May 07 / 16.50 Newmarket

16.50

Good

Howden Handicap

  • Prize money: £15462
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • Class 3
  • 10 runners
RTV
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Howden Handicap

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

13/2 (Won)

  • Win: £6.00
  • Place: £2.40

Form: 8321- D

Last run: 205 days

W: 8st 11lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Down the field over 6f on his 2yo debut but he got better with experience and the step up to 1m saw him get off the mark at Haydock when last seen in October (heavy); can do better but he doesn't look thrown in for this handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

(2)

8th Sep 2023

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:10 Ascot

Saxon King

9st 5lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: Charles Hills

In good form after returning in May including wins at Newmarket (1m, soft) and Chester (7.7f, good), but out of the frame in his last three starts; may not want the ground to dry out too much and probably needs further than this now in any case.

3/1

5th

9

(7)

26th Aug 2023

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Goodwood

Saxon King

8st 4lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Charles Hills

Progressive against his own age group, winning two of his first three starts (1m, soft/about 7f, good) before having a troubled run in the Britannia at Royal Ascot; however, he wasn't the same horse at Newmarket in July and an easy 7f may be a bare minimum for him.

5/1

12/1

  • Place: £5.10

Form: 967-74

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Highly tried at two after his debut win and he came up short; two creditable efforts this season but work to do with stablemate Hectic on latest Newbury run and others have more pressing claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

4

(13)

19th Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 89y

Class 2

13:50 York

Dark Thirty

9st 8lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

Coaxed back to his best by the Quinns this year, winning 6f handicaps here and at Chester and then running a fine race in a hot sprint handicap at the Curragh last month; weakened in the closing stages of the Stewards' Cup, a race in which he was 5lb well in, and a personal best is needed to defy this highest mark of his career over the shortest trip he will have tackled.

18/1

13th

25

(8)

1st Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Goodwood

Dark Thirty

9st 0lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

Beat his 21 rivals at York in May and added a handicap at Chester (6f, good) last month; ran a fine race behind Sondad at the Curragh two weeks ago and is 7lb better off for half a length this time; officially the best handicapped horse in the race (5lb ahead of his mark) and another big run should be forthcoming.

12/1

2nd

6

(20)

18th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 63y

14:50 Curragh

Dark Thirty

9st 9lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

Ex-Richard Hannon; off the mark for the Quinn team when making virtually all in a 22-runner handicap at York Dante meeting (6f, good); bounced straight back from a lesser run at Thirsk when second at Ripon; made all for a 6f Chester win three weeks ago; stable won this with Mr Wagyu in 2022.

8/1

Form: 5115-7 D

Last run: 53 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Got up late to win a 7f novice on AW last summer; big step forward when landing a 1m nursery at Ayr in September before failing to cut it in a 1m2f Group 3 here in October; last of seven on AW on his return to action in March; mark looks stiff.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

(3)

12th Aug 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

19:00 Kempton (AW)

Metal Merchant

9st 7lb

J: David Egan

T: John Butler

His last win was in April 2024 but he hasn't been with John Butler for long and he showed signs of a revival when fourth at Newcastle (1m, AW) last month; has claims if he can build on that and he should be fine back at this trip.

9/2

4th

2

(7)

25th Jul 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 5y

Class 4

16:00 Newcastle (AW)

Metal Merchant

10st 1lb

J: Jack Gilligan

T: John Butler

A useful 1m winner at his best for Jack Channon; offered little in two runs for Brian Toomey this spring though and came in last of 14 for John Butler in 7f handicap here four weeks ago; no surprise if he took a step forward though with new yard among the winners.

16/1

14th

10

(1)

27th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 14y

Class 2

13:40 Newcastle (AW)

Metal Merchant

8st 12lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: John Butler

Smart handicap form for Jack Channon in 2024; well beaten in two runs last year and no sign of a revival in two runs for Brian Toomey this year; starts out for John Butler off a much-reduced mark; worth a market check.

25/1

7/1

Form: 343-1 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 8st 8lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Promise in her three runs last season, including at this track, and she made a winning seasonal/handicap debut at Southwell (1m) three weeks ago; looked to have a fair bit more in hand than the winning margin suggests and a 2lb rise is manageable; this is a stronger race though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

(1)

22nd Jul 2023

Good To Soft

1m 1f 170y

Class 4

15:56 Ripon

Gareeb

9st 5lb

J: Franny Norton

T: Charlie Johnston

pushed along briefly soon after start, took keen hold, in touch with leaders on inner

6/1

3rd

3

(1)

21st Jun 2023

Good

1m 1f 170y

Class 5

18:35 Ripon

Gareeb

9st 9lb

J: Franny Norton

T: Charlie Johnston

Ran on well to make a winning reappearance in a 1m handicap at Southwell in April; fair fourth at Newmarket next time but she flopped at Musselburgh 18 days ago; quick turnaround suggests nothing sinister came to light and she still has potential; down in grade and up in trip.

11/2

11th

7

(7)

3rd Jun 2023

Good

1m 0f 208y

Class 3

15:40 Musselburgh

Gareeb

8st 11lb

J: Joe Fanning

T: Charlie Johnston

Made a successful handicap debut after six months off at Southwell (1m, AW) in April, but probably put up a better effort when fourth of seven at Newmarket (1m, soft) last month; both the dam's side of her pedigree and the way she performed there suggest the extra furlong should suit.

6/1

4/1

Form: 26-831

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Ran well in a 1m2f handicap at Nottingham last month (soft) and took a big step forward back at 1m when routing his rivals in an Epsom novice 12 days ago; the runner-up has since won easily and a 9lb rise could underestimate that latest run; recent rain a help.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(13)

3rd Jun 2023

Good

1m 2f 17y

Class 2

15:55 Epsom

Kadovar

8st 12lb

J: William Buick

T: Andrew Balding

Ran on good to soft on debut and all turf starts since have been on soft; that poses a question and he needs better than he showed at Newmarket on latest start, but he was a runaway winner of 8.5f Epsom novice the time before; bit to prove on this third attempt at 1m2f but his trainer has won three of the last five runnings of this race.

14/1

5th

6

(1)

7th May 2023

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:50 Newmarket

Kadovar

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

raced centre

4/1

1st

2

(7)

25th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

1m 0f 113y

Class 4

16:10 Epsom

Kadovar

9st 1lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

0-5 but he was a good third of six in a handicap at Nottingham (1m2f, soft) a fortnight ago and shaped as though he may benefit from this drop back in trip; trainer won this in 2018 and 2019 and he holds solid claims.

9/4

OUR TIP

9/2

Form: 168-2

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
6f winner on fast ground on his 2yo debut; left last season's form behind him when a close second of eight at Newbury 16 days ago (7f, soft; first run after being gelded), travelling powerfully through the race and pulling nicely clear with the winner; dam was a sprinter but she has produced winners over 1m+; needs more after a 6lb hike but the way he moved through that Newbury contest offers hope of better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

(5)

31st Aug 2026

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 5

17:00 Southwell (AW)

Hectic

9st 5lb

J: Jack Garritty

T: Liam Bailey

Inconsistent and hard to win with; better over C&D early in the month but typically failed to build on it at Wolverhampton a fortnight ago (said to have been unsuited by racing wide throughout from stall 9); Dicko The Legend looks his yard's best shot.

16/1

9th

6

(9)

17th Aug 2026

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 5

19:10 Wolverhampton (AW)

Hectic

9st 7lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Liam Bailey

Just 3-34 but ran better when third of ten at Southwell (6f, AW) 11 days ago; place possibilities.

13/2

3rd

4

(6)

6th Aug 2026

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 5

19:16 Southwell (AW)

Hectic

9st 6lb

J: Jack Garritty

T: Liam Bailey

C&D winner in October 2024 and 5lb lower than when last successful, but hasn't lately shaped like a winner waiting to happen (underwent wind surgery before penultimate outing); stable also runs Ottawa.

10/1

Form: 41-3

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Promising fourth at Southwell in October (7f) and confirmed that with a comfortable win at Doncaster 17 days later (7f, soft); looked more professional when third of five at Kempton (winner smart) on his reappearance four weeks ago; still has potential but he's not alone in that department and further progress will be required on this handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

2

(4)

21st Dec 2024

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 6

19:45 Wolverhampton (AW)

Legend Of Leros

9st 7lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: David Evans

His only win came in a 7f Doncaster maiden as a 2yo; struggled for David Evans thus far but he's dropped 22lb since August and many of those runs have come over an inadequate 6f; the booking of Rossa Ryan and the addition of a visor point to a better showing this evening; confidence would increase if backed.

8/1

Form: 147-

Last run: 197 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Impressed in a 7f novice at Ascot last summer (good to firm); just 4-1 for the Group 3 Solario Stakes one month later but he was beaten over 8l into fourth; low-key effort on heavy on final 2yo run, after which he was gelded; has a more realistic assignment here and stable is operating at a good strike-rate this year.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

4

(8)

17th May 2024

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

14:30 Newbury

Defence Of Fort

9st 8lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: Peter Chapple-Hyam

Failed to go on after looking smart on his Ascot debut but he steadied the ship when hooded for the first time and edging home in a 1m2f handicap at Sandown (good to soft) in August; returns off a 4lb higher mark but now has to follow one good run with another.

10/1

11th

4

(8)

17th May 2024

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

14:30 Newbury

Defence Of Fort

9st 8lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: Peter Chapple-Hyam

never better than midfield

10/1

Form: 553-17 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Improved for a step up to 1m and handicapping when a close third at Wolverhampton in October; made no mistake in a Class 4 at Kempton on his return in March (1m) but well beaten at Nottingham last time (1m, soft; reportedly unsuited by the ground); others look stronger in this field.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(2)

7th Sep 2023

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:45 Salisbury

Just Bring It

9st 9lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Clive Cox

prominent

11/4

1st

10

(14)

17th Aug 2023

Good

1m 0f 31y

Class 3

19:00 Windsor

Just Bring It

9st 2lb

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Clive Cox

Off the mark in a small-field handicap at Kempton in March; better form in 1m handicaps at Newmarket and Haydock in May but his form dipped back at Haydock in June latest; drawn widest.

10/1

9

(9)

14th Jul 2023

Good To Firm

0m 7f 213y

Class 3

15:25 Ascot

Just Bring It

9st 4lb

J: John Fahy

T: Clive Cox

Made a winning return at Kempton (1m, AW) in March and two good efforts on turf in May, including when fourth of 11 in a warm handicap at Haydock (1m, good to firm); was behind Metal Merchant then, but may have been unlucky not to finish second; not so good back there a fortnight later (behind Good Gracious), but a player if bouncing back; stable won this in 2016 and 2019.

10/1

13/2

Form: 253-33

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Two wins as a 2yo; placed off this mark in both starts this year, over C&D 18 days ago (good to soft); this is a better race and he will need another career best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(6)

19th Oct 2023

Standard

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

18:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Gulmarg

10st 0lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: S Woods

In the frame in ten of his 12 starts since his latest success, as when fourth of ten at Kempton (1m, Polytrack) 15 days ago where he looked unlucky not to finish closer; his consistency means he gets little respite from the handicapper, but should run his race again.

2/1

4th

6

(8)

4th Oct 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Gulmarg

9st 9lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: S Woods

Nothing wrong with any of his three course efforts and cheekpieces have helped lately; has had plenty of chances off this sort of mark but should run his race again and the step back up from 7f won't hurt.

8/1

4th

3

(11)

8th Sep 2023

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:20 Ascot

Gulmarg

9st 8lb

J: David Egan

T: S Woods

Placed in eight of his ten starts since winning at Yarmouth (7f, good to firm) last summer including when beaten a neck at Kempton (7f, AW; first-time cheekpieces) last month; 1lb higher, but each-way claims again.

4/1

Non-runners

Defence Of Fort, Just Bring It, Gulmarg

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £55.20
Straight Forecast £58.44
Tricast £390.74
Trifecta £338.80

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Kadovar

NEWMARKET:

Legend Of Leros

TOPSPEED:

Gulmarg

The Star:

Defence Of Fort

Daily Record:

Gareeb

SPOTLIGHT:

Hectic

The Times:

Kadovar

Daily Mirror:

Kadovar

Telegraph:

Legend Of Leros

D Express:

Legend Of Leros

POSTDATA:

Gulmarg

The Sun:

Gulmarg