August 06 / 16.45 Haydock

16.45

Soft

Sky Bet Sunday Series Sprint Handicap

  • Prize money: £15462
  • 0m 6f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
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Sky Bet Sunday Series Sprint Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £8.00
  • Place: £2.20

Form: 113831 D

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Won twice over 7f on AW in January; proved well suited by the drop to 6f when keeping on well to win a Racing League handicap at Yarmouth ten days ago (good to soft) and a 3lb rise looks manageable; of interest in the short term but taken out on account of soft ground once and the underfoot conditions could be an issue.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

2

(23)

3rd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Goodwood

Dark Trooper

9st 12lb

J: James Doyle

T: A De Mieulle

Progressive 3yo for Ed Walker, reeling off a four-timer before running well in an Ascot Group 3 last October; didn't fire in Qatar earlier this year but he won well at Saint-Cloud in May (6f, soft) and turned in another fine handicap effort when second of 25 in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot (6f, good to firm), making his challenge on the opposite side of the track to the winner; 3lb higher and this sharper track is not sure to play to his strengths.

6/1

2nd

10

(24)

22nd Jun 2024

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

17:05 Ascot

Dark Trooper

9st 7lb

J: James Doyle

T: A De Mieulle

Found his trip when back at 6f in the second half of 2023, indifferent to the state of the ground when winning all four handicaps, including over C&D on good to firm; has left Ed Walker since but was at least as good as ever when winning a 6f conditions race at Saint-Cloud (soft) in May; has cards to play back here.

7/1

6th

7

(9)

7th Oct 2023

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Ascot

Dark Trooper

9st 3lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Ed Walker

Acts on any ground; progressive 3yo who has completed a handicap four-timer since being dropped back to 6f and gained the last two wins at this venue; overall record is now 6-13; brings a very attractive profile to this first Group attempt and being 2-2 at Ascot is a bonus.

11/2

4/1

  • Place: £3.70

Form: 437411 D

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
He had dropped a long way down the handicap before his cosy win at Doncaster (5.5f, good) last month; made light of a 3lb rise back at Doncaster ten days ago (6f, soft; Impeller second) and still well treated on last season's best; solid claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

(9)

25th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 6f 2y

Class 4

16:55 Doncaster

Be Proud

9st 2lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

towards rear, headway over 1f out, went modest third inside final furlong, no match for first two

16/1

9th

8

(10)

10th Oct 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:25 Ayr

Be Proud

9st 4lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Jim Goldie

Beat The Caltonian over C&D off this mark in June; in and out since but he won this race 12 months ago off a higher mark and he's one of the likelier types.

10/1

9th

2

(6)

1st Oct 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:35 Ayr

Be Proud

9st 10lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

Up against it on the wrong side in the Silver Cup ten days ago but he'll be happier back in a Class 4 and now on the same mark as the latest of his three course wins (6f, good to firm) in June; one to be interested in.

13/2

12/1

Form: -30648 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Some promising efforts this season but Hamilton on latest start wasn't one of them; stays 6f and handles soft ground but there's a suspicion that a combination of the two might stretch his stamina.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(11)

27th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

14:50 Ripon

Illusionist

9st 6lb

J: Oliver Stammers

T: Grant Tuer

Hold-up sprinter; just one win to his name since May 2022; shaped with some promise at Haydock three weeks ago (after a break) and he's on a fair mark; effective at the track.

12/1

78

19th Sep 2025

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:40 Ayr

Illusionist

8st 13lb

J: Oliver Stammers

T: Grant Tuer

6

(4)

5th Sep 2025

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:15 Haydock

Illusionist

9st 7lb

J: Oliver Stammers

T: Grant Tuer

Below par on both runs this term but didn't perform badly at Hamilton in May last time on good going that may not have been ideal; now 2lb lower than when winning at Wetherby (soft) last year and the more rain the better.

16/1

Form: 5-9954

Last run: 10 days

W: 8st 11lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Odds-on favourite when winning a 5f maiden at Beverley one year ago (good to firm); has run some creditable races in handicaps this summer, including on testing ground at Doncaster yesterday when finding just the one too strong; chance if turned out quickly.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

(6)

30th Jan 2026

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 6

14:02 Southwell (AW)

Minnesota Lad

9st 5lb

J: David Nolan

T: Ivan Furtado

Good second over C&D last month but not quite in the same form back here 17 days ago; likely to run his race and more minor money could be on the cards; cheekpieces now added.

9/1

5

(5)

31st Oct 2025

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 6

18:15 Southwell (AW)

Minnesota Lad

9st 6lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Ivan Furtado

Expensive to follow since joining Ivan Furtado but he usually gives his running; dropping back to 5f isn't sure to be of benefit.

10/1

5

(5)

31st Oct 2025

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 6

18:15 Southwell (AW)

Minnesota Lad

9st 6lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Ivan Furtado

Expensive to follow since joining Ivan Furtado but he usually gives his running; dropping back to 5f isn't sure to be of benefit.

10/1

Form: 822262 D

Last run: 9 days

W: 8st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Handles good to soft, as when finishing second of 16 at York nine days ago (6f), and he still has scope in his 2lb higher mark; promise on soft at Ripon in April; each-way shout.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

15

(17)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

17:57 Thirsk

Asadjumeirah

8st 11lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Antony Brittain

His last turf success came over this C&D (good) but back in April 2022; this is his level now but others are more appealing for win purposes.

20/1

8th

12

(6)

1st May 2026

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

20:10 Newcastle (AW)

Asadjumeirah

8st 4lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Antony Brittain

Five-time C&D winner; unable to justify favouritism in a 0-55 here 11 days ago and he has more on his plate at this level.

12/1

3rd

6

(6)

20th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

17:30 Newcastle (AW)

Asadjumeirah

9st 4lb

J: Ethan Tindall

T: Antony Brittain

Five AW wins but losing run is mounting up; needs a fast pace to aim at and is slipping down the weights; likely to come good again one of these days.

6/1

Form: 078198 D

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Stayed on strongly to win a 6f handicap at Chester in June (good); not in quite the same form twice since but both his French form, and his good third at Doncaster in April, point to soft ground holding no terrors; one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(7)

24th Oct 2024

Heavy

0m 5f 8y

Class 5

14:38 Nottingham

Faro De San Juan

9st 9lb

J: Morgan Cole

T: Dylan Cunha

4-29 on turf and although he hasn't won on genuine soft ground he again showed he acts on it when second at Bath (5.7f) latest; each-way player.

4/1

2nd

4

(5)

21st Oct 2024

Heavy

0m 5f 160y

Class 5

16:10 Bath

Faro De San Juan

9st 9lb

J: Morgan Cole

T: Dylan Cunha

Has patchy record but he won on fast ground at Windsor (5f) in July and was beaten less than 2l on soft at Redcar (fourth of 11) last time; seems tactically versatile and he's not ruled out on this drop back on grade.

13/2

7

(10)

5th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

17:37 Redcar

Faro De San Juan

9st 3lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Dylan Cunha

Dropped away in the final furlong in the race won Our Absent Friends at Ripon last week; Paul Mulrennan is a good booking (close fourth on him at Newmarket 11 months ago) but others appeal more.

10/1

8/1

Form: 682123 D

Last run: 3 days

W: 8st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Back at the top of his game in recent weeks, winning a Class 6 at Carlisle (6f, good to soft) and then giving Be Proud a race at Doncaster two weeks ago; fair third at Nottingham on Thursday (6f, heavy) and should give his running despite his new 3lb higher mark having kicked in.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

12

(8)

4th Dec 2023

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 5

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Impeller

9st 0lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Grace Harris

Four-time winner over 6f for Tim Easterby, including on the old Fibresand surface at Southwell; didn't show much on her stable debut over C&D last time (behind Ultramarine) and best to look elsewhere.

25/1

7

(5)

18th Nov 2023

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 5

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Impeller

9st 2lb

J: Dougie Costello

T: Grace Harris

Mostly consistent on turf this year for Tim Easterby, sold for 5,500gns after finishing third of nine at Redcar four weeks ago; rarely seen on AW but did win at Southwell (Fibresand) earlier in career.

12/1

3rd

1

(7)

20th Oct 2023

Good To Soft

0m 5f 217y

Class 5

14:10 Redcar

Impeller

9st 12lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Tim Easterby

String of good efforts in July and August, winning at Carlisle (6f, good to soft) and placed on five other occasions; not at his best at Pontefract 11 days ago though and he'll be 2lb lower from the weekend.

10/1

Non-runners

Justcallmepete, Aplomb

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £21.90
Straight Forecast £60.70
Tricast £429.23
Trifecta £133.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Be Proud

RP RATINGS:

Dark Trooper

TOPSPEED:

Minnesota Lad

D Express:

Justcallmepete

The Sun:

Illusionist

LAMBOURN:

Dark Trooper

Daily Mirror:

Dark Trooper

POSTDATA:

Be Proud

The Times:

Be Proud

Telegraph:

Be Proud

The Star:

Be Proud

Daily Record:

Be Proud