March 08 / 17.05 Kempton (AW)

17.05

Standard To Slow

Extra Place Races Throughout Cheltenham Handicap (London Stayers’ Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £6280.8
  • 1m 7f 218y
  • Class 4
  • 12 runners
RTV
View Course
Extra Place Races Throughout Cheltenham Handicap (London Stayers’ Series Qualifier)

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Polytrack

Weather: Cloudy

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.50

Form: /0561- CD

Last run: 98 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Won going away over C&D in November when last seen (fourth start for new yard), proving suited by the step up in trip; unexposed at 2m and still has low mileage; respected off 4lb higher.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

12

(14)

6th Apr 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 2

15:15 Kempton (AW)

Duty Of Care

9st 6lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Jamie Osborne

Two C&D wins before his second in this race last year; has a 2lb lower mark this time round but was not disgraced in his three runs this year (C&D second in February was best of those) and is not dismissed.

7/1

1st

12

(14)

6th Apr 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 2

15:15 Kempton (AW)

Duty Of Care

9st 6lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Jamie Osborne

Two C&D wins before his second in this race last year; has a 2lb lower mark this time round but was not disgraced in his three runs this year (C&D second in February was best of those) and is not dismissed.

7/1

6th

7

(13)

29th Mar 2024

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

13:53 Newcastle (AW)

Duty Of Care

8st 9lb

J: David Egan

T: Jamie Osborne

Record of 3-11 on AW; creditable second to Citizen General at Kempton two starts ago, then kicked for home too early in the Marathon Trial where he understandably ran out of steam in the latter stages; 1-1 here and can't be dismissed.

16/1

7/2

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 111-22 CD BF

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 11lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Has form figures of 11122 (all on AW) since upped to staying trips, including two C&D wins; solid second (behind subsequent scorer) at Wolverhampton most recently; major contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

(4)

17th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

16:20 Newbury

Blazeon Five

9st 6lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Alan King

Ended last year in storming form for 1m6f/2m hat-trick and not disgraced when never dangerous in January when last seen; peak efforts on softer than good but she's not dismissed.

7/1

6th

5

(11)

16th Jan 2026

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

14:15 Newcastle (AW)

Blazeon Five

9st 5lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Alan King

Excellent overall strike-rate and she's won her last three, finding plenty for pressure each time (latest on the Tapeta at Southwell); only 3lb higher and will give it her best shot.

13/2

11/2

  • Place: £2.70

Form: 0-7112 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish colt who is 2-4 since joining new stable, including a C&D success; creditable second at Newcastle (2m) last time; still open to further progress at this distance; shortlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

7

(10)

29th Mar 2024

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 3

15:15 Lingfield (AW)

First Emperor

9st 6lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: John Ryan

Some creditable efforts over 2m this year and he wasn't far behind Red Flyer in a Class 2 over C&D (sixth of 13) last time; his losing run is mounting up but he's edging down the weights and could go well on this drop back in grade.

14/1

6th

13

(7)

1st Mar 2024

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 2

15:47 Lingfield (AW)

First Emperor

8st 11lb

J: Luke Morris

T: John Ryan

pushed along soon after start, towards rear after 2f

16/1

3rd

5

(4)

24th Feb 2024

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 3

17:05 Southwell (AW)

First Emperor

9st 9lb

J: Luke Morris

T: John Ryan

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, headway over 3f out, soon outpaced, rallied from 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, went third towards finish, not pace to challenge

16/1

OUR TIP

12/1

Form: 3126-6 C

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Four-time AW winner who appeared to need last month's reappearance run at Lingfield (1m4f); drops back two grades and could go well; last success came over 2m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(1)

31st May 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

16:25 Nottingham

Diamond Bay

9st 9lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Tom Ward

On a losing run and he was tried in blinkers when a below-par seventh of ten in 1m6f handicap at Goodwood 30 days ago; others appeal more.

8/1

7th

5

(8)

1st May 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:35 Goodwood

Diamond Bay

9st 2lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Tom Ward

Multiple winner who stays well but has failed to beat a rival in his last two races, with and without a visor; now tries blinkers.

8/1

6th

3

(6)

17th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 4

15:18 Wolverhampton (AW)

Diamond Bay

9st 7lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Tom Ward

Two wins here including over this trip, but he ran very poorly on his return from four months off at Lingfield (2m, Polytrack) a fortnight ago, especially as he proven fresh; visor returns.

8/1

12/1

Form: 1/0/2- BF

Last run: 276 days

W: 9st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Flat winner in France and hurdles/chase scorer for Willie Mullins; pulled up in handicap hurdle on debut for George Baker; blinkers now applied; returns to this sphere off a handy mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

(7)

5th Apr 2023

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:50 Nottingham

Jon Snow

9st 7lb

J: Trevor Whelan

T: George Baker

Flat winner in France and hurdles/chase winner (including twice on soft) for Willie Mullins in Ireland; the blinkers were enlisted on second run for new yard when fair fifth of 12 at Kempton (2m, AW) four weeks ago, so he has something to build on.

14/1

5th

10

(2)

8th Mar 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 4

17:05 Kempton (AW)

Jon Snow

9st 3lb

J: Trevor Whelan

T: George Baker

Flat winner in France and hurdles/chase scorer for Willie Mullins; pulled up in handicap hurdle on debut for George Baker; blinkers now applied; returns to this sphere off a handy mark.

12/1

1

25th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 2

15:07 Chepstow

Jon Snow

12st 0lb

J: Luca Morgan

T: George Baker

Won beginners' chase for Willie Mullins in Ireland last summer but left that stable after odds-on disappointment in October and new reverts to hurdling; will need to be in peak form to have any chance under top weight.

33/1

Form: 1431/7

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Has won over hurdles for current yard; never landed a blow at Wolverhampton (1m4f; first Flat start since 2021) last month but shaped as if this extra distance may help.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

12

(3)

8th Mar 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 4

17:05 Kempton (AW)

Rhebus Road

9st 0lb

J: Thomas Greatrex

T: Oliver Sherwood

Has won over hurdles for current yard; never landed a blow at Wolverhampton (1m4f; first Flat start since 2021) last month but shaped as if this extra distance may help.

25/1

7th

9

(1)

13th Feb 2023

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 4

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Rhebus Road

9st 7lb

J: Thomas Greatrex

T: Oliver Sherwood

Not seen on the Flat since 1m2f turf win for Ralph Beckett in September 2021 and was well beaten on only previous AW start; in fairly good form over hurdles in the autumn but probably best watched here.

14/1

5

(11)

1st Feb 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 5

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Rhebus Road

9st 12lb

J: Thomas Greatrex

T: Oliver Sherwood

Two Flat wins for Ralph Beckett in the second half of 2021; successful over hurdles for this yard last May; not at his best in that sphere when last seen in December; career best required to take this.

Form: 20341- CD

Last run: 91 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Bagged the 2022 final of this series over C&D when last seen three months ago, taking AW record to 3-8; generally consistent and holds strong claims back down in grade on reappearance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

5

(13)

29th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

19:25 Down Royal

Pons Aelius

9st 9lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: H D McGuigan

Six-time winner at up to 2m in Britain but yet to hit any sort of form for current yard; career-low mark and tongue-tie tried so don't rule out.

12/1

11th

7

(16)

3rd May 2026

Good

1m 5f 190y

15:22 Sligo

Pons Aelius

9st 11lb

J: Gabriella Hill

T: H D McGuigan

Donegal yard likes to pick up horses with back-form, often from Britain, and try to rejuvenate them; six-time winner at up to 2m but hasn't been finishing out his races in Ireland and been off a while.

18/1

8th

9

(9)

16th Jan 2026

Standard

2m 0f 0y

17:15 Dundalk (AW)

Pons Aelius

9st 0lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: H D McGuigan

Six-time winner for Charlie Johnston and best form over this trip; poor on first two runs for this yard at big prices; better than bare result when beaten over 5l at Gowran last May; yard's first runner of the year won on Tuesday; no surprise were he to go well after a break with leading claimer aboard.

20/1

Form: 0331-6 BF

Last run: 60 days

W: 9st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Respectable sixth at Lingfield (2m) two months ago when bidding to follow up his Southwell success (1m6f); not fully exposed over staying trips but this is a harder task.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(11)

9th Oct 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 6

16:12 Kempton (AW)

Militry Decoration

9st 13lb

J: Callum Shepherd

T: Camilla Poulton

Won off 5lb higher on Tapeta earlier this year and returned to form with a 3l third behind The Colorist at Lingfield four weeks ago; will need more again, though.

12/1

3rd

4

(7)

11th Sep 2024

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

17:50 Lingfield (AW)

Militry Decoration

9st 7lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Camilla Poulton

Won on Polytrack as 2yo but three later wins on Tapeta, at 1m4f to 1m6f; hard to recommend at present as he's been a slow starter since his most recent win in March and was way back at Wolverhampton in August.

25/1

6th

2

(4)

16th Aug 2024

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 5

15:35 Wolverhampton (AW)

Militry Decoration

9st 13lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Camilla Poulton

slowly away, always behind

25/1

Form: 098-59 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish gelding who is on a two-year losing spell; current mark reflects a decline in his form and there was no revival at Lingfield (1m4f) on debut for new yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

28th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

13:12 Chepstow

Grandmaster Flash

10st 2lb

J: Lewis Saunders

T: Bernard Llewellyn

Three-time AW winner but soundly beaten on all nine starts over hurdles; 4lb wrong in the weights and easily dismissed.

33/1

11

28th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

13:12 Chepstow

Grandmaster Flash

10st 2lb

J: Lewis Saunders

T: Bernard Llewellyn

in touch with leaders, mistake 5th, weakened before 4 out

33/1

10th

26

11th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:58 Ffos Las

Grandmaster Flash

9st 9lb

T: Bernard Llewellyn

Three-time AW winner who didn't run badly behind Our Dylan at Hereford last April but has offered little since; 7lb wrong.

50/1

10th
4 (9)
Oman

40/1

Form: 287-50

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Not solid judged on his form since last spring; trailed home last at Lingfield (1m4f; debut for new stable) most recently; opposed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

(1)

18th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

14:20 Lingfield

Oman

9st 5lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Tony Carroll

Held off his revised mark since an AW win late last year; not a bad effort back from a break returned to turf at Chester (1m4f; good record first time out in his younger years) last time and this is less competitive.

8/1

8th

15

(10)

8th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 4

17:20 Chester

Oman

9st 4lb

J: Zak Wheatley

T: Tony Carroll

Ended 2025 with emphatic AW win at Wolverhampton (9.4f, AW) and came second on both AW starts in January (1m2f/9.4f); absent since lesser effort in February and not ideally drawn today but has two course wins (including a division of this race in 2024) on his CV; could have a say.

14/1

Form: 1-5562 CD

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
More exposed than some of these rivals but he beat Pons Aelius over C&D in September (when 1lb higher) and his latest effort was a step back in the right direction; not without a chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

(8)

2nd Apr 2024

Standard

2m 0f 120y

Class 6

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Smart Champion

9st 8lb

J: Callum Shepherd

T: David Simcock

Has been a useful stayer in his time but losing run is up to 16, despite him having fallen 21lb below his last winning mark, and last two efforts were well below his best; best to look elsewhere.

10/1

7th

6

(8)

2nd Apr 2024

Standard

2m 0f 120y

Class 6

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Smart Champion

9st 8lb

J: Callum Shepherd

T: David Simcock

Has been a useful stayer in his time but losing run is up to 16, despite him having fallen 21lb below his last winning mark, and last two efforts were well below his best; best to look elsewhere.

10/1

8th

6

(6)

27th Mar 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 5

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Smart Champion

8st 12lb

J: Luke Morris

T: David Simcock

Defied a much higher mark over C&D in 2022; however, recent form is nowhere near that level and he finished behind two of these rivals here five weeks ago; losing sequence looks set to continue.

16/1

16/1

Form: 21034- D

Last run: 133 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Successful twice at Nottingham last summer, beating Pons Aelius on the second occasion; however, lacks recent match practice and has something to prove back on AW (second attempt).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(3)

29th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 2f 50y

Class 6

16:22 Nottingham

Alpine Stroll

11st 13lb

J: Mr Henry Callan

T: Lemos De Souza

Dual Nottingham winner; acts on soft, unraced on heavy; shot back to some form when storming home in an amateur riders' race at Bath (11.5f, good to soft) last month; well below form next time (1m6f, which he stays) but Henry Callan galvanised him to a 1m4f win at Newbury (soft) on Saturday; sole attempt at 1m2f was in 2021 but he had to hold on at Newbury after going clear and his appearance over this trip with 4lb penalty no longer looks ridiculous.

2/1

1st

1

(3)

29th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 2f 50y

Class 6

16:22 Nottingham

Alpine Stroll

11st 13lb

J: Mr Henry Callan

T: Lemos De Souza

Dual Nottingham winner; acts on soft, unraced on heavy; shot back to some form when storming home in an amateur riders' race at Bath (11.5f, good to soft) last month; well below form next time (1m6f, which he stays) but Henry Callan galvanised him to a 1m4f win at Newbury (soft) on Saturday; sole attempt at 1m2f was in 2021 but he had to hold on at Newbury after going clear and his appearance over this trip with 4lb penalty no longer looks ridiculous.

2/1

12

(7)

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

12:50 Newbury

Alpine Stroll

10st 11lb

J: Mr Henry Callan

T: Lemos De Souza

Acts on soft, unraced on heavy; shot back to some form when storming home in an amateur riders' race at Bath (11.5f, good to soft) last month; well below form off this 7lb higher mark at Haydock (1m6f, which he stays) 13 days later, however.

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £14.40
Straight Forecast £13.06
Tricast £77.69
Trifecta £45.00

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Pons Aelius

LAMBOURN:

Blazeon Five

SPOTLIGHT:

Duty Of Care

D Express:

First Emperor

POSTDATA:

Smart Champion

THE NORTH:

Pons Aelius

Daily Mail:

Pons Aelius

Daily Record:

Pons Aelius

Telegraph:

Blazeon Five

The Sun:

Blazeon Five

The Star:

Blazeon Five

Daily Mirror:

First Emperor

RP Ratings:

Duty Of Care

The Times:

Duty Of Care

The Guardian:

Duty Of Care

NEWMARKET:

Smart Champion