May 20 / 17.00 Newmarket

17.00

Good

Aspall Cyder Vinegar Handicap

  • Prize money: £8100
  • 0m 5f 0y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
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Aspall Cyder Vinegar Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £8.00
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 0874-2 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 9st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Consistent 5f performer; showed himself as good as ever when second of ten over C&D (good to soft; Al Barez fourth) at the Craven meeting here, and that form has been boosted by subsequent wins from the first and third; won't be inconvenienced if the ground dries out; in the mix once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(5)

1st Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 34y

Class 5

16:00 Newbury

Spring Bloom

9st 9lb

J: Jack Callan

T: John Butler

His losing run is gathering momentum and he has not won over 5f for three years; went close at Goodwood last month (5f, good) though and he should remain a potent force at this level.

3/1

2nd

7

(9)

2nd May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

15:20 Goodwood

Spring Bloom

9st 2lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: John Butler

Won twice at Newmarket (6f, good) in 2024 but he's drawn a blank since; finished runner-up on stable debut at Leicester last month but he was 6l behind the winner and and is only 1lb lower on this drop back in trip; well-beaten sixth in the 4.25 here on Friday.

9/1

6th

9

(1)

1st May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

16:25 Goodwood

Spring Bloom

8st 4lb

J: Tyler Heard

T: John Butler

On a long losing sequence but he made a good start for his new yard (formerly with Darryll Holland) when second of nine in 6f Leicester handicap 18 days ago; more is needed from 3lb out of the handicap here though.

10/1

9/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 214-74 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Notched two 5f wins last season, one on the July course here, and he shaped as if coming to hand when fourth of 11 at Ascot 17 days ago; 2lb lower today and high on the list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

(4)

21st May 2026

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

17:13 Haydock

Isle Of Lismore

8st 11lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Robert Cowell

8yo who is running for the first time since last July and his losing sequence goes back ten races to May 2024; however, he went close when last seen and he's right at home on slow ground; capable of having a say.

15/2

3rd

6

(3)

8th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

0m 4f 217y

Class 4

17:00 Lingfield

Isle Of Lismore

9st 6lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Robert Cowell

Well suited by a stiff 5f (three-time winner on the July course at Newmarket); signs he may be in decline this season, for a yard who may hold stronger claims with Cloud King, and the first-time visor (three ordinary efforts in cheekpieces previously) needs to help.

9/1

10/1

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 855-36 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Formerly smart (won 5f Group 3 in July 2021) but not the force of old and he failed to build on a fairly encouraging reappearance run when last of six at Goodwood two weeks ago; down to his lowest mark since 2019 but needs to rediscover his spark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

15

(2)

23rd Sep 2023

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

16:20 York

Came From The Dark

8st 11lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Ed Walker

Formerly smart including winning a Group 3 at Sandown in July 2021, but 0-11 since and tailed off in the Stewards' Cup when last seen; not hard to look elsewhere.

25/1

OUR TIP

Form: 12024- D

Last run: 231 days

W: 9st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Front-runner; progressed well last season, winning two 5f handicaps and putting up a career best when second to Celsius on the July course here; reappears in a first-time tongue-strap with his stable in excellent form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

(2)

18th Oct 2025

Good

0m 5f 212y

Class 4

13:55 Catterick

Ancient Times

9st 2lb

J: David Nolan

T: Harry Eustace

Weakened quickly at Southwell 15 days ago but had been a model of consistency in 2025 prior to that, winning twice (including C&D) and placed on three other occasions; capable of bouncing back.

7/1

12th

5

(5)

3rd Oct 2025

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 5

19:15 Southwell (AW)

Ancient Times

9st 10lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Harry Eustace

Series of good runs this year, winning twice and placed on his other three starts with the latest over 5f here 12 days ago; no obvious reason why he wouldn't be in the thick of the action once again.

5/1

Form: 673-15 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 8st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Made a winning return at Yarmouth (5f, soft; has won on good to firm) in April and was ridden by a claimer when only fifth of six at Windsor two weeks later; could bounce back but others have more compelling claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

(7)

30th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 5f 8y

Class 5

15:38 Nottingham

Stone Circle

9st 7lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Michael Bell

Well handicapped on his Yarmouth win (5f, good to soft) last summer but he has a mixed record this season and has finished down the field in last two runs; losing run is now up to 11 and others are more solid.

7/1

7th

4

(7)

30th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 5f 8y

Class 5

15:38 Nottingham

Stone Circle

9st 7lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Michael Bell

Well handicapped on his Yarmouth win (5f, good to soft) last summer but he has a mixed record this season and has finished down the field in last two runs; losing run is now up to 11 and others are more solid.

7/1

5th

8

(3)

8th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:53 Leicester

Stone Circle

8st 5lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Michael Bell

raced in last, headway over 1f out, not reach leaders

9/1

5/2

Form: 11/1-4

Last run: 32 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 4yo; beaten for only the second time when 2l fourth of ten over C&D (good to soft; 100-30) last month; that was his first outing after wind surgery and a year off, and he met trouble in running too; unexposed stablemate of Celsius, with improvement to come.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

(8)

18th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 21y

Class 5

18:40 Windsor

Al Barez

9st 7lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Tom Clover

His last win was off 15lb higher but that was on AW in April 2024 and he has mixed record in four runs this year; ran well at Kempton (6f) in March but he was remote when third at Leicester last time and needs to bounce back again after that disappointing effort.

10/1

3rd

2

(5)

13th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

15:22 Leicester

Al Barez

9st 8lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Tom Clover

Losing turf run goes back four years and he wasn't particularly convincing on grass in the middle months of 2025; however, he is 11lb lower than the latest attempt and his recent AW run at Kempton was quite encouraging; revival on the cards with Rossa Ryan up for the first time.

5/2

3rd

2

(8)

18th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Al Barez

9st 9lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Tom Clover

His form has deteriorated and he was underwhelming over C&D four weeks ago; however, prior to that he was a close fourth over C&D after a break and this C&D winner is not ruled out off a reduced mark.

13/2

7th
3 (8)
Celsius

4/1

Form: /1102- D

Last run: 245 days

W: 9st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
7yo with a strike-rate of 7-24 on turf; ran only four times last season but he won the first two (including over 5f on the July course) and ended the campaign with a close call over 6f here; only 1lb higher today and has an excellent record when fresh so must be considered after 245 days off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

2

(12)

5th Jun 2024

Good

0m 6f 18y

Class 4

15:27 Nottingham

Celsius

9st 9lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Tom Clover

Won off 2lb higher at Newmarket (5f, good to firm) in July 2022 but he's had only five runs since and was well held here on his return last month; may have needed that run but he has a mixed record at this trip and others are more solid.

12/1

6th

5

(7)

11th May 2024

Good To Soft

0m 5f 8y

Class 4

15:30 Nottingham

Celsius

9st 6lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Tom Clover

raced near side, towards rear

10/1

6th

5

(7)

11th May 2024

Good To Soft

0m 5f 8y

Class 4

15:30 Nottingham

Celsius

9st 6lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Tom Clover

raced near side, towards rear

10/1

12/1

Form: 426486

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Well treated on his best form but 0-8 this year and blotted his copybook with a temperamental display (got upset preliminaries; pulled hard once under way) last time; too much to prove for comfort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

12

(11)

6th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 4

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

Tolstoy

9st 4lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Brian Ellison

Too headstrong in a clear lead at Southwell (7f) last time, so did fairly well to be beaten only 2l in the end; gained last win off 10lb higher at Newcastle in August 2024; fighting chance provided he settles.

10/1

4th

6

(6)

23rd Jan 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 4

18:45 Southwell (AW)

Tolstoy

9st 6lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Brian Ellison

Well treated on last year's high points and it wasn't a bad run from off the pace at Chelmsford 12 days ago, given how that race panned out (pulled hard/got behind/found trouble); the cheekpieces are worth persevering with.

4/1

7th

13

(5)

13th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

13:15 Doncaster

Tolstoy

8st 9lb

J: Shay Farmer

T: Brian Ellison

Well suited by York and went close there in June; inconsistent otherwise during a 2025 campaign that has been markedly less productive than 2024; cheekpieces refitted for the first time since 2022; opposed.

40/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £28.70
Straight Forecast £52.04
Tricast £292.80
Trifecta £256.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Al Barez

The Guardian:

Spring Bloom

TOPSPEED:

Stone Circle

The Star:

Tolstoy

LAMBOURN:

Came From The Dark

RP RATINGS:

Al Barez

NEWMARKET:

Al Barez

The Times:

Al Barez

Telegraph:

Al Barez

Daily Mirror:

Al Barez

POSTDATA:

Stone Circle

Daily Mail:

Stone Circle

D Express:

Spring Bloom

The Sun:

Spring Bloom

Daily Record:

Spring Bloom