September 14 / 15.55 Yarmouth

15.55

Good To Soft

John Empsom Memorial Handicap

  • Prize money: £7560
  • 1m 1f 21y
  • Class 3
  • 10 runners
SKY
View Course
John Empsom Memorial Handicap

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £11.00
  • Place: £2.70

Form: 334040

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Drawn wide when beaten about 6l in the John Smith's Cup, then ran well in fourth at Doncaster; Sandown was a backward step but in a very deep handicap; down to a mark he can win off and handles all ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(3)

14th Sep 2022

Good To Soft

1m 1f 21y

Class 3

15:55 Yarmouth

Good Birthday

9st 10lb

J: Andrea Atzeni

T: Andrew Balding

took keen hold, in rear, headway and midfield 6f out, going easily when waiting for room from 3f out, cruising when switched right from over 1f out, pushed along and kept on well inside final furlong, led inside final 110yds, won going away, readily

12/1

14th

9

(10)

20th Aug 2022

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 2

15:50 Sandown

Good Birthday

9st 0lb

J: Joshua Bryan

T: Andrew Balding

held up in rear, some headway over 3f out, ridden and no extra from 2f out, soon beaten

14/1

4th

1

(4)

4th Aug 2022

Good

1m 2f 43y

Class 3

20:40 Doncaster

Good Birthday

9st 12lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Andrew Balding

took keen hold, prominent, ridden and briefly led over 1f out, edged right inside final furlong, kept on but held final 110yds

9/2

10/1

  • Place: £2.40

Form: -31039

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Excellent third of 16 over 1m1f at Glorious Goodwood but only midfield when tongue tied at Haydock (1m); going back up in distance appeals as the right move and he should be a factor; handles good to soft, unraced on softer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

(4)

13th Oct 2022

Standard

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

20:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Bolthole

9st 8lb

J: David Probert

T: Michael Bell

midfield, going okay 2f out, pushed along and headway from under 2f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong

10/1

2nd

6

(10)

14th Sep 2022

Good To Soft

1m 1f 21y

Class 3

15:55 Yarmouth

Bolthole

9st 9lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Michael Bell

midfield, towards rear after 1f, going easily and headway on outer from over 3f out, soon prominent, pressed leader from 2f out, pushed along from over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, kept on but no match for winner

10/1

9th

6

(4)

19th Aug 2022

Good

0m 7f 192y

Class 2

17:20 York

Bolthole

9st 3lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Michael Bell

held up in behind leaders, going okay 3f out, pushed along over 2f out, soon outpaced, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong

9/1

OUR TIP

10/1

  • Place: £4.10

Form: 31-10

Last run: 111 days

W: 9st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Flying too high in a French Listed race last time but looked a fair prospect in winning his two novices (good to soft/AW) and he should have a future in handicaps; this mark looks no gift, however.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

11

(8)

27th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:25 Kempton (AW)

Rhythm N Rock

9st 9lb

J: Chloe Lyons

T: John Butler

C&D winner in 2022 and narrowly failed to land a gamble off 1lb lower under these conditions just before Christmas; not as effective since but is worth a market check, particularly versus John Butler's other two runners.

20/1

11th

11

(4)

18th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

19:00 Kempton (AW)

Rhythm N Rock

9st 2lb

J: Kyle McHugh

T: John Butler

Gamble went astray, but only just, over C&D in December; not so effective over further at Wolverhampton since but he lurks on a dangerous mark; Final Night looks a safer option for John Butler fans.

14/1

11/1

Form: 286503

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 10lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
0-8 since winning Listed race last October (beat Westover); not progressed as expected but there were excuses at York and Thirsk last time (1m, soft) was a reasonable run; will need more and stamina not guaranteed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(13)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 218y

Class 3

16:47 Thirsk

Mr Professor

9st 9lb

J: Sam James

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

Has won on firm but best form on soft, as when winning the Lincoln (1m) in 2024; lightly raced with little return since but he was hampered on Newcastle AW last June; entitled to be rusty for new trainer on this first run since; missed a race earlier this month due to good to firm ground.

14/1

5/4

Form: 11

Last run: 46 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Beat the same horse in his two novices, a Prescott 3yo who has gone on to better things; very taking in how he defied the penalty at Thirsk (1m, good to soft) and he's in the right hands to progress.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

(15)

1st Aug 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

14:30 Goodwood

Lattam

9st 5lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Julie Camacho

Well beaten in the Lincoln in March on sole outing this term (1m, good to soft) but he was runner-up in two major handicaps (both 1m on soft) during a light campaign last season and yesterday's rain is a major positive for his claims; capable of a big performance.

12/1

10/1

Form: 339033 C

Last run: 33 days

W: 9st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Beaten 1l when third the last twice at Pontefract and Newmarket (both 1m) so he's in form, albeit exposed; goes on good to soft but anything softer would be worrying; probably best at 1m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

5

(1)

4th Nov 2022

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 4

16:40 Newcastle (AW)

Enigmatic

9st 10lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Joseph Parr

Respectable third to Award Dancer here last month when having his first AW start of the season; went very close off 7lb higher in this contest last year and, with being so well handicapped, looks set for another big run.

13/2

3rd

1

(4)

11th Oct 2022

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 4

18:35 Newcastle (AW)

Enigmatic

9st 12lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Joseph Parr

midfield on outer, shaken up and steady headway over 2f out, went third over 1f out, ridden and kept on final 110yds

10/1

1

(8)

5th Oct 2022

Good To Soft

1m 0f 75y

Class 4

16:20 Nottingham

Enigmatic

10st 0lb

J: Thore Hammer Hansen

T: Joseph Parr

Won off 6lb higher at Pontefract (1m, good to firm) last September but has a mixed record since and he was laboured at Goodwood (1m, good to soft) two weeks ago; now drops back into a Class 4 event but losing run is up to 11 and others are preferred.

10/1

11/2

Form: 5-4316 BF

Last run: 39 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Career-best RPR by some margin when opening account in 1m2f handicap at Doncaster (good to firm) in July and, under new jockey at the Shergar Cup, he was ridden more positively than usual; could well bounce back; unraced on ground softer than good but pedigree bodes well for him handling the going.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

(6)

14th Sep 2022

Good To Soft

1m 1f 21y

Class 3

15:55 Yarmouth

Adjourn

9st 6lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: David Simcock

dwelt start, held up in rear, shaken up 3f out, switched right 2f out, soon on outer, pushed along and minor headway from over 1f out, kept on but not pace to challenge

11/2

6th

6

(2)

6th Aug 2022

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 3

13:00 Ascot

Adjourn

9st 4lb

J: Kerrin McEvoy

T: David Simcock

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong

100/30

12/1

Form: -41439 C

Last run: 41 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Strike-rate of 4-12 on turf but there were no obvious excuses for his recent handicap defeats and his mark hasn't really gone anywhere; good to soft would be fine, soft perhaps less so.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(6)

11th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

17:12 Windsor

Silver Gunn

11st 2lb

J: Mr Henry Callan

T: Marco Botti

Two of his six wins have come over C&D; can go well fresh so his low-key return to action at Yarmouth last month was disappointing; down in class and has the assistance of Henry Callan in the saddle so he could leave that well behind.

11/2

10th

10

(3)

11th Apr 2026

Good

1m 2f 23y

Class 4

15:42 Yarmouth

Silver Gunn

9st 2lb

J: David Egan

T: Marco Botti

Course winner who had irregular form in 2025 but he only just failed on his reappearance at Windsor (1m2f, good to firm) last spring and he's 4lb lower now; on the cards that he'll return with a good effort.

14/1

7th

8

(6)

23rd Oct 2025

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 4

20:30 Southwell (AW)

Silver Gunn

9st 4lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Marco Botti

Started this season with a near-miss at Windsor (1m2f) in April but comfortably held since; bit to prove, including on the AW.

20/1

20/1

Form: 25-133 C

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 0lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Last season was a good one and she started this one in the best possible fashion, winning here over 1m; beaten twice since then and this does look tougher than she's accustomed to; trip is a further doubt.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(5)

23rd Jun 2023

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:20 Newmarket (July)

Goddess Of Fire

9st 9lb

J: Adam Tracey

T: John Ryan

Her last three wins have come over this trip at Yarmouth, the latest of them off 5lb higher 14 months ago; ignore her reappearance (blindfold off late) and a better run is on the cards today.

12/1

7

(5)

14th Jun 2023

Good To Firm

1m 0f 3y

Class 4

14:20 Yarmouth

Goddess Of Fire

8st 9lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: John Ryan

Her last three wins have come over C&D, the latest of them 14 months ago off a 5lb higher mark; blindfold slow to be removed and always on the back foot on her recent reappearance here; easy to strike a line through that and better expected this time.

10/1

7th

7

(3)

1st Jun 2023

Good To Firm

1m 0f 3y

Class 4

16:00 Yarmouth

Goddess Of Fire

9st 1lb

J: Adam Tracey

T: John Ryan

Handy sort who hasn't been seen in 222 days, but was winning for the third time over this C&D when making a successful return in April of last year; 3lb lower now and given that she is proven fresh a big run wouldn't surprise.

14/1

Form: 60-050

Last run: 3 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
One-time smart in Ireland but lost her way and she ran a shocking race at Doncaster on Sunday when detached throughout; just the tongue-tie remains of the three forms of headgear tried there; makes limited appeal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

1

(8)

14th Sep 2022

Good To Soft

1m 1f 21y

Class 3

15:55 Yarmouth

Flor De La Luna

10st 2lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Michael Appleby

took keen hold, in rear, ridden and no impression from over 2f out, soon beaten, eased from over 1f out

40/1

16th

9

(18)

11th Sep 2022

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

16:30 Doncaster

Flor De La Luna

8st 13lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Michael Appleby

taken down early, slowly into stride, raced near side early, in rear, hung left and outpaced up the centre before halfway, soon lost touch, tailed off (jockey said mare was never travelling)

40/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £84.20
Straight Forecast £89.02
Tricast £981.87
Trifecta £1262.30

Selections

NEWMARKET:

Lattam

POSTDATA:

Bolthole

TOPSPEED:

Enigmatic

SPOTLIGHT:

Adjourn

The Times:

Mr Professor

Daily Mirror:

Goddess Of Fire

RP Ratings:

Good Birthday

Telegraph:

Lattam

Daily Express:

Lattam

The Sun:

Lattam

The Star:

Lattam

Daily Record:

Lattam

Daily Mail:

Bolthole

The Guardian:

Enigmatic