August 11 / 15.30 Brighton

15.30

Good

Frances Bennett 80th Birthday Handicap

  • Prize money: £4605.92
  • 1m 1f 207y
  • Class 5
  • 10 runners
SKY
View Course
Frances Bennett 80th Birthday Handicap

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Abandoned

Form: -23727

Last run: 55 days

W: 10st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Record of 1-19 and was beaten a long way at Sandown (1m6f) last time but he has had some close calls this season including at Newbury (1m4f, good to firm) on his penultimate run; that form puts him in the picture but he will need a good pace back at this trip; headgear removed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

9

(8)

18th Nov 2023

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

14:01 Lingfield (AW)

Udaberri

8st 9lb

J: David Probert

T: S Woods

in rear

10/1

2nd

4

(6)

2nd Nov 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

20:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Udaberri

9st 12lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: S Woods

slowly away, in rear, going easily 2f out, headway from over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong

4/1

5th

2

(6)

26th Sep 2023

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

17:50 Lingfield (AW)

Udaberri

10st 0lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: S Woods

Quite well handicapped on some of his placed form in ths spring (1m3f-1m6f) but was just a respectable fourth of seven when dropped back to 1m2f at Epsom last month and has a modest 1-20 strike-rate; others preferred.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 99-065 D

Last run: 48 days

W: 10st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
His sole win from 19 starts came in a dirt maiden (1m1f) in Dubai in January 2021; out of sorts in 2022 and no sign of a revival so far this year; has dropped a long way in the weights but he still needs a major upturn in form; visor is removed and cheekpieces return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

27th Jun 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

20:30 Curragh

Bright Start

12st 0lb

T: S M Duffy

First reserve; just 1-36 on the Flat and has plenty to find against some of these rivals.

10

(4)

7th Jun 2025

Good

1m 5f 0y

17:35 Navan

Bright Start

9st 6lb

J: Nicola Burns

T: S M Duffy

Only win came on dirt at Meydan in 2021; closely matched with Waystar on latest C&D third when rallying gamely after a tardy start; each-way possibilities with a repeat effort.

7/1

3rd

9

(5)

17th May 2025

Good

1m 5f 0y

16:25 Navan

Bright Start

9st 5lb

J: Nicola Burns

T: S M Duffy

Only win came on dirt at Meydan in 2021; closely matched with Makaiah on Dundalk fourth in March but has been hugely regressive on turf in recent years; others preferred.

20/1

Form: 761-27 D

Last run: 78 days

W: 10st 1lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Dual AW winner (9.4f/1m2f) but she has form figures of 6777 on turf and was beaten 8l in a Sandown handicap (1m2f, good) when last seen in May; on unchanged mark and she needs to do much better back from a break; hood reapplied.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(2)

20th Jan 2024

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 2

15:10 Lingfield (AW)

Miss Bluebelle

9st 10lb

J: Trevor Whelan

T: Marcus Tregoning

Won at Bath (1m2f) in August and better than ever when adding to her tally at Wolverhampton (9.4f) last Saturday, pulling 3l clear; a 7lb rise demands even more but she does have a steadily progressive profile on AW.

6/1

1st

4

(3)

13th Jan 2024

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 4

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Miss Bluebelle

9st 12lb

J: Dougie Costello

T: Marcus Tregoning

Won at Bath (1m2f) in August and bounced back from a couple of below-par efforts when 2l second over C&D in November; that looks solid form and she should play a part again.

7/2

2nd

13

(7)

25th Nov 2023

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 3

18:15 Wolverhampton (AW)

Miss Bluebelle

9st 4lb

J: Dougie Costello

T: Marcus Tregoning

Won at Bath (1m2f) in August and has had excuses the next twice, namely soft ground at Goodwood then the 1m4f trip here (set strong pace); won over C&D last November and she's on the shortlist today.

7/1

Abandoned

Form: 007376

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Won at Goodwood (1m, good) on his debut in September 2020 but he's 0-17 since and hasn't beaten many since returning for this yard in April; mark is tumbling but he has a lot to prove back at this trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

6

(8)

23rd Aug 2023

Good To Soft

1m 2f 37y

Class 5

17:35 Bath

Star Caliber

9st 12lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Amanda Perrett

Winless since a successful debut at two when with Andrew Balding; hasn't beaten many since returning for this yard and his last 16 starts have been over further.

10/1

6th

9

(2)

15th Jul 2023

Good To Firm

1m 6f 34y

Class 3

15:30 Ascot

Star Caliber

8st 12lb

J: Hayley Turner

T: Amanda Perrett

Still without a win since making a successful debut as a 2yo; ran creditably both starts here (2021) but hasn't beaten many since returning for this yard in April, including when last of three on penultimate start, so others have more pressing claims.

25/1

Abandoned

Form: 4-464

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Unexposed son of Australia; has not made a serious impact after slow starts in his four runs but he ran into a major improver when a fair fourth on his handicap debut at Sandown (1m2f, good) last month; been gelded since and he's in the mix on this drop back in grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

3

(9)

24th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 3

14:51 Newbury

Miller Spirit

10st 1lb

J: Toby Moore

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Five Flat wins in 2024, culminating in this race (1lb lower today); well suited by ploughing through the mud and best result this term came on soft, when runner-up at Yarmouth (1m6f) in July; ran respectably here on good to soft last time and a bold show seems likely if he's in the mud today.

7/1

11

(10)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 5f 61y

Class 2

14:05 Newbury

Miller Spirit

8st 12lb

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Five wins in a tremendously progressive 2024; well suited by ploughing through the mud and his best result this term came on soft ground, when runner-up at Yarmouth (1m6f) in July; respectable fourth in a Racing League event over 2m on Southwell's AW latest; feasibly handicapped and would enter the reckoning if the ground remains on the soft side.

16/1

4th

2

(8)

28th Aug 2025

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 3

19:15 Southwell (AW)

Miller Spirit

9st 7lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Five wins in a tremendously progressive 2024 on Flat; well suited by ploughing through the mud and his best result this term came on soft ground, when runner-up on penultimate start; beaten 20l when last on his sole AW start in 2023 and others have more compelling claims.

6/1

Form: 77223

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 10lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Five-race maiden but he's been generally progressive and was runner-up in a Pontefract handicap (1m, good) last month before a creditable third back in a maiden at Windsor (1m2f, good) last time; that was his first run at this trip and he's a big player if he can build on that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

(7)

3rd Oct 2023

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 5

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Paternoster Square

9st 10lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Had some near misses but remains a maiden and blinkers are now turned to after hanging left throughout in a 1m turf maiden 12 days ago; has threatened in handicaps and headgear could make a difference.

5/1

4th

5

(8)

21st Sep 2023

Good To Soft

1m 0f 6y

Class 5

16:55 Pontefract

Paternoster Square

9st 7lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Made it 0-7 when well beaten in a match at Brighton last time and he's unproven on slow ground; however, showed some useful form previously (including C&D) and is entitled to respect for last year's winning yard.

4/1

2nd

3

(2)

3rd Sep 2023

Good To Soft

0m 7f 216y

Class 5

13:50 Brighton

Paternoster Square

9st 7lb

J: Harry Burns

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Front-runner; ran up to his best when second of five in a C&D maiden 13 days ago (good ground); raced on slower than good just once and that was on his debut when he was well beaten.

2/1

Form: 6-324

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Improved form when going close in a big-field maiden at Nottingham (8.3f, good to firm) in June but she was a well-held fourth when upped to 9.4f at Wolverhampton last time; still unexposed and now switches to a handicap but she has a bit to prove after that last run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

(12)

21st Nov 2023

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

20:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Emma Emilleen

9st 13lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: James Fanshawe

steadied start, held up in rear, switched left and headway into midfield after 1f

6/1

2nd

4

(3)

28th Oct 2023

Standard

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

18:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Emma Emilleen

9st 11lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: James Fanshawe

in touch with leaders, going easily and led under 2f out, hung right and jockey dropped whip inside final furlong, headed towards finish

9/2

4th

5

(8)

16th Oct 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 5

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Emma Emilleen

9st 9lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: James Fanshawe

in rear

10/1

Abandoned

Form: 651164 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Back-to-back wins on fast ground at Nottingham (1m2f) and Leicester (1m4f) in June but she's lost her way with disappointing runs in her last two starts; still looks feasibly treated on her best form but she needs to get back on track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 46y

Class 3

14:10 Cartmel

My Chiquita

12st 0lb

J: Leah Noreci

T: James Moffatt

A fairly useful 2m4f hurdles winner for Ben Brookhouse; made a promising start for her new yard after eight months off when third of eight over 2m4f at Aintree eight days ago; she should strip sharper here and rates a player off the same mark.

7/1

3rd

1

15th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:10 Aintree

My Chiquita

12st 2lb

J: Leah Noreci

T: James Moffatt

Runner-up to Masked Dance in this race two years ago and her final two runs of last year were right up there with her best; could easily be a factor if in the same form for new stable after a break.

8/1

2nd

6

11th Sep 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

18:05 Uttoxeter

My Chiquita

11st 8lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: B F Brookhouse

Below best in two Flat runs this year but returned to hurdling with close second at Worcester (2m4f, good); might have won that day with greater fluency and only 2lb higher; wouldn't want the ground to slow up.

7/2

Form: 192124 CD

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Faded into a well-held last of four at Lingfield two weeks ago but that was over 11.6f and he has form figures of 11212 over this trip on turf; that latest second was a near miss at Bath (good) last month and she looks interesting back at this trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

(8)

8th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

1m 1f 207y

Class 6

16:10 Brighton

Gallimimus

9st 11lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: John Gallagher

Raced mainly on good/firmer; proved game last month for a second C&D win; finished about 7l behind Fighting Poet here since, however.

11/2

4th

1

(1)

17th Sep 2024

Good

1m 1f 207y

Class 6

15:20 Brighton

Gallimimus

9st 11lb

J: William Carson

T: John Gallagher

prominent

4/1

1st

1

(2)

2nd Sep 2024

Good To Firm

1m 1f 207y

Class 6

15:20 Brighton

Gallimimus

9st 9lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: John Gallagher

Hard to predict these days and losing run is up to 13, but he had an excuse over 1m5f last time and is now 4lb lower than for his C&D win (good to firm) last summer; could be dangerous back in trip.

5/1

Abandoned

Form: 221313 CD BF

Last run: 30 days

W: 8st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 58

Form & Verdict
Has record of 3-32 but he's won over C&D in two of his last four starts and was a creditable third at Yarmouth (1m2f, good to firm) last time; up another 2lb but he's still on a workable mark and is respected back at this track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

(1)

10th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Sun Festival

9st 9lb

J: Kyle McHugh

T: Joseph Parr

Course winner (9.5f) but losing run up to 20 and rarely seen over this far; look elsewhere.

14/1

6th

9

(3)

23rd Feb 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Sun Festival

9st 9lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Joseph Parr

Winless since 2023 but he ran a big race at a big price when third in classified event at Lingfield (1m2f) last month; that was eyecatching from off the pace and he has each-way claims again if he can repeat that form.

6/1

3rd

6

(9)

21st Jan 2026

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

14:05 Lingfield (AW)

Sun Festival

9st 9lb

J: Zacharia Clarke

T: Joseph Parr

Winless since 2023 and he beat only one after six months off in 1m2f classified event at Chelmsford ten days ago; he's not easy to make a case for.

33/1

Verdict

This looks tricky but it might be worth siding with GALLIMIMUS, who has form figures of 11212 over this trip on turf including a near miss at Bath on his penultimate run. He looks interesting on this drop back to 1m2f and gets the vote ahead of the unexposed 3yos Paternoster Square and Miller Spirit. The other one on the shortlist is Sun Festival, who has won over C&D in two of his last four runs and was a creditable third at Yarmouth last time.[David Moon]

Selections

The Times:

Sun Festival

POSTDATA:

Paternoster Square

Telegraph:

Miller Spirit

SPOTLIGHT:

Gallimimus

RP RATINGS:

Udaberri

NEWMARKET:

Paternoster Square

Daily Mail:

Paternoster Square

Daily Mirror:

Miller Spirit

The Guardian:

Sun Festival

D Express:

Sun Festival

The Sun:

Sun Festival

The Star:

Sun Festival

Daily Record:

Sun Festival