April 14 / 15.10 Leicester

15.10

Heavy

Bob Hillery 60th Birthday Celebration Handicap

  • Prize money: £5234
  • 0m 7f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Bob Hillery 60th Birthday Celebration Handicap

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.50

Form: 4-2264 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Returns to turf after making the frame on three of four AW starts for Archie Watson this year; probably still on a workable mark but his tendency to race too freely is a worry on first encounter with ground slower than good.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

25

(15)

22nd Jun 2023

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

Tylos

9st 2lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

Front-runner; excelled himself when beating Gorak by a wide margin in a four-runner race at Leicester in April (7f, heavy) but back to earth with a bump when fading in the Victoria Cup over C&D since; high in weights now.

33/1

16th

17

(19)

13th May 2023

Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

14:40 Ascot

Tylos

9st 1lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: Archie Watson

Possibly flattered by his winning margin (11l) on heavy going at Leicester last month and beat only three rivals in that race; unexposed on slow ground but faces a stiffer task off new mark in this much deeper field.

20/1

1st

3

(1)

14th Apr 2023

Heavy

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

15:10 Leicester

Tylos

9st 10lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Archie Watson

made all, going easily and 3 lengths ahead 2f out, went further clear from over 1f out, unchallenged

3/1

Form: 722517 D BF

Last run: 4 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Took form to new level level when winning easily by over 5l at Doncaster (7f, soft) 12 days ago; only seventh when favourite under penalty at Redcar (7f, soft) on Monday but was seemingly drawn on the wrong part of the track there and his new mark (5lb higher than today's) has not yet kicked in; can be given another chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(6)

23rd Aug 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

14:05 Goodwood

Gorak

9st 0lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Charlie Fellowes

Best form this season when placed twice at Haydock, including latest start; still on a workable mark but continues on a long losing sequence, which makes him a similar type to Billyjoh.

16/1

3

(2)

9th Aug 2025

Good

0m 7f 37y

Class 3

16:10 Haydock

Gorak

9st 13lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Charlie Fellowes

Record over C&D includes a success in May 2023 and solid second on reappearance this term; disappointing favourite here on penultimate start and losing run is mounting up; best form certainly gives him a good chance off current mark back down in grade.

7/1

11

(1)

12th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

14:50 Newmarket (July)

Gorak

9st 4lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Charlie Fellowes

Disappointing favourite at Haydock last Saturday, extending his long losing sequence; beaten twice in this contest (seventh in 2023, well held in 2024) and can be opposed.

33/1

OUR TIP

14/1

Form: 0054-8 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Eight-time AW winner but just 1-12 on turf; will find this easier than the Class 2 race he contested at Kempton last month, after a break, but it's questionable whether today's ground will show him in his best light.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(10)

16th Oct 2025

Standard

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

18:45 Chelmsford (AW)

Soar Above

9st 9lb

J: David Egan

T: John Butler

On much reduced mark but this Kempton specialist has not won since 2022 and has form figures of 90068079 this year; cheekpieces return on his second run after a break but he needs a major revival back up in trip.

12/1

9th

5

(7)

18th Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

20:15 Kempton (AW)

Soar Above

9st 6lb

J: Sean Levey

T: John Butler

Prolific course winner but the latest of them was back in April 2022; now rated 32lb lower but he wasn't in much form earlier in the year; could revive after his break; stable also run Galel; betting can guide.

12/1

7th

2

(6)

5th May 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

17:30 Kempton (AW)

Soar Above

9st 9lb

J: Grace McEntee

T: John Butler

Eight-time course winner who is 12lb lower than when a close third over C&D last September; a market check is advised but this 10yo has struggled this year (including here) and is without a win since April 2022.

25/1

Form: 224-34 CD

Last run: 70 days

W: 9st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Won this race off today's mark on good to soft ground last year and switches back to turf after string of consistent 7f/1m Polytrack runs; unraced on heavy ground but ran well on soft in 2020; big player if handling the conditions.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

(6)

2nd Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:48 Pontefract

Dashing Dick

9st 5lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: William Stone

Ended last season with a success but has contrastingly started this campaign in poor form; hasn't won away from Newmarket since 2022; others preferred.

20/1

8th

5

(4)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:27 Newmarket

Dashing Dick

9st 6lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: William Stone

Beaten a long way at Leicester three weeks ago on his first run of the season but heavy reappearance defeats have been a recurring theme in his profile; won over C&D (good to soft) on final outing last year and he's also run well here on fast ground; could bounce back with a big run.

12/1

7th

4

(7)

25th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

14:44 Leicester

Dashing Dick

9st 7lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: William Stone

Said goodbye to 2025 with a Newmarket win (6f, good to soft) in November; has won on good to firm but he missed a recent intended return on the surface and this might be needed anyway (soundly beaten here last April).

9/1

Form: 83-749 CD

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 10lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Won over C&D on fast ground as a 2yo but much better known for her subsequent AW exploits; now 5lb lower than when placed on Tapeta on Boxing Day but her latest run was disappointing and she's untested on turf slower than good to soft.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(4)

16th Dec 2023

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 3

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Amber Island

9st 3lb

J: Laura Pearson

T: David Loughnane

took keen hold, prominent, pressed leader from over 4f out

10/1

7th

1

(1)

25th Nov 2023

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 4

13:45 Lingfield (AW)

Amber Island

9st 13lb

J: Brandon Wilkie

T: David Loughnane

led, headed inside final furlong, soon dropped to rear

12/1

Form: 5750-5 D

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

11

(12)

27th Apr 2024

Soft

0m 6f 2y

Class 3

18:40 Doncaster

Ascot Adventure

9st 4lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

ducked left start, midfield

6/1

16th

11

(12)

27th Apr 2024

Soft

0m 6f 2y

Class 3

18:40 Doncaster

Ascot Adventure

9st 4lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

ducked left start, midfield

6/1

3rd

1

(2)

24th Mar 2024

Soft

0m 7f 6y

Class 4

16:15 Doncaster

Ascot Adventure

9st 9lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Has won over 7f (on good going) but taxing conditions may stretch him returned to this trip, as was the case in this race 12 months ago (faded into fifth); last win came over 6f.

5/1

Non-runners

Amber Island, Ascot Adventure

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.60
Straight Forecast £9.64
Trifecta £22.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Gorak

TOPSPEED:

Dashing Dick

RP Ratings:

Gorak

POSTDATA:

Gorak

NEWMARKET:

Gorak

Telegraph:

Gorak

The Guardian:

Gorak

Daily Mail:

Gorak

The Sun:

Gorak

The Star:

Gorak

The Times:

Dashing Dick

D Express:

Dashing Dick

Daily Mirror:

Dashing Dick

Daily Record:

Dashing Dick