September 27 / 17.40 Haydock

17.40

Soft

Smooth Radio Always The Best Music Handicap (Div II)

  • Prize money: £7731
  • 0m 7f 37y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
Smooth Radio Always The Best Music Handicap (Div II)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 996511 CD

Last run: 16 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Progressive 3yo who made it 2-3 in handicaps when completing a double at Carlisle (7f, soft) 16 days ago; up another 7lb but that was a stylish win and he still looks feasibly treated; interesting contender back at the scene of his first success.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(7)

11th Jul 2026

Good

0m 7f 1y

Class 1

15:52 Chester

Myal

9st 7lb

J: David Allan

T: Steph Hollinshead

Likeable 5yo who has a strike-rate of 7-19 and was runner-up behind an impressive winner in a Listed race at Haydock (7f, good) in May; should be in the mix again and his only previous visit to Chester resulted in a C&D win.

13/2

2nd

7

(2)

9th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 212y

Class 1

15:40 Haydock

Myal

9st 10lb

J: David Allan

T: Steph Hollinshead

Likeable 5yo with a good (7-18) strike-rate; shaped well in Listed event at Doncaster on reappearance and dug deep to win conditions race at Thirsk (7f, good) next time; may not have reached his ceiling and is high on the list.

6/1

1st

4

(7)

10th Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:25 Thirsk

Myal

9st 8lb

J: David Allan

T: Steph Hollinshead

Most progressive in the last couple of years, winning six 7f handicaps, with the first gained off of a rating of 67; another career-best effort when second in 7f Redcar Listed race (good to soft) on his final 4yo start; should be spot on for this after finishing fifth of 12 in a 6f Doncaster Listed event on his reappearance 13 days ago.

8/1

5/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 55-081 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Out of sorts on AW in final two runs last winter but he got back to form with a bang when landing a classified event at Ascot (7f, soft) on his return three weeks ago; nudged up 2lb for that but he's now 3-6 on turf and is respected back in a handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

12

(13)

4th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:15 Haydock

Lord Bertie

9st 3lb

J: Mark Winn

T: David O’Meara

Fairly useful on his day but he's not one to rely on and failed to beat a rival in 6f Hamilton handicap two weeks ago; others are much preferred.

12/1

10th

4

(1)

21st Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 6y

Class 4

19:45 Hamilton

Lord Bertie

9st 12lb

J: Mark Winn

T: David O’Meara

His wins have come on slow ground but he was beaten only 3l in a big field at York (7f, good to firm) last month; that was a creditable effort after a slow start and he ran well over this trip at Ayr on his penultimate run; could be dangerous.

8/1

16/1

  • Place: £3.10

Form: 652000 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Dual course winner who went close over C&D last month but he's been disappointing since including a laboured effort back here last time; losing run is now up to 15 and others are more convincing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

(7)

7th May 2025

Good

0m 7f 1y

Class 3

16:45 Chester

Boardman

9st 6lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

3-13 at Chester (the wins over 7.6f) but the last time he scored anywhere was in May 2023; has his lowest mark since 2020 and a shout on plenty of 2024 form, but seasonal debut may not be his best moment.

10/1

10

(7)

7th May 2025

Good

0m 7f 1y

Class 3

16:45 Chester

Boardman

9st 6lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

3-13 at Chester (the wins over 7.6f) but the last time he scored anywhere was in May 2023; has his lowest mark since 2020 and a shout on plenty of 2024 form, but seasonal debut may not be his best moment.

10/1

3rd

5

(5)

27th Sep 2024

Soft

0m 7f 37y

Class 3

17:40 Haydock

Boardman

9st 9lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Dual course winner who went close over C&D last month but he's been disappointing since including a laboured effort back here last time; losing run is now up to 15 and others are more convincing.

16/1

Form: /0550- D

Last run: 419 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Won off 7lb higher at Thirsk (1m, soft) in September 2022 but he's had only five runs since and was tailed off in his final run last season; had wind surgery since but he needs a major revival on comeback.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(7)

30th Jun 2025

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:15 Ffos Las

Encourageable

10st 0lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Michael Appleby

Placed on stable debut at Yarmouth (1m, good to firm) in early May but two lesser efforts have followed and he remains without a win since 2022; raced too freely in a visor on latest outing; cheekpieces tried here.

14/1

6th

4

(2)

12th Jun 2025

Good

1m 0f 75y

Class 4

15:25 Nottingham

Encourageable

9st 7lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Michael Appleby

Losing run goes back to 2022; did make a positive start for new yard when third (A Major Payne fifth) at Yarmouth (1m, good to firm) last month but a subsequent no-show at Leicester needs forgiving; now sports a combination of a refitted tongue-tie and first-time visor.

12/1

6th

6

(7)

26th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 53y

Class 4

16:50 Leicester

Encourageable

9st 5lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Michael Appleby

Losing run goes back to 2022 but he has course form (7f) and new yard has inherited one who's dropped a long way in the weights; looked to be on the way back when third at Yarmouth (1m, good to firm) this month; good claims.

100/30

5th
6 (9)
Zip

12/1

Form: 225989 CD

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Now 4lb lower than for his Doncaster win (7f, heavy) last October but he's 0-12 since and has faded in last four runs; visor returns but he needs to raise his game back up in grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

12

(8)

28th Jun 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 2

15:45 Newcastle (AW)

Zip

8st 11lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Richard Fahey

The oldest contender and a familiar face, having taken part in this race for the last four years (form figures read 6529); beat all bar Eldrickjones over C&D last month but the return to this better grade presents a tougher task.

16/1

2nd

10

(5)

11th May 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 3

17:45 Newcastle (AW)

Zip

8st 11lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Richard Fahey

Four-time C&D winner, including this race in 2021; second in it last year; has continued in good form in the main since winning over C&D last November (didn't run badly at Doncaster latest) and is on the shortlist now back here.

10/1

2nd

10

(5)

11th May 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 3

17:45 Newcastle (AW)

Zip

8st 11lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Richard Fahey

Four-time C&D winner, including this race in 2021; second in it last year; has continued in good form in the main since winning over C&D last November (didn't run badly at Doncaster latest) and is on the shortlist now back here.

10/1

Form: 411 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Unexposed 3yo who won a Redcar maiden (7f, good) in July before an easy win in four-runner novice at Catterick last month; this is a different test in a competitive handicap but his opening mark looks fair and he still has plenty of potential; strongly respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

(6)

27th Sep 2024

Soft

0m 7f 37y

Class 3

17:40 Haydock

Flight Radar

9st 2lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: K R Burke

Unexposed 3yo who won a Redcar maiden (7f, good) in July before an easy win in four-runner novice at Catterick last month; this is a different test in a competitive handicap but his opening mark looks fair and he still has plenty of potential; strongly respected.

5/2

1st

1

(1)

28th Aug 2024

Good

0m 7f 6y

Class 5

14:45 Catterick

Flight Radar

9st 11lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: K R Burke

Looks a good buy at 1,000gns (this May) having fulfilled the promise of his first run with a comfortable success at Redcar (7f, good); has been found a very weak race to carry his penalty.

1/12

1st

2

(8)

21st Jul 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

15:22 Redcar

Flight Radar

9st 7lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: K R Burke

1,000gns buy in May but has plenty of ability judged on close fourth of nine when 28-1 in a novice at Haydock (7f, good) 16 days ago, making promising late headway from the rear; one of the clear top two options in this.

Evs

OUR TIP

14/1

Form: 310016 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Two 7f wins at Newbury (good/good to firm) this summer but he's not easy to predict and was well held at Thirsk last time; needs to step up again after that and this return to testing ground is a worry (withdrawn due to heavy at Newbury last week).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

17

(15)

28th Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

16:00 Thirsk

Woodstock

9st 5lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Ruth Carr

Gained a deserved first success of 2026 in 20-runner handicap at Ripon (6f) 13 days ago; not out of things despite a 5lb weights rise.

10/1

1st

7

(10)

15th Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

14:55 Ripon

Woodstock

9st 8lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Ruth Carr

Better known for his exploits over further but he ran well for second in a C&D handicap last August; several good runs in defeat this year but this looks a competitive race in which to end a two-year drought.

10/1

4th

15

(10)

1st Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

15:47 Thirsk

Woodstock

8st 10lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Ruth Carr

Without a win since August 2024 but he's been in good form since this visor went on, bumping into an unexposed 3yo when second of four at Catterick (7f, good to firm) and again finishing runner-up at Chester (7.5f, good) last time; in each-way calculations once more.

14/1

Form: 826805

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Scored three times (1m/1m1f) in Germany; 0-11 for current yard but he's on dangerous mark and was beaten less than 2l in first-time visor at Chester (6f, good) last time; this step back up in trip is a positive and has claims if he can build on that last run; another change of headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

(6)

28th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 3y

Class 6

17:25 Yarmouth

Way To Dubai

10st 0lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Michael Appleby

Better effort when fourth of ten at Thirsk (7f, good to firm) this month and now 2lb below his last winning mark, but he is just 1-42 in Britain.

6/1

4th

10

(12)

1st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

16:40 Thirsk

Way To Dubai

9st 3lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Michael Appleby

Low-key run at Newmarket (6f, good) 12 days ago; return to a longer trip is in his favour but others are more appealing for win purposes.

20/1

11th

12

(10)

19th Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

20:45 Newmarket (July)

Way To Dubai

9st 5lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Michael Appleby

Only 1lb higher than for his Lingfield (1m, AW) in January; up and down since that success and could prove vulnerable back sprinting.

20/1

Non-runners

Wobwobwob

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £28.20
Straight Forecast £26.71
Tricast £226.69
Trifecta £243.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Myal

NEWMARKET:

Way To Dubai

RP RATINGS:

Wobwobwob

Telegraph:

Lord Bertie

TOPSPEED:

Zip

The Times:

Myal

The Guardian:

Myal

Daily Mail:

Myal

Daily Record:

Myal

The Star:

Lord Bertie

D Express:

Way To Dubai

Daily Mirror:

Way To Dubai

POSTDATA:

Wobwobwob

The Sun:

Wobwobwob