

6th

3

(5)

13th Jul 2024

Soft

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

16:07 Ascot

La Yakel

9st 11lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Lightly raced 5yo; C&D winner in 2022 and went close in this race on 2023 reappearance, both on good to soft; career-best form last autumn on his latest two runs (1m2f on soft) and he needs respect.

3/1

OUR TIP

8/1

Form: 153-50

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Won on soft over hurdles; late headway at Ascot (1m4f) made for an encouraging return to the Flat and, for one who's hard to settle, finding himself in the front rank early on may not have been the plan when 9-1 for the 1m6f Ebor at York three weeks ago; hooded last five starts but not today, when he is tongue tied for the first time; fair bit to find on form, though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

19th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:50 Kempton

Burdett Road

11st 6lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: James Owen

Not in top form since returned to the Flat but solid hurdles record (1121322) suggests a resurgence is likely; ran creditably, albeit fortunate to finish second the way things panned out, in the Champion Hurdle when last seen in this sphere; has the best chance at the weights.

4/5

6th

3

(2)

26th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Burdett Road

9st 7lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: James Owen

Runner-up (albeit fortunate) in the Champion Hurdle in March and easily made all in this last year (soft; seems versatile ground-wise); he enjoyed the run of the race 12 months ago and hasn't shone on his two Flat starts this year, but he drops back in grade today and may once more benefit from an uncontested lead; could make another bold bid now back here.

7/1

8th

4

(8)

21st Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

15:05 Ascot

Burdett Road

9st 3lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: James Owen

Won the Golden Gates Handicap at this meeting in 2023 (1m2f, good to firm) and was a Listed winner at Newmarket (1m4f, soft) last September; runner-up in the Champion Hurdle in March, albeit fortunate; failed to settle when tailed off back on the Flat at Sandown (2m) last month and this drop back in trip seems a likely plus, but a Flat career best is required.

20/1

Form: 100840 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Acts on good to soft but unraced on worse; smart on his day in handicaps, such as penultimate start, but he needs to take to this track in a big way (it's his first visit) if he's to make a serious impression today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(13)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 2

16:10 Newcastle (AW)

Teumessias Fox

9st 5lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Andrew Balding

Slow starts have become an unwelcome habit but he caught the eye keeping on for fifth of 13 behind King's Code over C&D in January, when denied a clear run; last of three at Lingfield since in a race that wasn't run to suit; each-way claims if getting the breaks.

9/1

3rd

2

(1)

31st Jan 2026

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 2

13:05 Lingfield (AW)

Teumessias Fox

9st 4lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Smart at his peak on AW but slow starts have become an unwelcome habit and he's been operating below his very best in AW handicaps this winter; would need to bounce back to his peak form to trouble an on-song Survie.

5/1

5th

2

(14)

16th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 2

14:50 Newcastle (AW)

Teumessias Fox

9st 9lb

J: Alfie Redman

T: Andrew Balding

Does well on the AW and was never ideally positioned in a steadily run race over C&D two months ago; slow breaks have become an unwelcome habit but capable of being in the shake-up granted a solid pace to chase; Alfie Redman takes off a useful 7lb.

10/1

14/1

Form: 161510 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
2023 novice winner on soft; progress has not been smooth but he's scored this season in three 1m4f handicaps; good to firm ground may help to explain lesser shows on two of his last three outings but the Ebor last time was a shocker, notwithstanding the 1m6f; it would be like him to resume progress but a leap forward is required given this move out of handicaps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(6)

26th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 2f 43y

Class 2

15:15 Doncaster

Iron Lion

9st 13lb

J: David Nolan

T: David O’Meara

4yo who has enjoyed a progressive season with three handicap wins (1m4f, good to soft/good; including here); won soft-ground novice over C&D last year; however, he's gone off the boil the last twice and has to bounce back.

20/1

6th

5

(7)

14th Sep 2024

Heavy

1m 4f 63y

Class 1

14:05 Chester

Iron Lion

9st 5lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: David O’Meara

held up in rear

14/1

19th

20

(19)

24th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 2

15:35 York

Iron Lion

8st 13lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: David O’Meara

Progress has not been smooth but he's scored this season over 1m4f at Doncaster, Haydock and Ripon; fair fifth of nine at Ayr (1m5f, sole run on good to firm) on penultimate start perhaps dents his prospects and he was well beaten last term on sole attempt at 1m6f; however, he's looked good for those three wins, better than the winning margin suggests on last two occasions.

16/1

Non-runners

Enemy, Star Harbour

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.10
Straight Forecast £18.08
Trifecta £29.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Al Qareem

NEWMARKET:

La Yakel

The Times:

Teumessias Fox

D Express:

La Yakel

Daily Mirror:

La Yakel

The Sun:

La Yakel

RP RATINGS:

Al Qareem

TOPSPEED:

Al Qareem

POSTDATA:

Al Qareem

Telegraph:

Al Qareem

The Guardian:

Al Qareem

Daily Mail:

Al Qareem

The Star:

Al Qareem

Daily Record:

Al Qareem