August 09 / 15.00 Brighton

15.00

Good

Star Sports Festival Of Racing Handicap

  • Prize money: £5129.32
  • 0m 5f 60y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
SKY
View Course
Star Sports Festival Of Racing Handicap

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.50
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 5-8276 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Has become somewhat unreliable but was close second in first-time cheekpieces at Windsor (5f, soft) in May and ran well in valuable Racing League race in first-time visor at Yarmouth (5f, good to soft) last month; a possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

(4)

24th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 21y

Class 6

19:48 Windsor

Faustus

9st 3lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Rachel Cook & John Bridger

On a long losing sequence but recent form includes a couple of encouraging efforts and he did too much up front when fifth of six at Brighton (5f) 19 days ago; needs considering eased 1lb.

12/1

5th

4

(2)

5th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 60y

Class 6

17:00 Brighton

Faustus

9st 8lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Rachel Cook & John Bridger

Placed three times from seven starts since returned to turf in May; no match for easy winner when second over C&D (good to firm) last month and remains well below the best of last year's form but still has possibilities; often wears cheekpieces but goes in refitted blinkers today.

4/1

2nd

4

(4)

7th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 60y

Class 6

20:50 Brighton

Faustus

9st 6lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Rachel Cook & John Bridger

Trailblazer who is not the force he once was, but was runner-up at Windsor (5f, good to firm) last month; should give his supporters a run for their money but vulnerable to a late closer.

7/2

3/1

  • Place: £1.30

Form: -07821 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 11lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Back in good form this summer, most recently when scoring at Bath (5.7f, good to firm) five weeks ago; probably still on a workable mark after a 4lb rise and ought to make his presence felt.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

10

(11)

10th Sep 2023

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 3

16:55 York

Swift Asset

9st 5lb

J: Alec Voikhansky

T: Richard Hannon

Good winner at Bath in July (5.5f, good to firm) and runner-up at Brighton one month later; not at his best at Sandown last week though and this demands a career best.

16/1

0

3

(10)

2nd Sep 2023

Good To Firm

0m 5f 10y

Class 4

17:20 Sandown

Swift Asset

9st 10lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: Richard Hannon

Ready winner at Bath (extended 5f, good to firm) in July and ran at least as well at Brighton five weeks later; edging back up the weights but Ryan Moore is a positive booking; unlikely to be far away.

15/2

12/1

  • Place: £2.60

Form: 312427 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
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.
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

Form: -54628 CD

Last run: 32 days

W: 8st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Well handicapped on some of last year's course form and ran big race in defeat (albeit in low-grade company) when close/clear second over C&D (soft) in June; didn't fire at Nottingham last month but still enters calculations here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(4)

17th Sep 2024

Good

0m 5f 60y

Class 6

17:20 Brighton

Batchelor Boy

9st 11lb

J: William Carson

T: John Gallagher

slowly into stride, always behind

8/1

5th

2

(2)

2nd Sep 2024

Good To Firm

0m 5f 215y

Class 6

16:20 Brighton

Batchelor Boy

9st 9lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: John Gallagher

Eight-time winner at up to 7f; made virtually all when scoring at Yarmouth (5f, good to firm) in April, but he's not hit the same level since and was only sixth of eight at Windsor last time; now back below his last winning mark but he needs to raise his game.

11/2

6th

2

(1)

19th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

0m 5f 21y

Class 6

19:25 Windsor

Batchelor Boy

9st 10lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John Gallagher

Made all to beat Exceed at Yarmouth (5f, good to firm) in April and he's 1lb lower today; mixed bag since but he's got the rail to help today and Oisin Murphy's booking is an obvious plus; big player.

9/2

Form: 04-453 BF

Last run: 39 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Yet to progress from last summer's 2yo win but looked suited by drop back to 5f when close third at Lingfield (good to firm) last month, her third run for James Fanshawe, and gets another chance off same mark here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

(12)

14th Nov 2023

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 5

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Song Of Success

9st 4lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: James Fanshawe

Appeared to appreciate the step up in trip when winning over C&D in September, but didn't build on that effort at Kempton (6f, Polytrack) last month; going back up to 7f may help, but the outside stall won't.

9/1

5th

7

(6)

18th Oct 2023

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

16:20 Kempton (AW)

Song Of Success

10st 1lb

J: Morgan Cole

T: James Fanshawe

6f winner for Richard Hughes last summer; off the mark for current stable when dictating matters in a 0-70 fillies' handicap at Wolverhampton last month (7f); only 2lb higher but things might not pan out so smoothly a second time.

9/2

1st

2

(7)

23rd Sep 2023

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 5

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Song Of Success

9st 11lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: James Fanshawe

prominent, led after 2f

6/1

14/1

Form: -48374 CD

Last run: 155 days

W: 9st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Won three in a row (once over C&D) last autumn and is back on a workable mark now but has fitness to prove after five-month break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

(3)

1st Sep 2026

Good

0m 5f 60y

Class 5

19:15 Brighton

Pop Dancer

8st 7lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Tony Carroll

Three-time course winner but last season ended on a low note and he was tailed off here on last month's return, albeit on ground faster than ideal.

12/1

6th

1

(4)

5th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 60y

Class 6

17:00 Brighton

Pop Dancer

9st 12lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Tony Carroll

Three-time C&D winner, most recently last May; absent since two disappointing runs here last August, though, and would appeal more on good or slower ground.

13/2

5

(2)

1st Sep 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 60y

Class 5

14:15 Brighton

Pop Dancer

9st 2lb

J: William Carson

T: Tony Carroll

Two wins this season, the latter from the front over C&D (good to soft) in May; also suited by good to firm ground and last month's down-the-field finish here can be excused (stumbled leaving stalls) but others in this line-up look better handicapped; finished last of 13 in first-time visor here yesterday.

6/1

14/1

Form: 343616 D

Last run: 37 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Made all in first-time blinkers at Wolverhampton (5f, AW) for Karl Burke in June but was sold for 5,000gns after disappointing turf run under penalty; makes stable debut from career-high mark; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

(2)

8th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

13:35 Ascot

Cinque Verde

9st 6lb

J: Jamie Melham

T: Tony Carroll

Fine strike-rate; hit hard for her runaway win at Newmarket (6f, good to firm) in May and she has finished down the field in two runs since; others look more persuasive.

16/1

16th

1

(15)

28th Jul 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

17:55 Goodwood

Cinque Verde

9st 12lb

J: David Egan

T: Tony Carroll

Career win number ten when scooting clear in a Class 3 fillies' handicap at Newmarket in early May and she ran in a Listed race next time; however, she went up 12lb for that last win and looks vulnerable off this mark.

20/1

Form: 234615 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Has much better strike-rate on AW but his latest turf run was a creditable sixth in valuable Epsom handicap 6f, good to firm) on Derby Day, and today's shorter trip suits him better; no surprise if he features.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

10

(1)

25th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 5f 6y

Class 6

14:42 Lingfield (AW)

The Defiant

8st 9lb

J: Jack Dace

T: Luke Dace

Not the force of old and, although he retains some ability, others in this field have more pressing claims.

10/1

4th

3

(5)

12th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 5f 6y

Class 6

15:08 Lingfield (AW)

The Defiant

9st 1lb

J: Jack Dace

T: Luke Dace

Multiple 5f winner down the years, including over C&D, but his powers appear to be on the wane; a couple of respectable efforts last month but more will be needed to win.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 3113 D

Last run: 41 days

W: 9st 11lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 3yo who won two novice races in June (6f/5f) and was very respectable third on last month's handicap debut at Newmarket (6f, good to soft), despite racing a bit too freely; may benefit from today's drop back in trip; high on the list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

(4)

3rd Jan 2025

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 5

13:45 Lingfield (AW)

Crows Nest

9st 3lb

J: Jason Watson

T: George Baker

Hinted at possible return to form when 40-1 fourth over C&D last month but was back in the doldrums at Kempton a fortnight later and now has it all to prove again.

25/1

7th

6

(4)

3rd Jan 2025

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 5

13:45 Lingfield (AW)

Crows Nest

9st 3lb

J: Jason Watson

T: George Baker

Hinted at possible return to form when 40-1 fourth over C&D last month but was back in the doldrums at Kempton a fortnight later and now has it all to prove again.

25/1

11th

2

(7)

18th Dec 2024

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

17:10 Kempton (AW)

Crows Nest

9st 9lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: George Baker

Comfortably his best run since wind surgery when fourth of 12 over 7f at Lingfield a fortnight ago; has handicapping scope if he can build on that.

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £19.70
Straight Forecast £18.80
Tricast £168.21
Trifecta £124.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Crow's Nest

D Express:

Song Of Success

POSTDATA:

Swift Asset

TOPSPEED:

Batchelor Boy

The Guardian:

Faustus

RP RATINGS:

Crow's Nest

NEWMARKET:

Crow's Nest

Telegraph:

Crow's Nest

Daily Mail:

Crow's Nest

The Sun:

Crow's Nest

Daily Record:

Crow's Nest

Daily Mirror:

Song Of Success

The Times:

Swift Asset

The Star:

Batchelor Boy