October 18 / 16.40 Haydock

16.40

Heavy

Paul Fenney Celebration Of Life Handicap

  • Prize money: £8100
  • 1m 0f 37y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
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Paul Fenney Celebration Of Life Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Scattered showers

13/8 (Won)

  • Win: £3.20
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 148401 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Well suited by ground softer than good; justified favouritism in competitive apprentice race at York (7f) last Friday, looking better than ever and taking record to 9-41; escapes a penalty and commands respect with the return to 1m no issue; future mark is 5lb higher.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

(6)

29th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 6y

Class 4

15:23 Pontefract

On The River

9st 4lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Harriet Bethell

Won last summer's Carlisle Bell off this mark (1m, soft); ran well when fifth in the Spring Mile at Doncaster on his return before finding only his stablemate Milteye too strong at Ripon 13 days ago (1m, good to soft; Walsingham back in third); fully effective over C&D but he appears to have a preference for slower than good now and drying conditions aren't sure to suit.

3/1

2nd

5

(4)

16th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:25 Ripon

On The River

9st 8lb

J: Harry Vigors

T: Harriet Bethell

The vast majority of his wins have come on slow ground but the going was good when he was second in this race last year; reappeared with promising fifth of 22 in the Spring Mile at Doncaster and could be in the mix.

3/1

5th

21

(11)

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

14:25 Doncaster

On The River

9st 0lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Harriet Bethell

Suited by ground softer than good; record of 11-52 on turf features a win off 2lb higher in the 2025 Carlisle Bell; respectable second to Prosperitas at Doncaster on last appearance; competitively weighted.

16/1

14/1

  • Place: £3.30

Form: 8-0659 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Won on heavy going as a 2yo for Aidan O'Brien; not solid on 2024 form but this combination of return to testing ground and first-time headgear may have positive effect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(1)

28th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 0f 53y

Class 4

15:50 Leicester

Sierra Blanca

9st 10lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Martyn Meade

On a losing run but was only beaten 3l at Windsor last time (1m, good) and the winner went in again at Doncaster last weekend; handles this ground and should go well.

7/1

3

(1)

28th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 0f 53y

Class 4

15:50 Leicester

Sierra Blanca

9st 10lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Martyn Meade

On a losing run but was only beaten 3l at Windsor last time (1m, good) and the winner went in again at Doncaster last weekend; handles this ground and should go well.

7/1

1

(3)

8th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 0f 31y

Class 4

16:34 Windsor

Sierra Blanca

10st 4lb

J: Alec Voikhansky

T: Martyn Meade

Losing run is mounting up and couldn't take any positives out of this year's efforts.

25/1

OUR TIP

9/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 195466 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Acts on soft ground; successful in notable handicaps over 1m at Doncaster in 2022 and 1m2f at Redcar this May, latter off this mark; likely player if back in similar form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

(6)

8th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 2f 50y

Class 4

16:30 Nottingham

Arthurs Realm

10st 0lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: Ed Dunlop

All wins have come in the spring, mainly on soft ground, but there was no win this time round; has his lowest mark since 2020 but easily his best show this season was in March; usually wears a visor or cheekpieces and now he's blinkered first time.

25/1

3

(3)

16th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 23y

Class 4

16:30 Yarmouth

Arthurs Realm

10st 4lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ed Dunlop

All wins have come in the spring, with one on AW but mainly on soft turf; well handicapped on his best form last season but he's failed to beat a rival in his last two runs and needs a major revival after a break.

25/1

10th

5

(4)

19th Jun 2025

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 4

16:35 Chelmsford (AW)

Arthurs Realm

9st 8lb

J: Dougie Costello

T: Ed Dunlop

All wins come in the spring, once here but mainly on soft turf; latest effort too bad to be true and hadn't had the breaks prior to that but he has something to prove back to cheekpieces from a visor.

16/1

Form: 4-0704 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Acts on any going; inconsistent results this term for new yard but ran respectably in higher grade over C&D most recently; well treated on the pick of his form for previous stable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(5)

21st May 2026

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 5

17:00 Musselburgh

Spirit Catcher

9st 3lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Philip Kirby

Having tumbled down the weights he returned to form in a 1m1f handicap here last month, winning decisively; second over 1m2f at Ripon on Sunday, staying on at the finish; up in trip but likely to go well.

3/1

2nd

8

(13)

17th May 2026

Good

1m 1f 170y

Class 5

15:17 Ripon

Spirit Catcher

9st 3lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Philip Kirby

Won for the first time since August 2023 off a much reduced mark in a weak contest at Musselburgh (1m1f, good) last month; not sure to back that up in this better contest off 4lb higher.

11/2

1st

1

(5)

29th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 208y

Class 6

16:25 Musselburgh

Spirit Catcher

9st 9lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Philip Kirby

Triple turf winner (7f/1m) but his last success was in August 2023 and he's been out of sorts since returning in September from a lengthy absence; mark is tumbling but he needs a major revival.

10/1

11/2

Form: 455826 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Acts on any ground; inconsistent since June and has little in hand off current mark but finished well and nearly got up at Chester on penultimate start; three-time Haydock scorer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

(5)

20th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 20y

Class 4

14:42 Ayr

Pearl Eye

8st 13lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Won six for Darryll Holland, most notably when awarded the Spring Mile in March 2025; lost his way thereafter, and Gay Kelleway (0-4) couldn't rejuvenate; joined Jim Goldie for 13,000gns and there were positive signs when third over 1m here (stable debut) recently; is dangerously handicapped.

9/4

3rd

1

(3)

5th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:00 Ayr

Pearl Eye

9st 9lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Fairly useful for Darryll Holland, then form went markedly awry during a brief spell with Gay Kelleway; sold for 13,000gns since last run; market may prove instructive on debut for another new yard.

8/1

Form: -64650

Last run: 56 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Somewhat exposed 3yo whose record is 1-10; however, faced a difficult task at the York Ebor festival when last seen and this is easier; competitively treated on peak effort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

(1)

29th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 6y

Class 4

15:23 Pontefract

Sailthisshipalone

9st 2lb

J: George Wood

T: Ivan Furtado

Soft-ground win for Richard Fahey last November (1m); tongue tied for the first time when making a winning stable debut over C&D three weeks ago (good to soft); 3lb higher in a better race and going without cheekpieces today; handles good ground but perhaps wouldn't want it any faster.

7/2

1st

1

(8)

7th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 6y

Class 5

15:27 Pontefract

Sailthisshipalone

9st 9lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Ivan Furtado

Record of 2-21 for Richard Fahey; successful in most recent turf attempt but the market may prove best guide on stable debut; tongue-tie added; still in same ownership.

12/1

7

(5)

13th Sep 2025

Good

0m 7f 127y

Class 4

16:35 Chester

Sailthisshipalone

9st 6lb

J: Barry McHugh

T: Richard Fahey

Yet to win a handicap, and apart from a close third in the Carlisle Bell (1m, soft) in June he's been a bit disappointing this term; cheekpieces are now added and he needs to get back near his best.

16/1

9/2

Form: -04271

Last run: 4 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Took well to first-time cheekpieces in Roscommon maiden (1m2f, soft; made all) on Monday, opening his account; incurs 5lb penalty on handicap debut but Sean D Bowen takes off a useful 3lb; this Irish raider has possibilities in the retained headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

25th Oct 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 90y

15:03 Galway

Firebrand

11st 12lb

J: Daniel King

T: John J Nallen

Runner up in three of seven starts over hurdles including over C&D (gd-yld) last month and rated 110; below par last twice in a handicap hurdle at Navan and on the Flat at Listowel; place chance if at best back in maiden company.

9/2

7

(10)

23rd Sep 2025

Heavy

1m 0f 0y

16:50 Listowel

Firebrand

9st 0lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: John J Nallen

Dual-purpose sort has been running mostly over hurdles this year and beaten 10l at Navan three days ago; soundly beaten last two Flat outings and others make more appeal.

22/1

Form: 000002 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 8st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Placed in the Thirsk Hunt Cup on debut for current stable but has failed by a long way to repeat the form, most recently second in Musselburgh seller; opposed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

(8)

30th Oct 2025

Soft

0m 5f 160y

Class 6

15:55 Bath

Autumn Festival

9st 4lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Ed de Giles

Multiple winner over 7f-1m, including on soft; made the frame over C&D last month but losing run is mounting up and has performed poorly the last twice.

7/2

7th

6

(8)

30th Oct 2025

Soft

0m 5f 160y

Class 6

15:55 Bath

Autumn Festival

9st 4lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Ed de Giles

Multiple winner over 7f-1m, including on soft; made the frame over C&D last month but losing run is mounting up and has performed poorly the last twice.

7/2

Non-runners

Rajapour, Bullet Point

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £28.70
Straight Forecast £27.75
Tricast £100.47
Trifecta £126.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

On The River

Telegraph:

Firebrand

NEWMARKET:

Bullet Point

POSTDATA:

Spirit Catcher

The Times:

Sailthisshipalone

TOPSPEED:

Arthur's Realm

Daily Mail:

Bullet Point

The Star:

Firebrand

Daily Record:

Firebrand

D Express:

Spirit Catcher

RP RATINGS:

On The River

The Guardian:

On The River

Daily Mirror:

On The River

The Sun:

On The River