June 25 / 16.05 Ffos Las

16.05

Good To Firm

3As Leisure Handicap

  • Prize money: £5129.32
  • 0m 7f 80y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
SKY
View Course
3As Leisure Handicap

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

15/8 (Won)

  • Win: £1.84
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 2-51

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Thrice-raced gelding who justified favouritism in Kempton novice event (7f, AW) most recently, making all and holding on by a neck; has steadily progressive RPRs and looks open to further improvement; unexposed 3yo who is the type to do well in handicaps; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

(6)

24th May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 0f 0y

17:05 Curragh

Merlin The Wizard

9st 8lb

J: Reese Holohan

T: R P Cody

Three wins in Britain in 2023 at up to 1m; regressive in the last two seasons; produced best run for some time at Dundalk in March when good second over 1m; not beaten far in outings at Leopardstown and Ballinrobe since then.

12/1

3rd

4

(10)

8th May 2026

Yielding To Soft

1m 1f 133y

18:52 Ballinrobe

Merlin The Wizard

9st 8lb

J: Julian Pietropaolo

T: R P Cody

Three wins in Britain in 2023 at up to 1m; regressive in last two seasons but best run for some time at Dundalk in March when good second over 1m; didn't seem to quite get home back on turf at Leopardstown last month and stamina concerns trying this longer trip for the first time.

13/2

5th

11

(1)

12th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 0f 0y

15:20 Leopardstown

Merlin The Wizard

9st 8lb

J: Donagh O’Connor

T: R P Cody

Three wins in Britain in 2023; regressive in last two seasons but best run for some time at Dundalk last month when second to an improver over today's trip under a positive ride, his second run for the yard; same mark here, could go well from a good draw.

15/2

6/1

  • Place: £3.10

Form: 21186

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Raced exclusively at 1m; made an encouraging start to career by producing form figures of 211 in AW contests; well held on soft ground at Nottingham and 4l sixth on good going at Goodwood since switched to turf; new trip needs to trigger some improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(6)

27th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 96y

Class 5

15:15 Beverley

Woodstock

9st 9lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Ruth Carr

On a 16-race losing run but down the weights as a result and he was on the heels of the winner when third of 12 at Thirsk (7f) 11 days ago; having his first race here; thereabouts if he takes to it.

9/2

3rd

14

(3)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

17:25 Thirsk

Woodstock

8st 8lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Ruth Carr

On a 15-race losing run but he's well handicapped as a result and his stable is in fine form; almost certainly needed the run when seventh of 13 over C&D four weeks ago, fading; likely to build on that and more persuasive than most.

12/1

7th

11

(3)

18th Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

15:23 Thirsk

Woodstock

9st 0lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Ruth Carr

Failed to win in 2025 but he ran some solid races in defeat and he makes his seasonal return off a dangerous mark; interesting to see how he fares in the betting.

16/1

OUR TIP

Form: 0-4711

Last run: 8 days

W: 10st 4lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Record of 4-14 for Kevin Philippart De Foy, including wins in Kempton handicap (7f, AW) and Leicester seller (6f, good to firm) the last twice; sold for £23,000 after latter; has to overcome career-high mark on debut for new stable but difficult to knock one who's on a hat-trick.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

(9)

6th Apr 2024

Standard

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

17:45 Chelmsford (AW)

Baileysgutfeeling

9st 9lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Has some fairly useful form on his CV but was largely disappointing for Nikki Evans last summer and has finished well down the field on both starts for new stable this year (7f/1m); revival needed.

20/1

9th

3

(9)

6th Apr 2024

Standard

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

17:45 Chelmsford (AW)

Baileysgutfeeling

9st 9lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Has some fairly useful form on his CV but was largely disappointing for Nikki Evans last summer and has finished well down the field on both starts for new stable this year (7f/1m); revival needed.

20/1

Form: 220-59

Last run: 51 days

W: 8st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Six-race maiden; holds weak claims on this year's two efforts but subsequent gelding operation, along with first-time headgear and return to Ffos Las, may prompt a revival; runner-up twice over C&D last August and looks quite interesting off bottom weight back here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(1)

10th Oct 2023

Good To Firm

0m 7f 216y

Class 6

16:40 Brighton

Frequent Flyer

9st 9lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Archie Watson

Twice runner-up for Andrew Balding but left that yard as a nine-race maiden after disappointing in new blinkers at Sandown in July; 33-1 and only mid-division on stable debut in the Legends Race at Doncaster.

14/1

7th

14

(17)

17th Sep 2023

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:00 Doncaster

Frequent Flyer

11st 3lb

J: Mark Enright

T: Archie Watson

took keen hold, midfield

14/1

7th

10

(2)

26th Jul 2023

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

19:40 Sandown

Frequent Flyer

8st 10lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Eight-race maiden; runner-up twice at Ffos Las (7.4f) last August; holds weak claims on 2023 form; chance depends on how well he responds to change of headgear (blinkers replace the visor worn last twice).

7/1

Form: 5962-5 BF

Last run: 74 days

W: 10st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Unplaced favourite in 1m AW contest on sole run this term but had wind surgery since and may still have further progress in him; good second at Beverley (7.5f) on last turf attempt and remains of interest; drops back in distance with hood reapplied (3yo win came in this headgear).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(1)

25th Jun 2023

Good To Firm

0m 7f 80y

Class 4

16:05 Ffos Las

Tollard Royal

10st 4lb

J: Ben Curtis

T: George Boughey

led, pushed along when headed 2f out, soon ridden and weakened gradually

9/4

5th

2

(2)

12th Apr 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Tollard Royal

9st 11lb

J: William Buick

T: George Boughey

led, headed but prominent after 2f, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and lost second over 1f out, outpaced inside final furlong

5/2

2nd

2

(2)

20th Sep 2022

Good

0m 7f 96y

Class 4

16:37 Beverley

Tollard Royal

9st 12lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: George Boughey

took keen hold, prominent, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and outpaced over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, always held

4/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.60
Straight Forecast £7.52
Trifecta £44.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Merlin The Wizard

NEWMARKET:

Tollard Royal

Telegraph:

Baileysgutfeeling

RP RATINGS:

Merlin The Wizard

POSTDATA:

Merlin The Wizard

The Times:

Merlin The Wizard

Daily Mirror:

Merlin The Wizard

The Star:

Merlin The Wizard

Daily Record:

Merlin The Wizard

D Express:

Tollard Royal