October 17 / 20.15 Chelmsford (AW)

20.15

Standard

Betfair Exchange Beacons Handicap

  • Prize money: £4710.6
  • 0m 5f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
Betfair Exchange Beacons Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Polytrack

Weather: Cloudy

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £9.00
  • Place: £3.20

Form: 677214 CD

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 61

Form & Verdict
Recent turf form includes a win; dual C&D scorer who ties in with Dark Side Prince on last AW effort (February); possibilities.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

(9)

19th May 2026

Good

0m 4f 217y

Class 6

17:55 Lingfield

Cabeza De Llave

9st 2lb

J: William Carson

T: Michael Attwater

Has six wins to his name but the last one came in October 2024; second on his return to turf at Windsor (5f, good) and should run well.

7/1

2nd

3

(8)

7th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 21y

Class 6

14:25 Windsor

Cabeza De Llave

9st 7lb

J: William Carson

T: Michael Attwater

Two of his three turf wins have come over C&D; solid return to action at Chelmsford in February but he took a backward step at Southwell 12 days ago; William Carson replaces a 7lb claimer; not discounted.

7/1

6th

3

(4)

25th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 6

17:30 Southwell (AW)

Cabeza De Llave

9st 8lb

J: James Glennon

T: Michael Attwater

Consistent 7yo who kept on from the rear for third under James Glennon at Chelmsford (5f) in February, after a layoff; has never run here before but has form on Tapeta at Wolverhampton; can make his presence felt.

8/1

OUR TIP

4/1

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 131162 CD

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Productive on AW/turf this year, winning five times, including over C&D; creditable second at Wolverhampton most recently; solid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(6)

18th May 2026

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 5

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Smooth Silesie

10st 2lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Lisa Williamson

Won off this mark at Yarmouth (5f, good to soft) last October but hasn't got going in four runs this year, beating only one rival; needs to show more.

16/1

5th

4

(1)

4th May 2026

Firm

0m 5f 10y

Class 5

15:25 Bath

Smooth Silesie

9st 8lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Lisa Williamson

C&D winner; had a good time of things in 2025, winning four times; she has finished last in her three AW runs this year and has only dropped 3lb; may need some more help from the handicapper.

20/1

7th

4

(1)

21st Apr 2026

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 5

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Smooth Silesie

9st 9lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: Lisa Williamson

Won at her beloved Yarmouth (5f, good to soft; from 4lb lower) last October; hasn't been at her best since returning to AW recently; this is a fraction easier and she could strip fitter but others are more appealing.

25/1

9/2

Form: 976423 CD

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Four AW wins, the most recent off 7lb higher last November; ties in closely with Smooth Silesie on Wolverhampton form last time; player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(2)

1st Sep 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 60y

Class 5

14:15 Brighton

Pop Dancer

9st 2lb

J: William Carson

T: Tony Carroll

Two wins this season, the latter from the front over C&D (good to soft) in May; also suited by good to firm ground and last month's down-the-field finish here can be excused (stumbled leaving stalls) but others in this line-up look better handicapped; finished last of 13 in first-time visor here yesterday.

6/1

4

(3)

31st Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 215y

Class 2

15:22 Brighton

Pop Dancer

9st 4lb

J: Tyrese Cameron

T: Tony Carroll

In a good vein of form, including at Brighton, until losing his chance at the start last time; however, raced mainly at about 5f and this belated return to 6f presents a question mark; change of headgear.

10/1

1

(11)

6th Aug 2025

Good

0m 5f 60y

Class 6

14:15 Brighton

Pop Dancer

9st 12lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Tony Carroll

Resurgent 8yo who handles most ground and has form figures of 231212 since the end of March; put in a dominant display (good to soft) in May and was just nabbed last time (also C&D, good to firm) in June; up another 1lb but remains well handicapped on old form and he's a big player back from a two-month break.

3/1

Form: 111356 CD

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Good record over C&D includes five wins, latterly three in 2024; returns to this venue off last winning mark and warrants respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(3)

27th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 6

20:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Dark Side Prince

9st 8lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Jessica Macey

Prolific 5f winner, including over C&D, most recently at Chelmsford in October off 2lb lower; however, he was disappointing back at Chelmsford in February and has a bit to prove this time.

5/1

8th

5

(3)

21st Feb 2026

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

18:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Dark Side Prince

9st 3lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Jessica Macey

Recorded his 11th AW win when narrowly beating Shalaa Asker over C&D in October; been absent since then but he's only 2lb higher than for that last win and he has won after a break in the past; dangerous on return.

4/1

16/1

Form: 081900 D

Last run: 76 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Won on turf in July but far from consistent otherwise for current yard; duck eggs in two AW runs; enough to prove back in this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(9)

11th Sep 2025

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

15:10 Chelmsford (AW)

Kodi Red

9st 8lb

J: Neil Callan

T: Darryll Holland

His C&D win last October came off a 16lb higher mark so his ability for a race of this nature isn't in doubt; he hasn't been firing in recent starts though, including when well supported.

6/1

9

(6)

18th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 12y

Class 6

19:30 Windsor

Kodi Red

9st 7lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Darryll Holland

Two 6f wins in 2024, both off a mark 14lb higher than today's; the odd promising sign this year and Hector Crouch replaces a 7lb claimer tonight.

14/1

4th

1

(4)

6th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 3y

Class 6

20:02 Yarmouth

Kodi Red

9st 9lb

J: Donagh Murphy

T: Darryll Holland

5yo who has a regressive profile but has dropped down the weights and took a step back in the right direction when sixth of 14 at Windsor (6f, good to firm) in June last time; might not be far away.

9/2

11/2

Form: 911735 D

Last run: 55 days

W: 9st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Unplaced on AW as a 2yo; mixed form in last three turf runs but looks quite interesting with visor reapplied, being 2-3 in this headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

(1)

1st Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 34y

Class 5

16:00 Newbury

Merrimack

9st 8lb

J: Chloe Lyons

T: Stuart Williams

Better strike-rate on turf than AW; solid third at Windsor three weeks ago (for Chloe Lyons) and has a chance if in the same form; finished behind a couple of today's rivals in a C&D handicap last summer.

7/1

3rd

2

(6)

11th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 21y

Class 5

19:17 Windsor

Merrimack

9st 9lb

J: Chloe Lyons

T: Stuart Williams

C&D winner last summer; off the mark for 2026 when making all at Chelmsford in January (5f); two defeats since have come over 6f; better expected back at 5f.

10/1

7th

7

(7)

4th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

19:00 Kempton (AW)

Merrimack

8st 10lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Stuart Williams

Recorded his first AW success (four turf wins) when making all in 5f handicap at Chelmsford in January; most of his wins have come at that trip but his C&D third a fortnight ago underlines he is effective at 6f.

12/1

Form: 54-0 BF

Last run: 120 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Disappointing in sole run this term but is open to improvement now handicapping over new trip (looks worth a go at 5f); interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

5

(6)

26th Oct 2024

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

18:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Idle Assembly

9st 9lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Brian Meehan

Fluffed the start when last of seven behind Cabeza De LLave last week; overall profile unconvincing.

12/1

7th

6

(2)

17th Oct 2024

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

20:15 Chelmsford (AW)

Idle Assembly

9st 3lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Brian Meehan

Disappointing in sole run this term but is open to improvement now handicapping over new trip (looks worth a go at 5f); interesting.

5/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £42.40
Straight Forecast £47.41
Trifecta £179.30

Selections

The Times:

Smooth Silesie

RP RATINGS:

Pop Dancer

SPOTLIGHT:

Idle Assembly

D Express:

Merrimack

NEWMARKET:

Kodi Red

The Guardian:

Cabeza De Llave

The Star:

Dark Side Prince

Telegraph:

Smooth Silesie

Daily Mail:

Smooth Silesie

Daily Mirror:

Smooth Silesie

The Sun:

Smooth Silesie

Daily Record:

Smooth Silesie

POSTDATA:

Pop Dancer