August 30 / 15.20 Epsom

15.20

Good

John Benstead Handicap

  • Prize money: £3456
  • 1m 2f 17y
  • Class 6
  • 13 runners
RTV
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John Benstead Handicap

Runners: 13 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £15.20
  • Place: £4.00

Form: 33-485 BF

Last run: 28 days

W: 8st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 48

Form & Verdict
Not that easy to recommend as a 17-race maiden but he was a close second over C&D last July off 7lb higher and has not seen much action this season, with possible excuses the last twice; a case can be made.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

(5)

21st Aug 2023

Good

1m 3f 198y

Class 6

15:15 Brighton

Angels Roc

9st 6lb

J: Charlie Bennett

T: Jim Boyle

dwelt start, held up in rear

10/1

6th

9

(6)

20th Jul 2023

Good

1m 4f 6y

Class 5

20:40 Epsom

Angels Roc

9st 1lb

J: Charlie Bennett

T: Jim Boyle

in rear

16/1

4th

7

(2)

5th Jul 2023

Good

1m 4f 6y

Class 6

21:00 Epsom

Angels Roc

9st 12lb

J: Charlie Bennett

T: Jim Boyle

His four runs here brought two heavy defeats but also one 1m2f win (last August) and one 1m2f second; his record at around 1m4f is a concern; pulled up on latest start, when he bled from the nose.

14/1

16/1

  • Place: £2.50

Form: 380028 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 10st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
First-time cheekpieces (kept since) when front-running second of six over C&D on penultimate start; the other evidence this term, however, is that he has badly lost his way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

30th Oct 2024

Good

2m 0f 3y

Class 5

15:50 Fakenham

Stopnsearch

11st 9lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Brett Johnson

Four-time Flat winner at up to 1m2f; fair form in three runs over hurdles but yet to prove that he stays 2m.

12/1

7th

2

30th Oct 2024

Good

2m 0f 3y

Class 5

15:50 Fakenham

Stopnsearch

11st 9lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Brett Johnson

Four-time Flat winner at up to 1m2f; fair form in three runs over hurdles but yet to prove that he stays 2m.

12/1

4th

7

(5)

17th Sep 2024

Good

0m 7f 216y

Class 6

16:20 Brighton

Stopnsearch

8st 11lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Brett Johnson

reluctant to load

20/1

3rd
12 (11)
Rita Rana

8/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 472158 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 8st 9lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 51

Form & Verdict
Opened her account (13th attempt) over C&D early last month off 1lb lower; slight backward steps on both starts since but she's considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

(6)

23rd Aug 2024

Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

16:20 Ffos Las

Rita Rana

9st 9lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Adrian Wintle

mounted in chute and taken down early, in touch with leaders, switched to near side 4f out, weakening when hung left over 2f out

20/1

5th

4

(3)

13th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 3f 133y

Class 6

16:15 Lingfield

Rita Rana

9st 9lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Adrian Wintle

pushed along briefly soon after start, led, headed over 2f out, weakened quickly inside final furlong

14/1

5th

7

(4)

17th Jul 2024

Good

1m 3f 137y

Class 6

17:00 Bath

Rita Rana

9st 3lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Adrian Wintle

Sole win was at Epsom (1m2f, good to firm) two years ago; she ran well when runner-up in this race 12 months ago but not yet doing as well this year and has nowhere to go from a handicapping perspective.

10/1

16/1

Form: 500429

Last run: 21 days

W: 8st 4lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 45

Form & Verdict
Nine-race maiden; second of four behind a rapidly progressive rival here (1m4f) last month but was 19l adrift and it's hard to say that gives her a great form chance; reared and fell before her next intended start and tailed off when hooded on her only race since.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

(4)

13th Oct 2022

Good To Firm

1m 1f 207y

Class 6

15:50 Brighton

Just An Inkling

8st 9lb

J: Charlie Bennett

T: Jim Boyle

0-11 but she was not that far away over 1m2f at Epsom or Brighton on last two outings, in the latter coming from the rear having reportedly been upset in the preliminaries; each-way chance.

12/1

3rd

10

(9)

4th Oct 2022

Soft

1m 1f 207y

Class 6

17:05 Brighton

Just An Inkling

8st 10lb

J: Aidan Keeley

T: Jim Boyle

took keen hold, held up in rear, switched to near side 3f out, pushed along and still plenty to do 2f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on well and went third towards finish (jockey said filly became upset in the preliminaries)

8/1

4th

13

(9)

30th Aug 2022

Good

1m 2f 17y

Class 6

15:20 Epsom

Just An Inkling

8st 4lb

J: Aidan Keeley

T: Jim Boyle

midfield, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on final furlong

16/1

4/1

Form: 253361 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
11th start when off the mark in five-runner handicap at Doncaster (1m2f) last time, justifying favouritism with no great difficulty; needs to back up that apparently improved show, given 4lb rise since, but in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

1

(9)

18th Oct 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 6

20:30 Kempton (AW)

Nonsuch Lad

9st 12lb

J: Luke Catton

T: Jim Boyle

Won twice on turf last season and he has run some good races in defeat this time around; last couple of efforts need forgiving; dropping into a 0-60 should help but he still has something to prove on AW.

16/1

8th

2

(11)

5th Oct 2023

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

18:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Nonsuch Lad

9st 12lb

J: Luke Catton

T: Jim Boyle

Won twice on turf last season and he has run some good races in defeat this time around; he wasn't at his best at Nottingham nine days ago but this is a more realistic assignment; no reason why he won't be fully effective on AW in time.

6/1

8th

8

(2)

26th Sep 2023

Soft

1m 2f 50y

Class 2

16:25 Nottingham

Nonsuch Lad

9st 0lb

J: Luke Catton

T: Jim Boyle

Has won on good and soft; another sound effort in defeat over this far at Leicester two weeks ago but looks vulnerable in this higher grade.

14/1

OUR TIP
6th
3 (2)
Qeyaady

12/1

Form: 030654 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 60

Form & Verdict
Ex-French 4yo; close third of 16 at Windsor (1m2f) in April and his fair fourth of nine at Kempton (1m4f, AW) last time is the closest he's come to repeating that form; not totally dismissed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

(1)

2nd May 2024

Standard

1m 6f 0y

Class 6

19:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Qeyaady

9st 0lb

J: J F Egan

T: Pat Phelan

Sole win was in May 2021 and he's a frequent slow starter; has dropped a long way in the weights but has mixed record under both codes since October and he's been well held (1m4f/1m2f) in last two runs; has plenty to prove now upped to 1m6f and others are preferred.

25/1

9th

10

(1)

2nd May 2024

Standard

1m 6f 0y

Class 6

19:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Qeyaady

9st 0lb

J: J F Egan

T: Pat Phelan

Sole win was in May 2021 and he's a frequent slow starter; has dropped a long way in the weights but has mixed record under both codes since October and he's been well held (1m4f/1m2f) in last two runs; has plenty to prove now upped to 1m6f and others are preferred.

25/1

10th

9

(5)

20th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

1m 1f 207y

Class 6

18:15 Brighton

Qeyaady

9st 3lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Pat Phelan

towards rear

20/1

Form: 040-

Last run: 353 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 61

Form & Verdict
Never-nearer fourth of seven at Lingfield (1m, AW) last August; well beaten either side but there's enough stamina in the family to suggest she could be one of those familiar Prescott improvers as a 3yo over middle distances; interesting to see her strength in the betting on this reappearance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

(3)

6th Sep 2022

Good

1m 4f 13y

Class 6

16:35 Catterick

Spectatrice

9st 7lb

J: Thore Hammer Hansen

T: Sir Mark Prescott Bt

raced freely, raced in second, pushed along 3f out, ridden under 2f out, led over 1f out, faced challenge and flashed tail inside final furlong, headed towards finish

4/1

7th

7

(10)

30th Aug 2022

Good

1m 2f 17y

Class 6

15:20 Epsom

Spectatrice

9st 5lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Sir Mark Prescott Bt

prominent, niggled along and chased clear leader 3f out, soon ridden and weakened

9/4

8th
10 (7)
Gilbert

10/1

Form: 121349 D

Last run: 3 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 57

Form & Verdict
Appeared to be stretched by 11.4f at Windsor on Saturday, following a fruitful spell over 1m/1m2f; enters calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

(3)

1st Oct 2024

Soft

1m 5f 11y

Class 6

13:30 Bath

Gilbert

8st 12lb

J: Mia Nicholls

T: Adam West

4-38; no win since last summer and yet to score beyond 11.5f; has struggled through the majority of this year, finishing last on three occasions, including at Windsor (11.5f, good to firm; 16-1) four weeks ago; others are far more obvious candidates.

25/1

11th

11

(8)

2nd Sep 2024

Good

1m 3f 99y

Class 6

17:00 Windsor

Gilbert

8st 11lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Adam West

took keen hold, soon towards rear

12/1

4th

14

(4)

13th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 2f 50y

Class 6

14:30 Nottingham

Gilbert

10st 7lb

J: Miss Milica Jovana Dusanovic

T: Adam West

The odd encouraging effort this year without being at his best; others bring more pressing claims.

16/1

Form: 584146

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 51

Form & Verdict
Dug deep at Brighton (1m) in July to get off the mark at 15th attempt; not disgraced on either start since or on some previous forays over 1m2f, but she's not top of the list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

7

(3)

5th Nov 2022

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

19:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Retrouvailles

8st 10lb

J: Nicola Currie

T: Mrs Ilka Gansera-Leveque

Off the mark at the 15th attempt when coming from off the pace to win a 1m handicap at Brighton in July; unable to replicate that level of form in four subsequent runs, including back on AW latest.

33/1

9th

11

(4)

13th Oct 2022

Standard

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

17:25 Chelmsford (AW)

Retrouvailles

9st 3lb

J: Oliver Stammers

T: Mrs Ilka Gansera-Leveque

in rear, going okay when still plenty to do from over 2f out, pushed along and some headway from under 2f out, keeping on when slightly hampered inside final furlong, eyecatcher (jockey said filly was denied a clear run in the home straight)

25/1

9th

9

(5)

30th Aug 2022

Good

1m 2f 17y

Class 6

15:20 Epsom

Retrouvailles

9st 2lb

J: Cameron Noble

T: Mrs Ilka Gansera-Leveque

always towards rear

14/1

Form: 044925

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Six-race maiden; made the running in 1m2f handicaps on her last two starts when second of four at Yarmouth but below par at Leicester; form chance relies on that Yarmouth run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

(11)

18th Oct 2022

Standard

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

19:00 Kempton (AW)

Craft In Silk

9st 5lb

J: Callum Shepherd

T: Ismail Mohammed

led, headed and prominent after 1f, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headway to lead over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong

20/1

15th

16

(5)

5th Oct 2022

Good To Soft

1m 2f 50y

Class 6

13:30 Nottingham

Craft In Silk

9st 4lb

J: Luke Catton

T: Ismail Mohammed

led, pushed along and headed over 3f out, ridden and weakened from over 2f out

12/1

10th

4

(3)

30th Aug 2022

Good

1m 2f 17y

Class 6

15:20 Epsom

Craft In Silk

9st 8lb

J: Jefferson Smith

T: Ismail Mohammed

in touch with leaders, weakened over 2f out

11/1

16/1

Form: 90-819 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 54

Form & Verdict
1m2f wins at Lingfield last June and in four-runner event at Chepstow this June; needs to be at that peak form and she has not often done that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

(2)

26th Oct 2022

Heavy

1m 2f 50y

Class 6

17:05 Nottingham

Hy Eales

10st 12lb

J: Mr Lewis Kent

T: John Spearing

in touch with leaders, pushed along 4f out, soon outpaced and struggling (trainer was informed mare could not run until day after passing a stalls test)

16/1

7th

6

(4)

1st Oct 2022

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

20:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Hy Eales

9st 6lb

J: Shane Kelly

T: John Spearing

led, headed and raced in second with one circuit to go, lost second and prominent 5f out, short of room and hampered 2f out, weakened inside final furlong

12/1

11th

6

(1)

30th Aug 2022

Good

1m 2f 17y

Class 6

15:20 Epsom

Hy Eales

9st 5lb

J: Dylan Hogan

T: John Spearing

reluctant to load, led, headed after 1f, pushed along and chased leaders over 3f out, soon ridden and weakened

16/1

12th
8 (6)
Ascraeus

16/1

Form: -91749

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 53

Form & Verdict
Won narrowly in a first-time visor (kept since) over 1m at Salisbury in June in a race she also won the previous year; below form since, has an unconvincing record at Epsom and well beaten on both attempts at 1m1f/1m2f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

(1)

13th Jun 2023

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:10 Salisbury

Ascraeus

8st 4lb

J: Rhiain Ingram

T: Laura Mongan

led narrowly

25/1

6th

2

(2)

16th Feb 2023

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

20:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Ascraeus

9st 9lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: Laura Mongan

Scored in a first-time visor at Salisbury (1m, good) last June but she's been disappointing since and was tailed off here when last seen in October; headgear is now removed and she has plenty to prove back up in trip after another break.

20/1

13th

6

(12)

27th Oct 2022

Standard

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

19:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Ascraeus

9st 6lb

J: William Carson

T: Laura Mongan

prominent, ridden and lost position 2f out, behind inside final furlong

12/1

Form: 234924

Last run: 33 days

W: 10st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Three AW wins and has a lower mark after just five runs on turf, including a second of four (beaten 6l) at Brighton on penultimate outing; well beaten over 1m2f on both visits to Epsom, including latest start.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

(2)

21st Aug 2023

Good

0m 7f 216y

Class 6

16:25 Brighton

Rhubarb Bikini

10st 4lb

J: Adam Farragher

T: Simon Hodgson

led, headed 4f out, ridden and weakened from over 2f out

10/1

10th

5

(1)

10th Aug 2023

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

16:50 Salisbury

Rhubarb Bikini

11st 7lb

J: Mr Jack Fox

T: Simon Hodgson

Mostly consistent since joining this yard and won over Brighton's 1m (good) in April off 4lb lower; should give his running once more.

10/1

4th

4

(5)

11th May 2023

Standard

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

19:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Rhubarb Bikini

9st 3lb

J: William Carver

T: Simon Hodgson

Came good for Simon Hodgson at fourth attempt, leading close home at Brighton (1m, good; visored) last month; raced too freely in first-time blinkers there last week but still ran well; has the visor refitted here and this drop back to 7f is an interesting move; might be the answer.

6/1

Non-runners

Rhubarb Bikini

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £273.40
Straight Forecast £286.69
Tricast £927.06
Trifecta £682.30

Selections

RP Ratings:

Nonsuch Lad

SPOTLIGHT:

Spectatrice

The Times:

Rita Rana

POSTDATA:

Retrouvailles

The Star:

Stopnsearch

The Guardian:

Nonsuch Lad

Daily Mail:

Nonsuch Lad

Daily Record:

Nonsuch Lad

NEWMARKET:

Spectatrice

Daily Express:

Spectatrice

Daily Mirror:

Spectatrice

Telegraph:

Rita Rana

The Sun:

Rita Rana