May 07 / 14.40 Salisbury

14.40

Good To Soft

City Bowl Handicap

  • Prize money: £12369.6
  • 1m 6f 44y
  • Class 3
  • 9 runners
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City Bowl Handicap

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

Abandoned

Form: 52-201

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Below par back on AW two runs ago but usually consistent and bounced straight back under a good ride (grabbed the stands' rail) over 1m4f at Epsom 12 days ago; getting high in the weights again following a 4lb rise but highly likely to be involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

(2)

22nd Jul 2023

Good To Soft

1m 4f 10y

Class 2

16:30 Ripon

Sir Rumi

9st 10lb

J: Owen Lewis

T: Richard Hannon

stumbled start, pushed along briefly soon after start, raced in last

11/2

12th

9

(14)

8th Jul 2023

Good

1m 3f 175y

Class 2

15:15 Haydock

Sir Rumi

9st 1lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Richard Hannon

Won at Epsom (1m4f, soft) in April and good third at Ascot (1m4f, soft) next time; conditions should have been fine at Goodwood (1m6f, good to firm) last time but he was only sixth of eight and may find this too hot.

14/1

6th

5

(5)

27th May 2023

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:10 Goodwood

Sir Rumi

8st 13lb

J: Pat Dobbs

T: Richard Hannon

Grabbed the favoured stand rail when winning on soft ground at Epsom and a 4lb rise seemed to find him out at Ascot (again 1m4f on soft); may be vulnerable once more, though this faster surface won't faze him.

13/2

Form: 81114- D

Last run: 210 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Won his first three (all 1m4f handicaps; also won at 1m6f) in blinkers and, while they were Class 4 and 5s, he held his own in a good Class 2 handicap at Goodwood in October (good to soft); off the same mark here and has won after a break in the past.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

(5)

20th May 2026

Good To Soft

1m 6f 17y

Class 5

19:10 Yarmouth

Saratoga Gold

9st 5lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Kevin Frost

Losing run stretches back to July 2023 but he ended 2025 in good form and his reappearance at Doncaster (1m4f, good to firm) 18 days ago was a positive one; stepping back up in distance is a positive but he could do with the ground drying out.

5/1

3rd

4

(2)

2nd May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 197y

Class 5

19:02 Doncaster

Saratoga Gold

9st 1lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Kevin Frost

Serial winner in his younger days but been dry in almost three years; does have a comeback spring victory to his name but all other wins came in the second half of the year and he may need this at his age back from five months off.

7/1

Form: 1339-7

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Improved last season when wearing a hood/tongue-tie and, from the front, he wasn't beaten too far when reappearing without the hood (as today) at Kempton (1m3f); unraced over this far but gives the impression that he'll stay.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

26th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 13y

19:30 Ballinrobe

Wandering Rocks

11st 10lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: William Durkan

Dual purpose; won a C&D maiden hurdle (yielding) in May 2024; raced exclusively on the Flat in 2026; cheekpieces replace blinkers worn for last two starts; worth a market check on return to hurdling.

25/1

8th

4

(6)

12th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 182y

19:40 Killarney

Wandering Rocks

11st 11lb

J: Mr A D Bustin

T: William Durkan

Flat/hurdle winner; seemingly perked up by the new blinkers when a rallying third at Dundalk 19 days ago (1m4f); whether he'll be as good again is open to some debate.

10/1

3rd

8

(4)

23rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

19:45 Dundalk (AW)

Wandering Rocks

9st 0lb

J: Jamie Orr

T: William Durkan

Sole success for this yard came in Ballinrobe maiden hurdle in 2024; fine effort at big odds over C&D after long layoff in January when fourth to Voice Of Reason but unable to back that up in two subsequent starts; new headgear.

20/1

Form: 02/75-

Last run: 322 days

W: 9st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Won on the AW in early 2021 but without a turf success since 2019; confined to only two starts last year and neither were good; changed yards.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

(9)

2nd May 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Goodwood

Cardano

9st 10lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: B F Brookhouse

Won at Wolverhampton (1m6f, AW) in March latest; won on good to firm in 2023 but it's a concern that last year he did much better on AW than turf.

7/1

9th

2

(9)

2nd May 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Goodwood

Cardano

9st 10lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: B F Brookhouse

Won at Wolverhampton (1m6f, AW) in March latest; won on good to firm in 2023 but it's a concern that last year he did much better on AW than turf.

7/1

Form: 0167-5 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Career-best form when narrow winner at Goodwood (1m6f, good to soft) last August; sold out of Andrew Balding's for 45,000gns in November; finished well beaten and tired on his recent debut for this yard at Newbury (2m, soft).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

2

(10)

19th Aug 2023

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 3

15:45 Newmarket (July)

Secret Shadow

9st 5lb

J: Shane Kelly

T: Paul Nicholls

Unraced on firmer than good and she's won on good to soft, soft and heavy; suited by about 1m6f and her fifth of seven at Newbury on latest start was creditable; probably on the premises.

12/1

Abandoned

Form: 09/9-4 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 2lb

6 yo

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Won five on the bounce for Ralph Beckett in 2020 and went in again over this far at Glorious Goodwood in 2021 (soft) on first start for Michael Bell; below par and lightly raced since, including one start for Johnny Murtagh; beaten 18l on his debut for this yard at Newbury (2m) and bit to prove right now; same ownership despite all the moving around.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found
OUR TIP

Form: 2-1241

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Record of 2-5 and travelled much the best when having to work for it in the end at Lingfield (1m4f AW) a month ago, accounting for a subsequent winner; 4lb rise is fine, and no reason why he won't be as effective on grass.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

8

(9)

7th Apr 2023

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 4

13:30 Lingfield (AW)

Mr Inspiration

9st 10lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: John & Thady Gosden

Kempton novice winner (1m4f, Polytrack; first-time tongue-tie) in February and ran with plenty of credit when fourth of 11 on handicap debut over that C&D four weeks ago (just behind Red Flyer); may need a stiffer track than this but still open to improvement after just four starts.

11/2

4th

8

(8)

10th Mar 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 4

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Mr Inspiration

9st 7lb

J: James Doyle

T: John & Thady Gosden

prominent

5/2

Form: 1425/

Last run: 708 days

W: 8st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
AW winner in France and twice successful over hurdles on good ground for this yard; runner-up in a Chepstow handicap hurdle on good to soft three weeks ago but drier conditions would be preferable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

31st Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 114y

Class 3

17:25 Plumpton

Mothill

11st 11lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Neil Mulholland

Has won three of his last four hurdles, latterly edging home in the new cheekpieces at Ascot (2m3f, good to soft) after Joe Anderson had lost his whip (still a fine ride; always ideally positioned up with the pace); mark continues to rise (up another 5lb) but he's not easily knocked.

4/1

1st

13

17th Feb 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 58y

Class 2

14:25 Ascot

Mothill

10st 5lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Neil Mulholland

Wins in 2023 came in Class 4 events at Uttoxeter and Sedgefield (both 2m4f, good to soft) and the rise in class seemed to find him out when he was only eighth in the Lanzarote at Kempton last time; needs first-time cheekpieces to spark a career-best effort.

16/1

8th

17

13th Jan 2024

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 2

14:42 Kempton

Mothill

10st 9lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Neil Mulholland

Solid record in Class 4 this term, winning at Sedgefield (2m4f, good to soft) most recently; 5lb claimer Joe Anderson (won on him last June) returns, in bid to offset 5lb rise; 4-12 over hurdles; upped sharply in grade but arrives in top form; shortlisted.

16/1

Form: 223-48 C

Last run: 19 days

W: 8st 4lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Won over 1m2f and 1m4f on fast ground here last summer; these conditions are unlikely to be so favourable and she's been quiet on the AW.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

1st May 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 45y

19:10 Punchestown

Whimsy

12st 0lb

J: James Smith

T: Anthony McCann

Record of 1-19 over timber; three-time winner on the Flat has placed in two starts in that sphere since falling over hurdles at Leopardstown in March; recent form suggests she's fit and healthy but poor strike rate over hurdles is off-putting.

14/1

2nd

6

(3)

26th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 217y

Class 4

18:15 Musselburgh

Whimsy

9st 2lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: Anthony McCann

Had three seasons with Andrew Balding, including three wins, and has been with this yard since July 2023, including for two wins (one over hurdles) and plenty of place returns; third over 1m4f in her only two Flat runs in the last 13 months, including under Patrick McGettigan 17 days ago, and her very solid Flat record for this trainer suggests she will be on the premises.

7/1

Non-runners

Saratoga Gold, Mr Inspiration

Verdict

Richard Hannon’s SIR RUMI had everything fall just right when winning at Epsom but he’s consistent and has the least to prove of these. Wandering Rocks could have some potential lurking over this far and he’s second choice.[Alistair Jones]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Sir Rumi

NEWMARKET:

Mr Inspiration

WEST COUNTRY:

Secret Shadow

Daily Mirror:

Prince Alex

TOPSPEED:

Wandering Rocks

RP RATINGS:

Cardano

The Sun:

Mr Inspiration

D Express:

Secret Shadow

The Star:

Prince Alex

POSTDATA:

Sir Rumi

The Times:

Sir Rumi

Telegraph:

Sir Rumi

Daily Record:

Sir Rumi