August 29 / 15.50 Epsom

15.50

Good To Soft

Garden Cider Amateurs’ Derby Handicap (For Gentleman Amateur Jockeys)

  • Prize money: £7391.52
  • 1m 4f 6y
  • Class 4
  • 12 runners
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Garden Cider Amateurs’ Derby Handicap (For Gentleman Amateur Jockeys)

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.00
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 155681 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
1m6f winner in the past and he was strong through the line when well on top over Newbury's 1m4f 16 days ago (good to firm); should deal with a 4lb rise and, although he can handle softish ground, drying conditions are welcomed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

(5)

20th May 2026

Good To Soft

1m 6f 17y

Class 5

19:10 Yarmouth

Saratoga Gold

9st 5lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Kevin Frost

Losing run stretches back to July 2023 but he ended 2025 in good form and his reappearance at Doncaster (1m4f, good to firm) 18 days ago was a positive one; stepping back up in distance is a positive but he could do with the ground drying out.

5/1

3rd

4

(2)

2nd May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 197y

Class 5

19:02 Doncaster

Saratoga Gold

9st 1lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Kevin Frost

Serial winner in his younger days but been dry in almost three years; does have a comeback spring victory to his name but all other wins came in the second half of the year and he may need this at his age back from five months off.

7/1

7/1

  • Place: £3.50

Form: 74-751

Last run: 123 days

W: 10st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
6lb higher than for his Chepstow win in April (2m, good to firm) but that was easy and he followed up over hurdles at Plumpton the following month; absent since but he looks a contender; trip/ground fine.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

1st Sep 2023

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 4

15:38 Fontwell

Thibault

11st 12lb

J: Jamie Moore

T: Adam West

set steady pace, increased tempo after 3 out, ridden when faced challenge after 2 out, kept on well final 110yds

5/1

5th

3

10th Aug 2023

Good To Soft

1m 6f 44y

Class 6

20:23 Salisbury

Thibault

10st 2lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Adam West

Versatile ground-wise; multiple wins for yard include a 2m handicap on the Flat at Chepstow in April 2022 but his latest win was over hurdles that May and he hasn't shone so far this year; others more obvious.

12/1

4/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 753221 C

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Plenty to like about his last four runs and he mowed them all down from off the pace at Sandown (1m2f, good to firm) on latest; only 4lb higher; something to prove on ground softer than good and over this new trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

9

(8)

1st Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

20:45 Windsor

Fast Steps

9st 1lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Rod Millman

C&D winner whose losing run is up to 17 but he had dropped 14lb below his last winning mark when beaten less than a length into third of seven here four weeks ago; respected if building on that.

11/2

3rd

4

(6)

4th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

17:53 Windsor

Fast Steps

9st 6lb

J: George Wood

T: Rod Millman

C&D winner who is versatile ground-wise; well handicapped on best form last season but he was out of sorts in the autumn and needs a major revival after six months off.

6/1

7th

2

(5)

29th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 2f 50y

Class 6

16:22 Nottingham

Fast Steps

11st 9lb

J: Mr Patrick Millman

T: Rod Millman

Three handicap wins (one on soft) at 1m2f, the latest in July 2024; 11lb lower today but he's basically gone off the boil this season.

7/1

8/1

Form: 622113 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Ridden by Freddie Gordon in his last three races and a muddling gallop didn't help when third to Saratoga Gold at Newbury (1m4f) in hat-trick bid; still on a good mark having returned to form and he's off the lowest weight.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

(10)

14th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

1m 3f 137y

Class 6

15:15 Bath

Psyche

11st 0lb

J: Mr Harry Snellgrove

T: Chris Gordon

Respectable third under Harry Snellgrove at Lingfield (2m, AW) last month on return from lengthy absence; big drop back in trip is a possible negative, however.

8/1

3rd

8

(7)

27th Aug 2024

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 5

17:05 Lingfield (AW)

Psyche

10st 4lb

J: Mr Harry Snellgrove

T: Chris Gordon

His wins at Brighton (1m4f, good to firm) and Wolverhampton (1m6f, Tapeta) in the summer of 2022 both came in amateur riders' races and he is 6lb lower than for the latest, but it will be some performance to win this after 638 days off; jockey has his first ride under rules.

25/1

9th

7

(2)

28th Nov 2022

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 5

17:45 Kempton (AW)

Psyche

9st 9lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Chris Gordon

Won back-to-back amateur riders' events at Brighton (1m4f, good to firm) and Wolverhampton (1m6f, Tapeta) in the summer; back off the same mark as for the latest of those, but yet to prove he stays this far.

8/1

16/1

Form: 643666 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 1lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Needs to bounce back from three below-par performances and one of those was over C&D, his only visit here; others appeal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

(4)

10th Apr 2024

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

17:00 Lingfield (AW)

Restorer

9st 1lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Ian Williams

awkward start, in rear, looked to go wrong and pulled up 7f out

6/1

9

(4)

10th Apr 2024

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

17:00 Lingfield (AW)

Restorer

9st 1lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Ian Williams

awkward start, in rear, looked to go wrong and pulled up 7f out

6/1

2nd

6

(8)

7th Mar 2024

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

13:40 Lingfield (AW)

Restorer

9st 9lb

J: Andrea Pinna

T: Ian Williams

midfield

14/1

Form: -32799 CD

Last run: 49 days

W: 10st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Has a very good record under Henry Main and they won this 12 months ago off a 3lb higher mark; the glaring concern is the sudden loss of form since early June.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

5

(11)

21st Oct 2024

Heavy

2m 1f 24y

Class 6

14:07 Bath

Captain Haddock

10st 13lb

J: Miss Violet Barton

T: Heather Main

in rear

15/2

8th

7

(4)

14th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

1m 3f 137y

Class 6

15:15 Bath

Captain Haddock

10st 11lb

J: Mr Henry Main

T: Heather Main

Has lots of form under Henry Main, notably two wins in 2021; three-year losing spell is a big negative but current mark is attractive; not ruled out.

14/1

3rd

6

(7)

23rd Aug 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:00 Ffos Las

Captain Haddock

9st 11lb

J: Miss Violet Barton

T: Heather Main

slowly away, in rear

10/1

16/1

Form: 16-040 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Much better on AW but he still won three times over 1m4f last year on grass; back on a good mark and this task is easier than of late.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

(9)

19th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 4f 13y

Class 4

14:42 Catterick

Furzig

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard Fahey

slowly away, in rear

20/1

7th

3

(5)

2nd Oct 2024

Good To Soft

1m 4f 13y

Class 5

17:05 Catterick

Furzig

10st 0lb

J: Connor Murtagh

T: Richard Fahey

His last four wins have been over C&D, albeit spread over nearly three years; latest came by a nose in July and he was runner-up at Haydock on penultimate outing, before losing his chance at the start at Chester latest; well capable of being on the premises, including on soft.

11/1

Form: 0-1904 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
It was soft when he won over this far at Pontefract in April and not even good to soft seemed deep enough last time at Haydock; drying conditions are the last thing he needs.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

9

25th Apr 2024

Good

2m 3f 137y

Class 5

18:15 Huntingdon

Magna Moralia

10st 8lb

J: Aaron Anderson

T: Mike Sowersby

2m hurdle winner (good to soft) but currently on a long losing sequence; not easy to make a case for him based on his last three starts.

50/1

10th

9

25th Apr 2024

Good

2m 3f 137y

Class 5

18:15 Huntingdon

Magna Moralia

10st 8lb

J: Aaron Anderson

T: Mike Sowersby

2m hurdle winner (good to soft) but currently on a long losing sequence; not easy to make a case for him based on his last three starts.

50/1

13th

12

31st Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 2f 140y

Class 5

15:54 Market Rasen

Magna Moralia

10st 4lb

J: Aaron Anderson

T: Mike Sowersby

Exposed sort; has won three times on the Flat and once over hurdles (2m Kelso handicap in March 2021); fair fifth at Doncaster in November (2m5f, good) but well beaten since; probably needs better ground.

50/1

5/1

Form: 53-239

Last run: 86 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Has competitive form off higher marks than this but he was tailed off over C&D in June and has been good and bad over hurdles since; cheekpieces tried but others are more convincing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

24th May 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:50 Warwick

Mascat

11st 9lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Syd Hosie

Useful Flat-racer who has 2-5 strike-rate over hurdles; in fairly good form over fences for Joe Tizzard when last seen in the autumn but this stable debut comes after a 195-day break; others preferred.

12/1

4

1st May 2023

Good

2m 0f 54y

Class 3

14:37 Warwick

Mascat

10st 6lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Syd Hosie

Attainment level as a chaser quickly established when placing on all four starts over fences last autumn (2m-2m3.5f), the last three of them 0-120 handicaps; could be a bit more is needed on this stable debut.

8/1

3rd

1

10th Nov 2022

Good

2m 2f 40y

Class 4

14:25 Taunton

Mascat

12st 0lb

J: Thomas Doggrell

T: Joe Tizzard

Dual hurdle winner who has run fairly well in his first three chases, the last two being handicaps (2m3f/2m); looks handicapped about right but should put up another decent show.

7/2

Form: 112325 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Won five in a row over 1m4f on turf/AW between last November and March including twice here; handicap mark suffered as a result but he has continued to run well and it was a muddling race in which was last of five on the AW latest, so not much should be read into that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(1)

27th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:20 Lingfield (AW)

Way Of Life

9st 8lb

J: Olivia Tubb

T: Jonathan Portman

Kickstarted 2026 with success at Wolverhampton (9.5f) in March and backed it up with a good third of 12 in another 9.5f handicap there since; this C&D scorer can go well again off the same mark.

5/1

3rd

4

(12)

20th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 4

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Way Of Life

9st 8lb

J: Olivia Tubb

T: Jonathan Portman

His first seven wins were all gained over 1m4f/1m3f, with the latest of those last October, but he then made all under Olivia Tubb in a six-runner race over C&D 13 days ago; that win was by a neck and he's been raised 2lb since, but a wide draw complicates today's task.

12/1

1st

5

(3)

7th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 4

17:35 Wolverhampton (AW)

Way Of Life

9st 6lb

J: Olivia Tubb

T: Jonathan Portman

Has gained all wins over 1m3f/1m4f, including at Southwell (narrowly) in October when last seen; the 8yo is still competitively treated on historical data but has something to prove back down in trip.

7/1

Form: 411704 D

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
This is more his trip than the 2m over which he ran in snatches last week at Chester; his previous two efforts there weren't his best either and he does know his way around Chester; bit to prove now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

5

(9)

2nd Nov 2023

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

13:40 Newcastle (AW)

Heart Of Soul

10st 12lb

J: Miss Alice Keighley

T: Patrick Morris

towards rear of midfield

20/1

6th

8

(6)

16th Sep 2023

Good To Soft

1m 4f 63y

Class 4

17:35 Chester

Heart Of Soul

8st 4lb

J: Hayley Turner

T: Patrick Morris

Six wins for Ian Williams including three over C&D, but lost his way including after moving to this yard; latest fifth of nine at Wolverhampton (1m4f, AW) was a bit better, but not enough to make him of interest.

33/1

5th

2

(3)

9th Sep 2023

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

20:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Heart Of Soul

9st 13lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Patrick Morris

Won at Hamilton (1m3f, good) and Kempton (1m4f, AW) for Ian Williams last May but he's lost his way since his last success and has been beaten 9l or more in five runs for current yard; mark is tumbling but he has a lot to prove.

16/1

8/1

Form: 6-1108

Last run: 77 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Started the year with two 1m2f wins on the Lingfield AW but down the field in his last two runs; positive jockey booking here on a track he's run well on once before, so not totally ruled out back from a break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

1

(9)

29th Aug 2022

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

15:50 Epsom

Sarvan

11st 10lb

J: Mr Simon Walker

T: George Scott

midfield, pushed along 4f out, dropped to rear 3f out, lost touch over 2f out, tailed off

8/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £96.60
Straight Forecast £124.77
Tricast £501.32
Trifecta £446.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Saratoga Gold

RP Ratings:

Captain Haddock

POSTDATA:

Fast Steps

The Times:

Way Of Life

NEWMARKET:

Sarvan

Daily Mail:

Magna Moralia

Telegraph:

Captain Haddock

Daily Express:

Captain Haddock

The Star:

Captain Haddock

LAMBOURN:

Saratoga Gold

The Guardian:

Saratoga Gold

Daily Mirror:

Saratoga Gold

The Sun:

Saratoga Gold

Daily Record:

Fast Steps