August 03 / 20.00 Epsom

20.00

Good To Soft

Betfred Play Fred’s 5 Million Handicap

  • Prize money: £6280.8
  • 1m 0f 113y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Betfred Play Fred’s 5 Million Handicap

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.00
  • Place: £2.40

Form: 317 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Just kept galloping on second start, when making all from a good subsequent winner at Yarmouth in April (1m, soft); ran poorly back on AW (1m2f; hood left off) in June which raises questions but these conditions can suit better on the switch to a handicap with a hood refitted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(6)

15th Sep 2023

Soft

1m 2f 70y

Class 4

16:30 Chester

Bear On The Loose

9st 11lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

made virtually all

9/4

1st

2

(2)

3rd Aug 2023

Good To Soft

1m 0f 113y

Class 4

20:00 Epsom

Bear On The Loose

9st 9lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

made all

7/1

OUR TIP

8/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 258026 CD

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 4lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Acts well downhill, winning twice at Brighton and 2-2 over C&D (good and heavy); 5lb higher than her Windsor win in April but her best form since gives her a solid chance back on this track with conditions to suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(5)

15th Oct 2023

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:20 Goodwood

Sly Madam

9st 13lb

J: Trevor Whelan

T: Sheena West

Recorded a clearcut success on soft going at Windsor (1m) in the spring; respectable third on similar surface at this course (1m1f) most recently; has slipped back to an attractive mark and enters calculations.

10/1

3rd

8

(6)

27th Sep 2023

Soft

1m 1f 11y

Class 4

17:20 Goodwood

Sly Madam

9st 4lb

J: George Bass

T: Sheena West

Similar type to Junkanoo, having recorded a clearcut success on soft going at Windsor (1m) in the spring; not disgraced over 1m1f three starts back; on a workable mark and looks one to consider.

9/1

4th

1

(9)

20th Sep 2023

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:15 Sandown

Sly Madam

10st 0lb

J: Trevor Whelan

T: Sheena West

in touch with leaders

10/1

Form: 25-184 D

Last run: 8 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
AW winner at 1m in March; said to have been unsuited by the track when finishing remote at Musselburgh after; lacked the pace to challenge over 1m2f at Sandown last week but he has form going downhill on soft ground; not ruled out back at 1m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(4)

27th Aug 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

18:00 Southwell (AW)

Dumfries

9st 9lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Hold-up performer who has yet to hit top form since returning last month, but is 1lb lower than when last successful at Beverley (7f, good to firm) a year ago; has won around here (1m) and worth a second look.

6/1

4th

1

(8)

13th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 100y

Class 6

16:45 Beverley

Dumfries

9st 12lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Hostage to fortune under his usual running style but defied trouble in running for both 7.5f wins here last year, one at this meeting off today's mark; should be coming to the boil after two staying-on efforts over that same C&D this term, and did win third time out in 2025; very interesting.

5/1

5th

6

(2)

28th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 96y

Class 5

15:55 Beverley

Dumfries

9st 3lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Two of his three wins last year were on fast ground over C&D; well beaten over C&D on belated reappearance two weeks ago; shpuld come on for that.

9/1

4/1

Form: -08242 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Form has see-sawed in handicaps since winning 1m novice at Yarmouth in September (good to soft) but two most recent efforts at the trip have been perfectly respectable; probably wouldn't want much rain.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

(9)

26th Sep 2023

Soft

1m 0f 75y

Class 2

17:35 Nottingham

Almarin

9st 2lb

J: Thore Hammer Hansen

T: Patrick Owens

Won 1m Yarmouth novice on good to soft last September; no real evidence he's ahead of his mark this year, despite a somewhat luckless AW run behind Botas (1m) in August; however, his finishing hasn't been that strong over the trip on turf and AW since and looks up against it.

12/1

3rd

3

(10)

18th Sep 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Almarin

9st 11lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Patrick Owens

Yarmouth novice winner (1m, good to soft) a year ago and has run some good race since handicapping, especially since headgear went on; finished just behind King Cabo over C&D on his penultimate start (first-time blinkers), but may have finished ahead of that rival with a clear run; could be worth chancing.

10/1

5th

2

(5)

25th Aug 2023

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:50 Newmarket (July)

Almarin

9st 9lb

J: J F Egan

T: Patrick Owens

Yarmouth novice winner (1m, good to soft) last autumn and twice runner-up off similar marks in handicaps this summer; possible to forgive his latest effort on AW debut (first-time blinkers), but he could probably do with some rain back on turf.

6/1

3/1

Form: 367371 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Has had only two runs in 1m turf handicaps, stepping on the form of the first one when a striking winner over C&D three weeks ago (said to have appreciated the rain-softened ground); up 7lb in a higher grade but there should be more to come from him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(6)

12th Sep 2024

Soft

1m 0f 113y

Class 5

16:50 Epsom

Desfondado

9st 10lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Simon Dow

C&D winner but he arrives well below par, beating only one in 1m Kempton AW handicap 29 days ago; he needs to get back on track.

7/1

10th

4

(11)

14th Aug 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Desfondado

9st 13lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Simon Dow

Two AW wins this year, one over C&D, and he ran well for a close fourth at Ascot on his penultimate start; poorly drawn when disappointing at Goodwood 11 days ago and he's stuck out wide here too.

10/1

9th

14

(16)

3rd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 1f 11y

Class 3

17:20 Goodwood

Desfondado

8st 13lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Simon Dow

Won over 1m on Polytrack in April and June; ran on well for a close fourth at Ascot (1m, good to soft) three weeks ago, which is easily the best of his three turf appearances this year and needs respect, but he'd have more to prove on good to firm.

14/1

Form: 47-555 C

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Course winner at 7f (soft) as 2yo; weak finisher over further on AW in the spring but he kept on well enough, without really threatening, when back over 7f at Yarmouth 15 days ago to make it worth having another go at 1m; needs more for adding cheekpieces to tongue-tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

5

(11)

17th Aug 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 5

20:10 Wolverhampton (AW)

Serious Look

9st 12lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: Thomas Faulkner

All four AW wins have been at this track; steps up in distance and holds claims if he gets the trip.

9/1

5th

4

(6)

6th Jul 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 5

21:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Serious Look

9st 13lb

J: Zoe Lewis

T: Thomas Faulkner

Has four wins at this track, mostly over today's distance; 3lb higher than his last success in March but cannot be dismissed here.

12/1

5th

8

(11)

30th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 4

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Serious Look

9st 1lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: Thomas Faulkner

It was a narrow verdict over 8.6f here four weeks ago and he went up only 3lb; with that run under his belt and being a triple C&D winner, he should feature again if able to overcome a wider than ideal draw.

7/1

Non-runners

Cobalt Blue

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £22.70
Straight Forecast £20.51
Trifecta £75.70

Selections

The Guardian:

Almarin

Telegraph:

Bear On The Loose

SPOTLIGHT:

Desfondado

The Times:

Serious Look

The Star:

Dumfries

POSTDATA:

Cobalt Blue

RP RATINGS:

Sly Madam

D Express:

Almarin

Daily Mirror:

Almarin

The Sun:

Almarin

Daily Mail:

Bear On The Loose

Daily Record:

Desfondado