July 26 / 20.40 Sandown

20.40

Good

Hwfa Williams Handicap (Jockey Club Grassroots Stayers Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £6280.8
  • 1m 6f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 10 runners
RTV
View Course
Hwfa Williams Handicap (Jockey Club Grassroots Stayers Series Qualifier)

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

9/1 (Won)

  • Win: £10.70
  • Place: £3.30

Form: -70626

Last run: 32 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Rallied well to go close at York (1m6f, good to firm) on penultimate start but that's easily his most competitive display for this yard from eight attempts; cheekpieces added for latest when not beaten far but he was only sixth of seven; others have more pressing claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(8)

31st May 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 196y

Class 4

15:20 Chester

State Legend

9st 11lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Ian Williams

Inconsistent 2023 and while fifth of 16 in Chester Plate last May looked creditable, he like It's Good To Laugh has been off since; 2lb lower today.

25/1

1st

3

(8)

31st May 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 196y

Class 4

15:20 Chester

State Legend

9st 11lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Ian Williams

Inconsistent 2023 and while fifth of 16 in Chester Plate last May looked creditable, he like It's Good To Laugh has been off since; 2lb lower today.

25/1

5th

9

(1)

10th May 2024

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

16:15 Chester

State Legend

9st 4lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Ian Williams

1m6f win at Sandown last July and beaten by a head over hurdles in November; those were two of the best efforts in a very in-and-out campaign (hampered on sole start here) and he was always behind when reappearing 12 days ago; wore cheekpieces on six of his last seven starts but they're off today.

20/1

6/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 2-2881

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Two poor runs before he finally got off the mark at Yarmouth (11.4f, good to soft) three weeks ago, against just three rivals and having his first start on softer than good; his two good runs this term were his two in a hood; has a bit more to prove in this more competitive race over new trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

28th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

20:42 Market Rasen

Bunker Bay

11st 1lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Reportedly had breathing issue when well beaten at Perth last month and is now 0-9 over hurdles but his clear second to next-time-out winner Ruler Legend over C&D (good) two starts ago was a good effort; big player if back at that level.

4/1

8th

12

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

16:40 Perth

Bunker Bay

10st 10lb

J: Miss Becky Smith

T: Micky Hammond

0-8 over hurdles but has posted some good performances this season, most recently runner-up at Market Rasen (2m, good) 18 days ago; also effective on soft ground; makes a lot more appeal than most of these.

11/2

25/1

  • Place: £4.70

Form: 96-870

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Second over hurdles in March but well beaten in his three runs back in this sphere and it's been a while since he last had a prominent finish on the Flat; with new trainer last two outings; well down the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(5)

3rd Jan 2025

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 6

16:30 Southwell (AW)

Ace Rothstein

9st 11lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Matt Crawley

led narrowly, headed over 2f out, soon weakened

33/1

6th

2

(5)

3rd Jan 2025

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 6

16:30 Southwell (AW)

Ace Rothstein

9st 11lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Matt Crawley

led narrowly, headed over 2f out, soon weakened

33/1

6th

11

(7)

19th Dec 2024

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 5

13:45 Southwell (AW)

Ace Rothstein

9st 4lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Matt Crawley

cajoled along soon after start, midfield, outpaced and dropped to rear 3f out, carried head high inside final furlong, kept on final 110yds

50/1

Form: 1-6834 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 8st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Four wins from 43 races and short-headed at this track two years ago; had wind surgery in March and minor honours both starts since; C&D latest is among the plentiful evidence that he holds an each-way chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(11)

9th Oct 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 6

16:12 Kempton (AW)

Militry Decoration

9st 13lb

J: Callum Shepherd

T: Camilla Poulton

Won off 5lb higher on Tapeta earlier this year and returned to form with a 3l third behind The Colorist at Lingfield four weeks ago; will need more again, though.

12/1

3rd

4

(7)

11th Sep 2024

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

17:50 Lingfield (AW)

Militry Decoration

9st 7lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Camilla Poulton

Won on Polytrack as 2yo but three later wins on Tapeta, at 1m4f to 1m6f; hard to recommend at present as he's been a slow starter since his most recent win in March and was way back at Wolverhampton in August.

25/1

6th

2

(4)

16th Aug 2024

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 5

15:35 Wolverhampton (AW)

Militry Decoration

9st 13lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Camilla Poulton

slowly away, always behind

25/1

7/2

Form: /09511 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 8st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Return to Flat has done the trick with short-priced wins at Chepstow (1m4f, good to firm) and Ffos Las (1m6f, good) on last two starts; they were just five-runner races but he galloped on easily the strongest and the third and fifth from his latest start won next time out; back up another 4lb and in class but on the shortlist; withdrawn 11 days ago when the ground was soft.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

13

(9)

8th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 209y

Class 4

17:10 Ascot

Lusaka

9st 2lb

J: Millie Wonnacott

T: John & Rhys Flint

Scored for the sixth time when making all at Newbury (13.5f, good to firm) off 1lb lower in July and gave it a fair go from the front when second at Bath (2m1f, good to firm; Educator third) three weeks ago; same mark and should make his presence felt.

16/1

2nd

5

(1)

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 1f 24y

Class 5

16:15 Bath

Lusaka

9st 2lb

J: Millie Wonnacott

T: John & Rhys Flint

Often a front-runner but he's a tactically versatile; six wins on turf (1m4f-1m6f) but he's not easy to predict and has been quiet on AW this winter; now only 1lb higher than for his last success but he still has stamina to prove at this trip and others are preferred.

12/1

8th

6

(1)

21st Feb 2026

Standard

1m 5f 0y

Class 5

14:33 Lingfield (AW)

Lusaka

9st 7lb

J: Millie Wonnacott

T: John & Rhys Flint

Six-time turf winner but he's 0-5 on AW and has been well held at Kempton (2m, Polytrack) in last two runs; bit to prove but a return to positive tactics could help and his last win was over 1m5f; reapplied cheekpieces replace blinkers; stablemate of Risen Again.

20/1

OUR TIP

4/1

Form: 86-853

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Both wins were on Lingfield Polytrack last year, notably when running away with a 1m4f handicap but she has not repeated that form; edging down the weights and latest start gives a bit of encouragement for this second crack at 1m6f (first was on final 3yo start) but others are a bit more persuasive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

8/1

Form: 527-92

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Sole win (13 races) was on AW in 2021; runner-up on good to firm last April/June and again when cheekpieces were installed on the Newcastle AW (1m4f) on latest outing, but needs to find extra over this new, longer trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

(7)

17th Oct 2023

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 4

16:20 Newcastle (AW)

Victory

9st 6lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Alan King

prominent

10/1

7th

13

(8)

27th Sep 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 3

19:00 Kempton (AW)

Victory

9st 2lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Alan King

Sole win in 1m handicap here in 2021 but didn't achieve anything special in his only course start since; work to do on balance of 2023 form.

20/1

7th

5

(8)

2nd Sep 2023

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 4

20:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Victory

9st 13lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Alan King

Inconsistent type with a record of 1-14; didn't fire at Sandown (1m6f) last time but he went close at Newcastle (1m4f, Tapeta) on his penultimate run and has claims if he can recapture that form; has worn cheekpieces in last two starts.

9/1

7/1

Form: 37-619

Last run: 75 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Won in France as a 3yo; opened his British account with an easy success in usual cheekpieces at Doncaster (2m, soft; 7lb higher today) in April, with about 9l back to his closest pursuer; well beaten two weeks later when visored in the Chester Plate, possibly stretched by the 2m2f but he also had a wind operation soon afterwards; interesting to see his market strength.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

20:50 Hexham

Justus

11st 12lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Took big step back in right direction and arguably ran better than bare form suggests when fifth at Wetherby (2m, good to soft) in March, but was generally very disappointing last season; others have more appealing profiles.

16/1

Form: 7-4334

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Runner-up on his only start here; seen mostly at about 1m4f and running respectably of late but he has more to prove on this third attempt at 1m6f and it's been over two years since he raced without headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

3

(3)

25th Oct 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 5

20:30 Kempton (AW)

Noble Masquerade

9st 13lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

always behind

10/1

3rd

2

(2)

8th Sep 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 5

20:30 Kempton (AW)

Noble Masquerade

10st 0lb

J: Georgia Dobie

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

slowly into stride, in rear, some headway over 2f out, outpaced over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong

8/1

Form: -35418 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Hardy veteran who drew a blank in 2022 but got back in front over 1m6f at Bath this April and his other races this season have been at 1m4f; ground softer than good would be preferable; considered each-way if he gets it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

8

(11)

26th Jul 2023

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

20:40 Sandown

Tralee Hills

9st 4lb

J: Theodore Ladd

T: Simon Hodgson

Hardy veteran who drew a blank in 2022 but got back in front over 1m6f at Bath this April and his other races this season have been at 1m4f; ground softer than good would be preferable; considered each-way if he gets it.

14/1

8th

2

(4)

5th Jul 2023

Good

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

18:20 Epsom

Tralee Hills

10st 9lb

J: Miss Serena Brotherton

T: Simon Hodgson

Good summer in 2021 included a win in this race under Serena Brotherton; drew a blank in 2022 but got back in front at Bath (1m6f) this April when last seen; it looks as if ground softer than good may be needed if he races over as short as 1m4f these days.

7/2

1st

1

(13)

21st Apr 2023

Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

16:40 Bath

Tralee Hills

9st 13lb

J: William Carver

T: Simon Hodgson

His seven wins have all been at middle distances but he has form at up to 2m and is ideally suited on slow ground; last success was in July 2021 but that was off 3lb higher and he returned to turf with an eyecatching fourth at Pontefract (1m4f, soft) ten days ago; kept on well out wide in that race and he looks interesting back up in trip.

8/1

Non-runners

Alpine Stroll

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £71.50
Straight Forecast £53.70
Tricast £885.75
Trifecta £848.30

Selections

NEWMARKET:

Bunker Bay

SPOTLIGHT:

Lusaka

The Times:

Neandra

TOPSPEED:

Alpine Stroll

The Star:

Victory

Telegraph:

Justus

RP RATINGS:

Tralee Hills

The Guardian:

Militry Decoration

The Sun:

Neandra

Daily Mail:

Bunker Bay

Daily Record:

Bunker Bay

Daily Mirror:

Alpine Stroll

POSTDATA:

Lusaka

D Express:

Lusaka