June 26 / 18.35 Windsor

18.35

Good To Firm

Fitzdares Sprint Series Handicap (Windsor Sprint Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £5832
  • 0m 6f 12y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
Fitzdares Sprint Series Handicap (Windsor Sprint Series Qualifier)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.14
  • Place: £1.50

Form: -88552 CD

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Suited by this C&D on good to firm, winning twice last summer; limited joy on the AW over the winter but his turf mark has dropped in tandem and he ran his best race for a while when a close second here last week; should have plenty to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

10

(7)

18th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 21y

Class 5

18:40 Windsor

Lequinto

9st 3lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Tony Carroll

Versatile trip-wise and six of his 12 wins have come at Windsor; on same mark as for his Sandown win last autumn and he's been running well on AW this spring; should get a good tow into this race and he's in the mix back at this track.

11/2

3rd

3

(1)

28th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 5f 6y

Class 5

16:43 Lingfield (AW)

Lequinto

9st 8lb

J: Matthew Lloyd Slater

T: Tony Carroll

No AW win since December 2021 but there have been some good runs on both Polytrack and Tapeta this year, including C&D, and yesterday's 6f second was another sound display; wasn't helping his rider under pressure on that occasion and opposable for win purposes.

6/1

2nd

2

(1)

27th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 6f 1y

Class 5

14:45 Lingfield (AW)

Lequinto

9st 8lb

J: William Carson

T: Tony Carroll

Into the veteran stage now and it's a long time since his latest AW win but he made the frame over C&D two starts ago and kept on well for second behind a next-time-out winner at Wolverhampton (6f) on his most recent outing.

4/1

9/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 041246 CD

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Winner of two of three course starts, over 6f (good to firm; off 6lb lower) and 5f; non-stayer upped to 1m 12 days ago but has more going for him back over C&D for the first time since his win last May.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(7)

16th Oct 2025

Good

0m 5f 60y

Class 6

17:15 Brighton

Antiphon

9st 5lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Mike Murphy

Has been much better than this level in his time but winless for 18 months; in the money over C&D on each of his last three starts and likely to make another bold bid; cheekpieces now added.

4/1

6

(1)

7th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 60y

Class 5

14:15 Brighton

Antiphon

8st 9lb

J: Alfie Redman

T: Mike Murphy

Without a win since scoring at Windsor (5f, good to soft; from 20lb higher) over 18 months ago; has been knocking at the door over this C&D in recent weeks, including when beaten a neck (Call Time third) on penultimate start; foolish to discount.

3/1

3rd

6

(3)

29th Sep 2025

Good

0m 5f 60y

Class 6

14:10 Brighton

Antiphon

9st 1lb

J: Jack Dace

T: Mike Murphy

Inconsistent but well handicapped on best form and gave it a good go from the front here two weeks ago (soft; fine on faster); hard to dismiss.

7/2

OUR TIP

Form: 0-0202 BF

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Has course form at 5f; useful mark and nearly made it pay on second start for this yard at Doncaster (6f, good; made running); victim of stalls malfunction at Epsom next time and the race never fell right for him at Catterick since; could be hard to peg back if front-running again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

11

(11)

1st Jun 2024

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

15:45 Epsom

Live In The Moment

8st 2lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Alice Haynes

Favourite for this race last year but his was one of the stalls to open late and his chance was compromised as a result; solid effort at Doncaster two weeks ago and rider's claim will help offset being 3lb out of the weights; effective on most ground and likely to go well.

10/1

4th

2

(7)

18th May 2024

Good

0m 6f 2y

Class 4

19:50 Doncaster

Live In The Moment

9st 8lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Alice Haynes

took keen hold, led after 1f, headed and prominent after 1f, challenging over 1f out, weakened and lost two places final 110yds

6/1

4th

2

(7)

18th May 2024

Good

0m 6f 2y

Class 4

19:50 Doncaster

Live In The Moment

9st 8lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Alice Haynes

took keen hold, led after 1f, headed and prominent after 1f, challenging over 1f out, weakened and lost two places final 110yds

6/1

Form: 16-541 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Won C&D novice (good) on third start as 2yo; not an immediate success in handicaps but was an emphatic winner from three rivals at Lingfield (6f, good to firm) 14 days ago; back up 5lb in a better race but may go on from that now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

(9)

1st Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

20:45 Windsor

Magical Merlin

9st 5lb

J: Millie Wonnacott

T: Harry Charlton

Continues to edge down the weights, but losing run is up to 19 and the application of a tongue-tie made little difference last time; something to prove on his first attempt over this far.

11/2

4th

3

(6)

29th Apr 2026

Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

18:20 Bath

Magical Merlin

9st 5lb

J: Millie Wonnacott

T: Harry Charlton

Ran just four times last season and was runner-up on three occasions (7f/1m, various ground); down the field on reappearance at Kempton (1m, AW) four weeks ago but may have needed that outing and it will be no surprise if he's in the mix; a tongue-tie is added.

7/2

8th

1

(4)

1st Apr 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

18:00 Kempton (AW)

Magical Merlin

9st 9lb

J: Millie Wonnacott

T: Harry Charlton

He finished second in three of his four starts in 2025, including on his seasonal return, but was still operating at a level below his old form; drops into 0-70 for the first time; not discounted.

6/1

Form: 60-218 D

Last run: 44 days

W: 9st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Modest turf strike-rate doesn't do him justice as he's capable of useful form at 6f-7f, including over C&D; however, after ending a losing run on AW in April, he was left standing at Ascot and is hard to call.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

(7)

17th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 3y

Class 4

17:07 Yarmouth

Spirited Guest

9st 12lb

J: Harry Burns

T: George Margarson

in touch with leaders

25/1

9th

3

(3)

28th Jul 2023

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

15:00 Ascot

Spirited Guest

9st 13lb

J: Mikkel Mortensen

T: George Margarson

midfield, weakened over 1f out

33/1

5th

3

(8)

26th Jun 2023

Good To Firm

0m 6f 12y

Class 4

18:35 Windsor

Spirited Guest

9st 11lb

J: Tom Queally

T: George Margarson

dwelt start, raced in last, outpaced over 3f out, some headway on outer 2f out, weakened gradually inside final furlong

12/1

14/1

Form: 951-0

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Best effort on final start for the Gosdens last September, bursting through and finding plenty to win 7f maiden at Newbury (good); hampered early and never showed with a chance for new yard on AW 12 days ago (6f); another run or two may be needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

(11)

14th May 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 16y

Class 6

20:10 Chepstow

Afterlife

9st 0lb

J: Josephine Gordon

T: Phil McEntee

ducked right start, towards rear

33/1

14

(11)

14th May 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 16y

Class 6

20:10 Chepstow

Afterlife

9st 0lb

J: Josephine Gordon

T: Phil McEntee

ducked right start, towards rear, pushed along over 3f out

33/1

6th

11

(12)

27th Apr 2024

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

16:55 Leicester

Afterlife

8st 9lb

J: Josephine Gordon

T: Phil McEntee

Looked promising as a 2yo but has become very disappointing on the AW since the autumn and is not yet proven on ground slower than good to soft.

20/1

Form: 14-613

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 11lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Both wins at 7f on Tapeta, making most in the first of them; lost nothing in defeat when third at Kempton recently (first-time cheekpieces, retained today), the winner leading home his group in the Britannia at Ascot last week; interesting move dropping him to 6f; still has potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

(8)

28th Jul 2025

Good

0m 7f 50y

Class 4

15:00 Ayr

Animate

9st 8lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Geoffrey Harker

Won a 6f Catterick handicap in June 2024 (good to soft); best run this time when beaten a nose at Ripon in June (6f, good); poor efforts either side of that; not easy to predict.

16/1

13

(4)

5th Jul 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:50 Haydock

Animate

9st 2lb

J: David Allan

T: Geoffrey Harker

Missed out by a nose at Ripon last month (6f, good); 3lb higher in a stronger race but he has been rated much higher in the past; couldn't dismiss.

10/1

2nd

9

(11)

4th Jun 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

19:52 Ripon

Animate

9st 4lb

J: Sam James

T: Geoffrey Harker

Now 4lb lower than for his Catterick success 12 months ago; made a promising return at that track in April before plenty went wrong back there two weeks later; cheekpieces back on today; betting can help.

10/1

Form: 000-94 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Won 15 times for the late John Spearing, including this race in 2022 (good to firm); low key in recent starts, last year and this, but 5lb lower than 12 months ago and he could have been primed for today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(11)

17th Jul 2023

Good To Soft

0m 6f 12y

Class 4

19:10 Windsor

A Sure Welcome

9st 6lb

J: Liam Keniry

T: Henry Oliver

Won 15 times for the late John Spearing, including three at this track; not found his best form in two runs for this yard but he's down in the weights and drying ground would aid his cause; withdrawn (reluctant to load) here on latest intended start.

14/1

6

(1)

26th Jun 2023

Good To Firm

0m 6f 12y

Class 4

18:35 Windsor

A Sure Welcome

9st 8lb

J: Liam Keniry

T: Henry Oliver

Won 15 times for the late John Spearing, including this race in 2022 (good to firm); low key in recent starts, last year and this, but 5lb lower than 12 months ago and he could have been primed for today.

10/1

4th

5

(1)

5th Jun 2023

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 4

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

A Sure Welcome

9st 6lb

J: Liam Keniry

T: Henry Oliver

Seven times a course winner; 40-1 for last week's stable debut at Windsor (after 232 days off) and could only manage ninth but that hardly tells the story as he was stuck behind a wall of horses for most of the straight; good mark and one to take seriously.

11/2

Non-runners

Animate

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.30
Straight Forecast £8.56
Tricast £17.77
Trifecta £18.30

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Magical Merlin

TOPSPEED:

Live In The Moment

SPOTLIGHT:

Lequinto

D Express:

Animate

Telegraph:

Afterlife

POSTDATA:

Antiphon

The Times:

Magical Merlin

Daily Mirror:

Magical Merlin

The Star:

Magical Merlin

Daily Record:

Magical Merlin

NEWMARKET:

Live In The Moment

The Guardian:

Live In The Moment

Daily Mail:

Lequinto

The Sun:

Lequinto