May 06 / 13.40 Newmarket

13.40

Good To Firm

Howden Handicap

  • Prize money: £25770
  • 1m 4f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 11 runners
RTV
View Course
Howden Handicap

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.34
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 6207-1 D

Last run: 57 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
1m6f may excuse sole run on softer than good; gelded after final start last season and he didn't just return to form at Kempton (1m4f, AW) two months ago, in winning easily by nearly 5l he improved; has 10lb higher mark today but looks set for another very big run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(13)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 2

16:10 Newcastle (AW)

Teumessias Fox

9st 5lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Andrew Balding

Slow starts have become an unwelcome habit but he caught the eye keeping on for fifth of 13 behind King's Code over C&D in January, when denied a clear run; last of three at Lingfield since in a race that wasn't run to suit; each-way claims if getting the breaks.

9/1

3rd

2

(1)

31st Jan 2026

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 2

13:05 Lingfield (AW)

Teumessias Fox

9st 4lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Smart at his peak on AW but slow starts have become an unwelcome habit and he's been operating below his very best in AW handicaps this winter; would need to bounce back to his peak form to trouble an on-song Survie.

5/1

5th

2

(14)

16th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 2

14:50 Newcastle (AW)

Teumessias Fox

9st 9lb

J: Alfie Redman

T: Andrew Balding

Does well on the AW and was never ideally positioned in a steadily run race over C&D two months ago; slow breaks have become an unwelcome habit but capable of being in the shake-up granted a solid pace to chase; Alfie Redman takes off a useful 7lb.

10/1

9/2

  • Place: £1.85

Form: 341-22 BF

Last run: 77 days

W: 8st 10lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Promise in two runs on good to firm for Sir Michael Stoute last spring; easy winner of 1m2f novice at Lingfield (AW) on stable debut in December after wind surgery; better form when second in two AW handicaps since (upped to 1m4f at Lingfield last time); off 77 days but may have more to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(17)

24th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 2

15:35 York

Crystal Delight

9st 9lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Harry Eustace

With new yard this year and much improved when readily making all in good-ground handicaps at Epsom (1m2f) and York (1m4f) this spring; a first crack at 1m6f isn't fanciful but he needs to bounce back from a heavy defeat in 1m4f Listed race at Newmarket eight weeks ago.

20/1

5th

4

(3)

29th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:50 Newmarket (July)

Crystal Delight

9st 2lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Harry Eustace

led narrowly, headed and raced in second from over 7f out

7/2

1st

6

(10)

15th May 2024

Good To Firm

1m 3f 188y

Class 2

14:15 York

Crystal Delight

9st 6lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Harry Eustace

made all, set steady pace, increased tempo over 3f out, ridden clear inside final furlong, readily

13/2

20/1

  • Place: £5.95

Form: 7004-7 D

Last run: 118 days

W: 9st 8lb

8 yo Horse

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Won a conditions stakes at Doncastler last March and second in a Group 3 at Newbury that April, both 1m4f, but has made less of an impact since; down the weights but others look more solid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

1

25th Jan 2024

Good

2m 4f 145y

Class 4

14:35 Huntingdon

Raymond Tusk

12st 2lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Still well short of replicating his smart Flat best over hurdles when fourth on December 2022's handicap debut, but finally gets to try further than 2m in this sphere now and has been gelded; won't mind a dryout.

5/1

5th

4

(1)

7th Jul 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 50y

Class 1

15:05 Sandown

Raymond Tusk

9st 2lb

J: James Doyle

T: Alan King

Satisfactory third in handicap at Newmarket (1m4f) in May after a four-month break, but no show from a wide draw at Royal Ascot (1m6f) latest; still capable of smart form last year but very rarely seen over this far (second in 2m Ascot Group 3 in 2019) and looks set for a supporting role.

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: 03627-

Last run: 196 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Did well at 1m2f last term (won his first two starts) and beaten a neck over 1m4f at Newbury on penultimate start; heavy ground excuses final outing; each-way claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(2)

20th Jun 2025

Good

1m 3f 218y

Class 4

18:30 Goodwood

Moktasaab

9st 4lb

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Gary & Josh Moore

0-13 since winning from 17lb higher here (1m2f, good to firm) in April 2022; makes his debut for another new yard (same owner) after 399 days off having undergone a second wind operation in the meantime; tongue-tie returns; market informative.

7/1

14/1

Form: -21227 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 8st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Improved and consistent since returned to the AW last October, over 1m2f/1m4f; not far away in a hot race on latest start either; big stumbling block for supporters is his turf record, which is two heavy defeats from two attempts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(5)

18th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 5f 66y

Class 5

19:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Obsidian Knight

10st 0lb

J: Grace McEntee

T: T J Kent

7-25 on the AW, with one of the wins coming on his only Chelmsford start; creditable third of ten at Lingfield (1m4f, AW) 19 days ago and the second from that race has won since; stamina not assured over the longest he's tackled but can be very competitive from his mark.

11/2

3rd

2

(5)

30th Aug 2025

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

19:25 Lingfield (AW)

Obsidian Knight

10st 0lb

J: Grace McEntee

T: T J Kent

7-24 on the AW with six of those wins coming at Lingfield (1m2f/1m4f); no joy in three turf runs in May/June but he didn't get much luck back on AW at Wolverhampton last month; now only 1lb higher than for his C&D win in April and he's in the mix back at this track.

15/2

11

(1)

31st Jul 2025

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 3

20:45 Wolverhampton (AW)

Obsidian Knight

8st 10lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: T J Kent

7-23 on the AW with all wins coming over 1m2f/1m4f on Polytrack, six of them at Lingfield; 0-7 on Tapeta, but runner-up on four occasions so he isn't easy to dismiss.

16/1

14/1

Form: 10-718 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Peak efforts were his wins at Haydock (11.6f, good to soft) last September and Wolverhampton (1m4f, AW) this March; ran creditably in a warm AW race on latest start and looks in with an each-way shout.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(1)

25th Apr 2026

Good

1m 4f 10y

Class 2

15:35 Ripon

Prydwen

9st 7lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: George Scott

Last five outings on AW, posting his most encouraging effort when second of 12 in a 2m Newcastle Good Friday handicap; nudged back up 2lb for that but he's still 3lb lower than when runner-up at Chester (2m, good to soft) last September; should go well.

3/1

2nd

4

(10)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

16:42 Newcastle (AW)

Prydwen

9st 6lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: George Scott

Won this in 2024 and he's dropping down the weights; this 8yo has shown the odd sign of spark over the last 12 months but his AW exploits this winter indicate it's best to look elsewhere.

14/1

Form: 222152

Last run: 7 days

W: 8st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Missed most of last season but scored a hat-trick in December and this year's further improvement on AW was transferred to turf when second at Ripon (1m4f, soft) last Saturday; has more to prove if the ground is less testing but he has to be in serious each-way calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

27

(20)

21st Oct 2025

Soft

1m 2f 0y

17:00 Curragh

Capital Theory

10st 5lb

J: Sadhbh Tormey

T: H D McGuigan

Had this rider aboard when scoring at Naas nine days ago, with Considering back in third; worth considering; first reserve.

2

(16)

12th Oct 2025

Yielding

1m 2f 125y

16:55 Naas

Capital Theory

9st 12lb

J: Sadhbh Tormey

T: H D McGuigan

Step in the right direction at Bellewstown recently (1m4f, soft); drop in trip could suit.

12/1

3rd

2

(5)

1st Oct 2025

Good To Yielding

1m 4f 110y

16:33 Bellewstown

Capital Theory

10st 0lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: H D McGuigan

Competitive but below best form in two claimers this summer for current yard and then tailed off in a 2m2f handicap at Down Royal; others appeal more.

12/1

25/1

Form: 94796-

Last run: 223 days

W: 8st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
10lb lower than this time last year; going down by a neck two months ago when last seen was easily the best of his three runs over hurdles last season, so there may be some renewed hope.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(5)

3rd Jan 2025

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 6

16:30 Southwell (AW)

Ace Rothstein

9st 11lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Matt Crawley

led narrowly, headed over 2f out, soon weakened

33/1

6th

2

(5)

3rd Jan 2025

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 6

16:30 Southwell (AW)

Ace Rothstein

9st 11lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Matt Crawley

led narrowly, headed over 2f out, soon weakened

33/1

6th

11

(7)

19th Dec 2024

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 5

13:45 Southwell (AW)

Ace Rothstein

9st 4lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Matt Crawley

cajoled along soon after start, midfield, outpaced and dropped to rear 3f out, carried head high inside final furlong, kept on final 110yds

50/1

9/1

Form: 34639- D

Last run: 187 days

W: 9st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Third in the 1m6f Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot in 2021 but seen mostly over 1m4f since, running with credit in defeat last term for the Gosdens; had wind and gelding operations before his debut for this stable in October and shaped better than last in that Listed race might suggest; not entirely dismissed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

4

(7)

17th Oct 2023

Standard

1m 4f 99y

Class 2

16:55 Newcastle (AW)

Stowell

9st 9lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Alan King

Only seen sporadically in recent times and is now with his third yard, having run poorly in two starts for George Boughey; pulled hard when finishing last back from a break five weeks ago and it's hard to build up much enthusiasm.

20/1

7th

1

(3)

2nd Sep 2023

Good

1m 4f 23y

Class 2

14:05 Beverley

Stowell

10st 2lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Alan King

took keen hold, held up in rear, weakened from 2f out

10/1

9th

1

(10)

6th May 2023

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 2

13:40 Newmarket

Stowell

9st 12lb

J: William Buick

T: George Boughey

Third in the 1m6f Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot in 2021 but seen mostly over 1m4f since, running with credit in defeat last term for the Gosdens; had wind and gelding operations before his debut for this stable in October and shaped better than last in that Listed race might suggest; not entirely dismissed.

9/1

20/1

Form: 0433-0

Last run: 15 days

W: 8st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Often front-runner; stays well and possibly best these days on softer than good, but he did not show it on reappearance two weeks ago when ending up tailed off on first run since leaving Andrew Balding; no win since debut (2yo) and it's hard to put him top of the list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

6

(8)

23rd Aug 2023

Good To Soft

1m 2f 37y

Class 5

17:35 Bath

Star Caliber

9st 12lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Amanda Perrett

Winless since a successful debut at two when with Andrew Balding; hasn't beaten many since returning for this yard and his last 16 starts have been over further.

10/1

6th

9

(2)

15th Jul 2023

Good To Firm

1m 6f 34y

Class 3

15:30 Ascot

Star Caliber

8st 12lb

J: Hayley Turner

T: Amanda Perrett

Still without a win since making a successful debut as a 2yo; ran creditably both starts here (2021) but hasn't beaten many since returning for this yard in April, including when last of three on penultimate start, so others have more pressing claims.

25/1

11th
10 (6)
Vaynor

6/1

Form: 54211- D

Last run: 179 days

W: 8st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Debut was sole run on softer than good; scored a double on turf last June (on good to firm/good) and resumed improvement with AW wins over 1m6f and 1m5f in the autumn; raised 2lb since latest start, which may well prove manageable assuming that his autumn progress was not due solely to the AW.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(2)

25th Aug 2025

Good

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

15:20 Epsom

Vaynor

10st 9lb

J: Mr James Hills

T: Charles Hills

His last win was two years ago but he's on a dangerous mark and was a good second in amateur jockeys' handicap at Haydock (1m6f, good) 17 days ago; should be fine on this drop back in trip and has claims if he can build on that last run.

4/1

5

(6)

8th Aug 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

18:15 Haydock

Vaynor

10st 12lb

J: Mr James Hills

T: Charles Hills

His mark continues to fall and he didn't run badly at Windsor (1m2f) in May when back from an absence; however, he's failed to threaten on his three starts since (1m2f-1m6f) and needs to turn things around.

14/1

5th

4

(1)

24th Jul 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

17:50 Newbury

Vaynor

11st 1lb

J: Mr James Hills

T: Charles Hills

All five wins from 1m4f to 1m6f; outpaced when fourth of six on reappearance at Windsor (1m2f, good to firm) in May and he couldn't get in a blow over 1m4f last time; will likely need a pace meltdown; first ride under rules for James Hills.

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £15.00
Straight Forecast £18.55
Tricast £231.91
Trifecta £440.20

Selections

NEWMARKET:

Crystal Delight

SPOTLIGHT:

Teumessias Fox

D Express:

Moktasaab

Daily Record:

Capital Theory

LAMBOURN:

Vaynor

POSTDATA:

Star Caliber

TOPSPEED:

Raymond Tusk

The Times:

Crystal Delight

Telegraph:

Crystal Delight

Daily Mail:

Crystal Delight

RP RATINGS:

Teumessias Fox

The Guardian:

Teumessias Fox

The Sun:

Teumessias Fox

Daily Mirror:

Moktasaab

The Star:

Moktasaab