August 28 / 17.20 Epsom

17.20

Good

Betfred Play Fred’s 5 Million Handicap

  • Prize money: £7731
  • 0m 7f 3y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
Betfred Play Fred’s 5 Million Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Scattered showers

11/4 (Won)

Form: 3-5011 D

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
0-5 in Ireland; 2-2 for new stable, winning 7f contests on good ground at Musselburgh (maiden) and Thirsk (handicap; narrowly); although he had little to spare last time, further improvement is by no means out of the question; respected up just 2lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

8

(1)

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 96y

Class 4

16:00 Beverley

Capital Guarantee

9st 4lb

J: Cian Horgan

T: David O’Meara

Three-time 7f/1m winner in 2025; good C&D runner-up in April but beat only one in 1m Thirsk handicap two weeks ago; needs to bounce back.

16/1

12th

10

(10)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 218y

Class 3

16:47 Thirsk

Capital Guarantee

9st 0lb

J: Mark Winn

T: David O’Meara

Had excuses for the fizzling out of his season in 2025 but he'd been a ready winner of his sole C&D start, last May, and later won off this mark in August; appreciated the return to good to firm ground when only narrowly failing to get up at Beverley (about 7f) last month; on the premises.

8/1

2nd

6

(5)

23rd Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 96y

Class 4

15:22 Beverley

Capital Guarantee

9st 8lb

J: Cian Horgan

T: David O’Meara

Has failed to show his form in last four appearances but ground softer than good wasn't ideal on seasonal debut latest; 2lb below last winning mark and holds a fighting chance provided he rebounds.

16/1

OUR TIP

9/1

Form: 547880 CD

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
2-4 at Epsom, including a success off 4lb higher on this card last year (good ground); slower conditions perhaps not ideal in two starts since returning from a break; not dismissed back here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(4)

7th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 0f 6y

Class 4

15:40 Pontefract

Larado

9st 9lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Michael Appleby

Three-time turf winner who is just 1lb higher than when winning at Lingfield (1m, AW) in February; hasn't been in the same form since and returns from a break today, but drops back down in grade and is not ruled out.

9/1

10th

12

(7)

4th May 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

17:50 Newmarket

Larado

9st 3lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Michael Appleby

Often front-runs; Lingfield AW in February ended his losing run and he was 33-1 when well held there in a Class 2 latest outing (rare start with this visor, instead of usual blinkers); second at Epsom last August showed some turf ability remained, but he's 2lb higher today and not the percentage call.

33/1

Form: 5-5457 D

Last run: 53 days

W: 9st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Suited by good/firmer; on a two-year losing spell; 0-4 for new yard this season, best effort when fourth at York in May; on a handy mark but others are more appealing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

5

(4)

14th Sep 2023

Good To Firm

1m 0f 113y

Class 5

17:10 Epsom

La Maquina

9st 8lb

J: Hayley Turner

T: Harry Eustace

took keen hold, held up in rear

8/1

3rd

4

(9)

28th Aug 2023

Good

0m 7f 3y

Class 4

17:20 Epsom

La Maquina

9st 9lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: Harry Eustace

Suited by good/firmer; on a two-year losing spell; 0-4 for new yard this season, best effort when fourth at York in May; on a handy mark but others are more appealing.

10/1

7th

3

(1)

6th Jul 2023

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

19:50 Newbury

La Maquina

9st 13lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: Harry Eustace

took keen hold, in touch with leaders

9/1

Form: 655371 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Recorded a 40-1 success in the Brighton Mile Challenge Trophy (on good ground) this month but isn't certain to back up that form; inconsistent otherwise this year and hasn't won over 7f since 2021.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(12)

29th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

17:40 Down Royal

Shoot To Kill

10st 0lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: Noel C Kelly

Two wins last year on good ground for different trainers, including 7.5f Roscommon handicap off 80; now 10lb lower plus talented claimer takes off another 5lb; got his favoured ground when eyecatching third of 14 at Roscommon from tough draw 18 days ago; big chance.

4/1

3rd

15

(17)

11th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 111y

17:53 Roscommon

Shoot To Kill

9st 6lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: Noel C Kelly

Two wins last year included this race off a mark of 80 when trained by Stephen Thorne; 8lb lower now, talented claimer takes off another 5lb and gets his favoured good ground for the first time this year; drawn wide but dangerous to dismiss.

10/1

13th

10

(12)

28th Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

1m 0f 0y

16:15 Curragh

Shoot To Kill

9st 7lb

J: Luke McAteer

T: Noel C Kelly

Veteran has won 12 of his 81 starts including five wins on turf; best form is on good ground, though he wasn't beaten that far over C&D on testing ground last October; has had a pipe opener at Dundalk and could outrun odds off 4lb lower.

33/1

Form: 83-112 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 11lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Prescott 3yo who has form figures of 112 this term, the two wins gained from the front on good to firm; ran creditably on AW last time; still open to further progress and looks a major player returned to turf (2-2 in this sphere); wears first-time headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

8

(14)

13th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:55 York

Desert Falcon

9st 6lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Julie Camacho

Front-runner who performed with great credit on all five starts last season, finishing second at Thirsk (7f, good to firm) on his reappearance and beaten just a neck in the Ayr Gold Cup (6f, soft) when last seen; has had wind surgery since; no surprise if he makes a bold bid on this return.

16/1

24

(5)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Ayr

Desert Falcon

9st 0lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Julie Camacho

Front-runner; the winner of four of his last six starts, notably a game effort at Doncaster six days ago (6.5f, good to soft); a 5lb penalty for that hard-fought short-head success demands more but his fine attitude and abundant stamina will stand him in good stead on a rare 6f outing.

16/1

1

19th Sep 2025

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:40 Ayr

Desert Falcon

10st 3lb

T: Julie Camacho

10/1

Form: 441803 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Suited by good/faster; won narrowly at Newbury in June; back in similar form at Lingfield last time, finishing third; now back up in grade and he's more exposed than some of these rivals.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(2)

27th May 2025

Good

0m 6f 210y

Class 4

16:10 Brighton

Secret Strength

9st 1lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Shaun Lycett

Four-time winner who can be slowly away; made a winning stable debut at Lingfield (7f, AW) off 5lb lower in January and wasn't beaten far when fourth at Chelmsford (7f, AW) last time; up in grade now back on turf and this smaller field probably isn't ideal for him due to his hold-up style, but he holds place claims.

7/2

4

(2)

27th May 2025

Good

0m 6f 210y

Class 4

16:10 Brighton

Secret Strength

9st 1lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Shaun Lycett

Four-time winner who can be slowly away; made a winning stable debut at Lingfield (7f, AW) off 5lb lower in January and wasn't beaten far when fourth at Chelmsford (7f, AW) last time; up in grade now back on turf and this smaller field probably isn't ideal for him due to his hold-up style, but he holds place claims.

7/2

4th

5

(5)

24th Apr 2025

Standard

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

18:55 Chelmsford (AW)

Secret Strength

9st 8lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Shaun Lycett

dwelt start, took keen hold, in rear

9/2

20/1

Form: 7-3665 D

Last run: 46 days

W: 9st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Just a modest fifth in lower grade here (8.5f) last month returned to grass; has recorded just one success on turf since 2017; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

4

(7)

21st May 2024

Good

0m 7f 216y

Class 6

16:55 Brighton

La Rav

9st 5lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Lee Carter

His mark continues to fall but this 10yo has struggled to get competitive on his last few starts and needs to turn things around.

16/1

11th

4

(7)

21st May 2024

Good

0m 7f 216y

Class 6

16:55 Brighton

La Rav

9st 5lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Lee Carter

His mark continues to fall but this 10yo has struggled to get competitive on his last few starts and needs to turn things around.

16/1

10th

12

(2)

22nd Mar 2024

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

15:12 Lingfield (AW)

La Rav

8st 5lb

J: George Rooke

T: Lee Carter

Never in the hunt over 7f on his reappearance 16 days ago; first attempt at this trip and others look stronger.

33/1

Non-runners

Restrict, Amathus

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £12.84
Tricast £72.88

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Desert Falcon

RP RATINGS:

Secret Strength

Daily Mail:

Capital Guarantee

The Times:

Restrict

Telegraph:

Larado

The Star:

Shoot To Kill

D Express:

Capital Guarantee

POSTDATA:

Desert Falcon

NEWMARKET:

Desert Falcon

Daily Mirror:

Desert Falcon

The Sun:

Desert Falcon

Daily Record:

Desert Falcon

TOPSPEED:

Secret Strength

The Guardian:

Secret Strength