August 19 / 14.25 Newbury

14.25

Good

Highclere Castle Gin Handicap

  • Prize money: £15702
  • 0m 5f 34y
  • Class 3
  • 9 runners
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Highclere Castle Gin Handicap

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

10/1 (Won)

Form: 414427 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Has done well at 5f since wearing cheekpieces, winning at Windsor (good) in June and going close at Yarmouth (good to soft) in July; played no serious part on soft ground at Goodwood 16 days ago but thereabouts on the earlier form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

(2)

15th Sep 2024

Good

0m 5f 0y

15:35 Curragh

Desperate Hero

9st 6lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Jack Channon

raced far side, prominent

50/1

10th

5

(1)

2nd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Goodwood

Desperate Hero

9st 4lb

J: David Probert

T: Jack Channon

Acts on any ground; successful in handicaps at this course (gamely) and Hamilton (impressively) in May/June; creditable third to Makarova at Sandown upped to Group 3 level, having kicked for home too soon in hindsight; currently in career-best form; could go well.

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: 916734 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Multiple wins on AW, at 6f and 5f, but has run only seven times on turf, winning once (in 2020); can blow with the wind form-wise but was close up at Windsor recently (5f, good) and is not totally forlorn.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(7)

21st Dec 2023

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 2

16:10 Southwell (AW)

May Sonic

8st 9lb

J: William Cox

T: Charles Hills

held up in rear, no impression from 2f out

14/1

6

(5)

22nd Nov 2023

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 2

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

May Sonic

9st 1lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Charles Hills

Much better on AW than turf; recent PB when going down by a neck at Southwell in September but didn't run his race back on an artificial surface at Kempton a fortnight ago; has just second run here.

16/1

11th

3

(3)

8th Nov 2023

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

19:00 Kempton (AW)

May Sonic

9st 5lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Charles Hills

midfield

12/1

16/1

Form: 1166-7 D

Last run: 63 days

W: 9st 10lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Winner of first two starts over 5f on good to firm; has been chasing Group and Listed honours ever since and well held on reappearance at Sandown in June but market can guide on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

(5)

12th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

16:50 Newmarket

Katey Kontent

9st 3lb

J: William Buick

T: Clive Cox

Continued in form since a winning return at Windsor (6f, good to firm; acts on soft) but yet to make her mark in Listed company and was never in the hunt at Ayr recently; return to 6f can suit and William Buick, 2-18 for yard in last five years, rides her for the first time but she needs to find more.

12/1

6th

3

(4)

20th Sep 2024

Good

0m 5f 110y

Class 1

15:40 Ayr

Katey Kontent

9st 2lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Clive Cox

Both 2yo wins at 5f but has been running in 6f handicaps for the last 12 months; holding her form well since reappearance win at Windsor (good to firm) and that could help to bridge the gap between her and some of the higher-rated rivals whose most recent efforts are worrying.

14/1

5/1

Form: 541423 D BF

Last run: 19 days

W: 8st 13lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Has won on good and soft; has added two more wins this year, on AW (6f) and a four-runner race at Newmarket; nothing striking about her current handicap mark but continues in good form and wasn't far off her best in first-time blinkers (retained) at Ffos Las 19 days ago; not far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

(3)

28th Sep 2025

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:15 Ffos Las

Four Adaay

9st 4lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Rod Millman

Took advantage of a good opportunity over C&D last month but came up short off higher marks twice since; conditions will be fine but others are more appealing.

11/2

6

(11)

14th Sep 2025

Heavy

0m 5f 160y

Class 2

15:43 Bath

Four Adaay

8st 11lb

J: George Wood

T: Rod Millman

Beat a next-time-out winner when scoring at Ffos Las last month and probably didn't have an ideal track position when fourth at Sandown (also 5f, soft) on Friday; respected if she makes a quick reappearance here.

5/1

12

(9)

12th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 10y

Class 5

14:35 Sandown

Four Adaay

8st 12lb

J: George Wood

T: Rod Millman

Won the corresponding race 12 months ago off a 4lb higher mark; first success since when beating four rivals at Ffos Las two weeks ago (5f, soft); this is deeper but a 2lb rise is manageable; more appealing than most.

5/1

Form: -72610 D BF

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Two most recent wins at 6f (good to firm and good) but strong form at 5f, such as when runner-up in the big Ascot handicap last June (heavy) and running well there (good) in May; needs a good pace to be effective on this less testing track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

16

(3)

9th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:40 Ascot

Fantasy Master

9st 0lb

J: David Egan

T: Robert Cowell

Ended 2025 with a 6f win at Chelmsford in December; 2lb higher mark and stronger opposition might find him out back from five months off.

12/1

5th

10

(4)

16th Oct 2025

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:10 Chelmsford (AW)

Fantasy Master

8st 12lb

J: David Egan

T: Darryll Holland

Good efforts on his last three 5f runs but in between there have been two lesser efforts over 6f; did win over C&D off 1lb higher last November though and he can't be left out of calculations.

8/1

Form: 472700 C

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Won 6f maiden here as 2yo; won on good to firm and good to soft; very competent at 5f when on song but only the odd flicker of life in 2023 and adding a tongue-tie (discarded) to cheekpieces was no help at Goodwood; at least he's down the weights and reunited with William Buick.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(1)

18th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

16:22 Lingfield

Whenthedealinsdone

9st 9lb

J: George Wood

T: Roger Teal

Landed a hat-trick on the AW early last year, the final leg off 2lb lower; back in form lately, most recently in a race that didn't pan out his way, but needs a bit more back on turf from the lowest stall (likely to be dropped in again).

10/1

4th

7

(3)

10th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 4

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Whenthedealinsdone

9st 4lb

J: George Wood

T: Roger Teal

Awarded Lingfield handicap in early 2025 before going 2-2 over this C&D; just four starts since the latest of those wins last March and firmly back on track when edged out at Chelmsford one month ago; 2lb nudge can't be quibbled with and he needs considering.

7/2

2nd

4

(1)

7th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

19:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Whenthedealinsdone

9st 7lb

J: George Wood

T: Roger Teal

Notched a hat-trick in the first three months of last year, latterly off a 1lb lower mark; not as good now but remains consistent enough and unlikely to be far away.

6/1

Form: 07766- C

Last run: 302 days

W: 9st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Can lead; has won on good to soft, suited by soft and heavy; all best form at 6f and has been off since October; sold for 18,000gns since last seen; has much to prove over 5f on belated return for new yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

6

(7)

1st Jun 2026

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 6

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Punchbowl Flyer

9st 7lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: John O’Shea

Was running well at 6f and 7f here in the spring but he's never won on the AW and has seemingly gone off the boil a touch, having run a rare moderate race at Chepstow recently.

20/1

7th

2

(5)

21st May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 6f 16y

Class 6

19:40 Chepstow

Punchbowl Flyer

9st 8lb

J: William Carson

T: John O’Shea

Dual C&D winner who was also beaten a nose off this mark in September on last visit here (7f); running respectably on AW earlier this year but below par returned to turf at Haydock last month; this is easier and he's never confidently ruled out at this track.

12/1

8th

9

(8)

25th Apr 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

16:55 Haydock

Punchbowl Flyer

9st 0lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: John O’Shea

Knocking at the door over 6f and 7f on AW this year; won't mind getting back on turf and he should give it another good go from the front.

10/1

6/1

Form: 522218 D

Last run: 2 days

W: 8st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Having only his second run in a 5f handicap when overcoming hardship to win quite impressively at Sandown three weeks ago (soft); things didn't go to plan at Windsor on Thursday, either, as he ended up right on the outside despite being drawn low; has more to offer if turning out again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(3)

16th Oct 2025

Good

0m 5f 60y

Class 6

17:15 Brighton

Libra Tiger

9st 9lb

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Laura Mongan

Not the force of old but he ran creditably when second to Alshimali over C&D ten weeks ago; wouldn't be sure to build on it.

7/1

1

(2)

8th Aug 2025

Good

0m 5f 60y

Class 6

14:00 Brighton

Libra Tiger

9st 9lb

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Laura Mongan

Dual AW winner who is 1-19 on turf; now 10lb lower than for his Kempton win (6f, Polytrack) last March but he's been well held in last six runs and others are preferred; cheekpieces back on.

20/1

10th

4

(8)

23rd Jun 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 12y

Class 6

17:17 Windsor

Libra Tiger

9st 12lb

J: Alfie Redman

T: Laura Mongan

Dual AW winner who is 1-18 on turf; now 8lb lower than for his Kempton win (6f) last March but he's been well held in last five runs and others are preferred.

25/1

6/1

Form: 875521 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 11lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Useful 2yo, two of her better efforts over C&D, in a sales race and a Listed (both on good to firm); had four handicap runs, improving for blinkers two starts ago and sealing an Ascot race (good to soft) in quite good style 22 days ago; back up 4lb but has less to prove than some.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(9)

25th Oct 2025

Heavy

0m 5f 3y

Class 2

13:30 Doncaster

Woolhampton

9st 7lb

J: Oliver Searle

T: Rod Millman

Never a threat after a slow start in the corresponding race 12 months ago; as good as ever when winning at Sandown and Ascot (came from well back) in August/September and two subsequent defeats excusable (ground/Listed race); 3-8 on soft or worse but might be better suited by a stiffer finish.

16/1

8th

12

(5)

4th Oct 2025

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Ascot

Woolhampton

8st 12lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Rod Millman

At least as good as ever this year, winning handicaps at Sandown (5f, soft) and over C&D (good to soft) in September; found things happening too quickly at Haydock last Saturday and she's in deeper today, but she does go really well at Ascot and the more rain that falls the better.

16/1

3

(2)

27th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

14:05 Haydock

Woolhampton

9st 8lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Rod Millman

Likeable mare with eight wins to her name, including at Sandown (5f, soft) and Ascot (5f, good to soft) in the last four weeks; impossible to rule out but she's gone up 13lb in total for those successes and she'll need a career best to complete the hat-trick.

100/30

Non-runners

Harry Brown, Swift Asset

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £71.40
Tricast £613.11

Selections

Telegraph:

Woolhampton

SPOTLIGHT:

Harry Brown

POSTDATA:

Four Adaay

Daily Mail:

Swift Asset

LAMBOURN:

Katey Kontent

The Star:

Libra Tiger

NEWMARKET:

Fantasy Master

RP RATINGS:

Harry Brown

TOPSPEED:

Harry Brown

Daily Mirror:

Woolhampton

The Sun:

Woolhampton

Daily Record:

Woolhampton

D Express:

Swift Asset

The Times:

Four Adaay

The Guardian:

Four Adaay