August 12 / 16.50 Newmarket (July)

16.50

Good

Molson Coors Brewery Company Handicap

  • Prize money: £10800
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
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Molson Coors Brewery Company Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

100/30 (Won)

  • Win: £4.34
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 2-5115

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Favourite when taking a Kempton novice event (7f, AW) and Ffos Las handicap (7.4f, good; comfortably) during June; a 6lb higher mark found him out when upgraded at Sandown (7f) but didn't run badly and returning to 1m looks a good move.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

(6)

24th May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 0f 0y

17:05 Curragh

Merlin The Wizard

9st 8lb

J: Reese Holohan

T: R P Cody

Three wins in Britain in 2023 at up to 1m; regressive in the last two seasons; produced best run for some time at Dundalk in March when good second over 1m; not beaten far in outings at Leopardstown and Ballinrobe since then.

12/1

3rd

4

(10)

8th May 2026

Yielding To Soft

1m 1f 133y

18:52 Ballinrobe

Merlin The Wizard

9st 8lb

J: Julian Pietropaolo

T: R P Cody

Three wins in Britain in 2023 at up to 1m; regressive in last two seasons but best run for some time at Dundalk in March when good second over 1m; didn't seem to quite get home back on turf at Leopardstown last month and stamina concerns trying this longer trip for the first time.

13/2

5th

11

(1)

12th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 0f 0y

15:20 Leopardstown

Merlin The Wizard

9st 8lb

J: Donagh O’Connor

T: R P Cody

Three wins in Britain in 2023; regressive in last two seasons but best run for some time at Dundalk last month when second to an improver over today's trip under a positive ride, his second run for the yard; same mark here, could go well from a good draw.

15/2

14/1

  • Place: £3.80

Form: 12-10 D

Last run: 51 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Maintained his momentum on the AW with a clearcut success in the first-time hood in a very winnable Newcastle novice in April; only 20-1 for the Britannia at Royal Ascot (1m, good to firm) but that proved way too tough on his turf debut; remains relatively unexposed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found
OUR TIP

4/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: -16410 D BF

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 11lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Won going away at Goodwood in June (1m, good; 6lb lower) before never travelling with any purpose in a strong handicap at Sandown; was the only 3yo in that race and it was a big ask; should fare better this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(8)

6th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

18:00 Kempton (AW)

Sceptic

9st 9lb

J: Toby Moore

T: Ian Williams

Triple AW winner who showed signs of a revival at Wolverhampton in March and he went close back on turf at Nottingham (8.3f, good) last month; 2lb higher here but he was a well-backed favourite last time and he remains very well treated on old form; big player.

6/4

2nd

2

(6)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 75y

Class 6

19:15 Nottingham

Sceptic

9st 8lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Ian Williams

6yo who turned things around with two creditable efforts at Wolverhampton (8.6f) last month; his last two wins have been at that track but he remains well treated on his old turf form; could be dangerous back in this sphere but he probably wouldn't want any rain.

5/2

5th

1

(10)

30th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 6

20:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Sceptic

9st 9lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Ian Williams

Latest two wins here, at about 1m1f and 7f, both off this sort of mark; it's been a long haul this winter but he looked on the way back over C&D recently, behind a subsequent winner in a higher grade; in the reckoning.

5/1

Form: 3216 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Made the running for her Thirsk novice win two starts ago (1m, good to firm) but under different tactics she never got competitive at Chester (1m2f+ handicap, good to soft); remains open to improvement back on drier terrain.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

(1)

9th Sep 2023

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

17:00 Thirsk

Wind In Your Sails

9st 3lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: Ralph Beckett

in touch with leaders, going easily up the centre over 2f out, went third over 1f out, challenging inside final furlong, no extra final 110yds

6/1

4th

7

(7)

12th Aug 2023

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:50 Newmarket (July)

Wind In Your Sails

8st 13lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

Made the running for her Thirsk novice win two starts ago (1m, good to firm) but under different tactics she never got competitive at Chester (1m2f+ handicap, good to soft); remains open to improvement back on drier terrain.

13/2

11/4

Form: 442

Last run: 49 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Improved on his initial form when second of six to an odds-on favourite in a C&D novice (good; winner since well held at Listed level); brings potential into handicaps and needs taking seriously.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

(4)

4th Oct 2024

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 4

18:00 Newcastle (AW)

Snipers Eye

9st 6lb

J: Callum Shepherd

T: David Simcock

midfield

8/1

1st

2

(3)

17th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

1m 2f 23y

Class 4

16:05 Yarmouth

Snipers Eye

10st 0lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: David Simcock

Found three races not run to suit his hold-up style in the summer and this mark is likely within range when he gets a decent pace to track; maybe that will happen today, under Silvestre De Sousa (11-46 for the yard), back from a short break.

4/1

3rd

3

(6)

27th Jul 2024

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 3

17:50 Chester

Snipers Eye

9st 7lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: David Simcock

Won a Southwell novice (1m) last September and that was it for the season; hasn't threatened in either handicap this year, though wasn't beaten far at Newmarket last time (1m2f) when held up in a slowly run affair; has a handicap in him.

10/1

Form: 431- D

Last run: 255 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Wore headgear for all three runs last season, with cheekpieces replacing blinkers (hooded throughout) when off the mark at Kempton (1m) the final time; this mark is reasonable on that form but having his first run since November might not be ideal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(3)

16th Nov 2024

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 1

15:15 Newcastle (AW)

Daysofourlives

9st 4lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Marco Botti

Had soft ground as a possible excuse for his no show in the Balmoral at Ascot last month and solid record in handicaps before that, including fourth in Hunt Cup and a defeat of subsequent Cambridgeshire winner Liberty Lane at Doncaster (1m2f) in September; has a 2-2 AW record; no surprise were he to make his presence felt in this higher grade.

14/1

9th

3

(3)

16th Nov 2024

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 1

15:15 Newcastle (AW)

Daysofourlives

9st 4lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Marco Botti

in touch with leaders

14/1

8

(6)

19th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

16:35 Ascot

Daysofourlives

9st 3lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Marco Botti

Fine fourth in Royal Hunt Cup over C&D (good to firm) in June then won at Doncaster (1m2f, good) last month, overhauling Liberty Lane who went one better in the Cambridgeshire next time; showed promise on soft in 2yo maiden; a 4lb rise isn't harsh and this progressive 4yo is a possible player.

7/1

Form: 4-4310 CD

Last run: 9 days

W: 8st 11lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
It was his first run on soft ground when tailed off at Glorious Goodwood; had previously shown a good attitude to prevail narrowly over C&D on good ground and he's only 2lb higher for this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(17)

3rd Oct 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:20 Ascot

Cancan In The Rain

11st 5lb

J: Mr J H Williamson

T: Denis Quinn

Record of 211 since wearing visor, the wins at Southwell (7f, AW) and Newmarket (1m, good to firm); back on career-high mark and back up in class but may have more to offer in the retained headgear.

12/1

1st

1

(3)

15th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

18:25 Newmarket (July)

Cancan In The Rain

9st 9lb

J: George Wood

T: Denis Quinn

C&D winner for Charlie Johnston in June 2023; off the mark for this yard over 7f at Southwell when visored for only a second time and he kept on gamely; just 3lb higher.

3/1

2

(1)

1st Aug 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

16:05 Southwell (AW)

Cancan In The Rain

9st 8lb

J: George Wood

T: Denis Quinn

0-14 since a 1m Newmarket handicap win for Charlie Johnston in June 2023, but latest 1m Doncaster second was only his second outing for Denis Quinn and he went through that race as if this drop back to 7f may be in his favour.

7/1

Form: 5-5305

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Useful 2yo, winning a 6f novice and then third at Listed level; again ran well when close up in a 7f handicap on the Rowley Mile in May but since then he's been tenth of 12 (7f) and last of five (1m); capable but risky.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

17

(2)

23rd May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:00 York

Signcastle City

9st 2lb

J: Alec Voikhansky

T: Richard Hannon

Drew a blank last year but came down the weights, won over 7f on AW in February and competitive over 1m in two recent outings; case can be made but others have a bit less to prove in this big-field scenario.

16/1

3rd

8

(10)

12th May 2026

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 4

19:20 Lingfield (AW)

Signcastle City

9st 3lb

J: Seamus Cronin

T: Richard Hannon

Was back off the same mark as for his Chelmsford success (7f, Polytrack) in February when second of six at Bath (1m, firm) 13 days ago; back up 2lb but he can't be left out of calculations.

7/1

2nd

2

(3)

29th Apr 2026

Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

18:20 Bath

Signcastle City

9st 9lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Richard Hannon

Not at the top of his game on AW on his last three starts but he won off today's mark at Chelmsford (7f, AW) in February and his sole run here yielded a C&D win in May 2024; versatile ground-wise; not written off.

7/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £60.10
Straight Forecast £58.40
Tricast £306.79
Trifecta £290.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Sniper's Eye

The Guardian:

Daysofourlives

TOPSPEED:

Sceptic

POSTDATA:

Cancan In The Rain

The Times:

Wind In Your Sails

RP RATINGS:

Sniper's Eye

NEWMARKET:

Sniper's Eye

Telegraph:

Sniper's Eye

Daily Mail:

Sniper's Eye

D Express:

Sniper's Eye

Daily Mirror:

Sniper's Eye

The Sun:

Sniper's Eye

The Star:

Sniper's Eye

Daily Record:

Sniper's Eye