July 14 / 20.05 Chester

20.05

Good To Soft

Excell Supply Handicap

  • Prize money: £6115.2
  • 0m 5f 110y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
Excell Supply Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

5/1 (Won)

Form: 757421

Last run: 15 days

W: 8st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Overcame trouble in running to end a lengthy losing run in a 5f Class 3 at Hamilton two weeks ago (good to soft; runner-up won next time); 4lb rise still leaves him with plenty of handicapping scope and he's run well at this track in the past; further rain would suit; strong claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(5)

27th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 217y

Class 6

16:20 Redcar

Count Dorsay

9st 11lb

J: Cian Horgan

T: Tim Easterby

Record of 0-12 this term but has frame possibilities on recent form and win possibilities provided his game is raised a touch; still 13lb below last winning mark.

11/2

2

(5)

27th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 217y

Class 6

16:20 Redcar

Count Dorsay

9st 11lb

J: Cian Horgan

T: Tim Easterby

Record of 0-12 this term but has frame possibilities on recent form and win possibilities provided his game is raised a touch; still 13lb below last winning mark.

11/2

16

(11)

23rd Oct 2025

Soft

0m 6f 18y

Class 5

14:30 Nottingham

Count Dorsay

9st 5lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

Ended 2024 with a pair of soft-ground 6f wins at Catterick, the second of them off 13lb higher; handicapper has held the upper hand this year but conditions will suit and he helps form a strong hand for Tim Easterby.

12/1

Form: 0-8541 C

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
All four of his wins have come at this track, all over 6f, and he had matters sewn up some way out here 13 days ago (good); 5lb rise manageable and has won on soft; should be involved with rider taking off a useful 3lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

(7)

30th May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 1y

Class 2

15:30 Chester

Roman Dragon

9st 10lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Hugo Palmer

Enhanced his excellent course record when narrowly landing a 5f handicap at the May meeting; stays 7f but rarely seen at the trip now; may prove vulnerable to stronger stayers.

11/2

1st

3

(3)

7th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 15y

Class 2

13:30 Chester

Roman Dragon

9st 7lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Hugo Palmer

Chester specialist whose seven course wins include this race last year (off current mark under Oisin Murphy) and Listed event later in 2025; inconsistent elsewhere since but commands respect returned to the Roodee; favourably drawn.

3/1

12th

7

(4)

25th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:05 Leicester

Roman Dragon

9st 5lb

J: David Probert

T: Hugo Palmer

Well handicapped on his best form last season but he's not easy to predict and has been up and down during another spell in Bahrain since December; comes with risks attached back in Britain and most of his wins have been at Chester; tongue-tie worn last time is removed.

25/1

Form: 0-2533

Last run: 20 days

W: 8st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Two wins on slower than good when trained in Ireland; 0-7 for the Barrons but he has been running well in defeat this year; drawn wider than ideal but this intermediate trip could be ideal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

(3)

6th Nov 2024

Soft

0m 5f 8y

Class 4

13:43 Nottingham

Huddle Up

9st 4lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Jack Jones

towards rear

7/1

6th

7

(3)

6th Nov 2024

Soft

0m 5f 8y

Class 4

13:43 Nottingham

Huddle Up

9st 4lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Jack Jones

towards rear, outpaced 2f out, kept on final 110yds, never on terms

7/1

5

(5)

24th Oct 2024

Heavy

0m 5f 8y

Class 5

14:38 Nottingham

Huddle Up

9st 6lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Jack Jones

5f-6f winner when trained in Ireland, including on heavy; placed in all four starts for this trainer but needs to pull out a bit more for a first British success.

4/1

Form: 358321

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Been in good form since December, winning for the fourth time in 2023 when making all to see off 12 rivals at Pontefract 19 days ago (6f, good to firm); rarely seen on slower than good but does seem to handle soft ground; widest stall tempers enthusiasm today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

(2)

21st May 2026

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 5

17:57 Southwell (AW)

Shalaa Asker

9st 4lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Charlie Wallis

Three wins in the winter, including over C&D, and he has continued to run well off his revised mark; drawn wide on turf last time and usually gives his running round here, so holds each-way claims.

12/1

6th

3

(1)

9th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 4f 217y

Class 5

16:25 Lingfield

Shalaa Asker

9st 6lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Charlie Wallis

Nine wins on the AW but just 1-28 on turf; fit from a productive winter campaign but he's drawn on the outside and others are more appealing.

6/1

5th
1 (6)
Lihou

5/1

Form: 313202 C

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Goes well at this track and has two 6f course wins to his name; a blip in the Dash at Epsom aside he's had a good season and last month's short-head second over 5f here (drawn wide) was behind one who won a valuable handicap next time; conditions unlikely to faze him and he's a strong candidate back down in class.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(5)

17th Feb 2025

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 5

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Lihou

9st 4lb

J: George Downing

T: David Evans

12-time winner split between turf and AW; his last success was off 3lb higher at Leicester (6f) last August and he showed signs of a revival with his late headway at Southwell (5f, Tapeta) last month; has each-way claims if he can build on that and yard is in good form.

16/1

3rd

1

(7)

24th Jan 2025

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 5

19:45 Southwell (AW)

Lihou

9st 9lb

J: Richard Kingscote

T: David Evans

Not won on AW for nearly two years and mainly below form since last win at Leicester in August; 2lb badly in and plenty to prove back in distance.

16/1

3rd

1

(7)

24th Jan 2025

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 5

19:45 Southwell (AW)

Lihou

9st 9lb

J: Richard Kingscote

T: David Evans

Not won on AW for nearly two years and mainly below form since last win at Leicester in August; 2lb badly in and plenty to prove back in distance.

16/1

Form: -22583

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Runner-up twice off a 1lb lower mark in the spring; fair third at Bath last week and has the speed to take full advantage of the inside stall; one to consider with Franny Norton a good booking.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

(2)

18th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

16:22 Lingfield

Recon Mission

8st 10lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Tony Carroll

Has run well fresh in the past but is knocking on and may need this after eight months off; doesn't often go beyond 5f these days and is drawn low, so has a bit to overcome.

12/1

2nd

1

(6)

29th Sep 2025

Good

0m 5f 60y

Class 6

14:10 Brighton

Recon Mission

9st 9lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Tony Carroll

Dangerous when he can get to the front early as was the case when a close third last week at Lingfield (AW); worrying that he's been well held in three previous runs here.

7/2

2

(1)

23rd Sep 2025

Standard

0m 5f 6y

Class 6

16:45 Lingfield (AW)

Recon Mission

9st 9lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Tony Carroll

Often makes the running, but was held up from his wide draw when disappointing over C&D 15 days ago; back off the same mark as when dead-heating here in April and drawn well if reverting to positive tactics; stable also runs Gogo Yubari.

9/2

Form: 631242

Last run: 27 days

W: 8st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Two front-running wins at Lingfield (6f and 5f; AW) this year; good second over 6f here four weeks ago (drawn wide); better berthed today and still feasibly treated; may have stablemate Recon Mission to worry about for the early lead.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

(2)

9th Aug 2023

Good

0m 5f 60y

Class 4

15:00 Brighton

Bezzas Lad

9st 4lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Tony Carroll

Dual 5f AW winner this year; ought to have handled the soft ground better when down the field at Chester last month but was creditable second from awkward draw there (6f, good) two starts ago; no surprise if he makes a bold bid from the front here.

12/1

7th

8

(3)

14th Jul 2023

Good To Soft

0m 5f 110y

Class 4

20:05 Chester

Bezzas Lad

8st 11lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Tony Carroll

Two front-running wins at Lingfield (6f and 5f; AW) this year; good second over 6f here four weeks ago (drawn wide); better berthed today and still feasibly treated; may have stablemate Recon Mission to worry about for the early lead.

13/2

14/1

Form: 1256-6 C

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Two 6f wins on good ground last May, one of them here, but her progress has stalled since; didn't run badly at York on her return from ten months off in June but more will be needed to come out on top today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(9)

30th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

0m 5f 7y

Class 3

16:10 Hamilton

Origintrail

8st 13lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Ben Haslam

It's now 16 outings since her last victory but she comes here in good order, fifth of 11 at Ripon (6f) last month; she's one for the shortlist.

8/1

5th

3

(8)

27th Aug 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:00 Ripon

Origintrail

9st 12lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Ben Haslam

Beaten on her last 15 starts going back to May 2022 but has often run really well in the interim, including when going close in this last year (good) and when runner-up here (5f, good) three weeks ago in first-time tongue-tie and cheekpieces (both retained); also effective on slow ground; player.

7/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £16.35
Tricast £48.22

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Count D'orsay

Telegraph:

Lihou

Daily Mail:

Roman Dragon

TOPSPEED:

Recon Mission

The Times:

Origintrail

Daily Record:

Roman Dragon

POSTDATA:

Recon Mission

RP RATINGS:

Count D'orsay

D Express:

Count D'orsay

The Sun:

Count D'orsay

The Star:

Count D'orsay

The Guardian:

Lihou

Daily Mirror:

Lihou