September 08 / 13.30 Haydock

13.30

Good

Betfair Racing Only Bettor Podcast Handicap

  • Prize money: £8688.44
  • 1m 3f 140y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
RTV
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Betfair Racing Only Bettor Podcast Handicap

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

100/30 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 234 BF

Last run: 88 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Short-odds favourite when beaten the last twice but he's shown promise among his three starts (1m2f, soft/good) and is open to improvement for his top trainer now up in distance on handicap debut; he's one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

3

(4)

4th Apr 2026

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 3

15:05 Musselburgh

Shadow Dance

9st 6lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Rebecca Menzies

Career highlights (1m4f/1m6f) for Roger Varian were in 2024 and he managed only mid-division in his three handicaps (at top meetings) last July-September; rather worse in both runs (his first races on AW) for new connections early this year but he returns to turf 8lb below his career-high mark.

28/1

7th

2

(4)

21st Feb 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:10 Lingfield (AW)

Shadow Dance

9st 9lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Rebecca Menzies

On same mark as for his win at York (1m4f, good) in August 2024 but he's not seen much action since and has been well held in last four starts; may have needed the run on his stable/AW debut at Kempton (28-1) last month but others are more persuasive.

14/1

6th

4

(3)

28th Jan 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 2

20:30 Kempton (AW)

Shadow Dance

9st 8lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Rebecca Menzies

Campaigned on turf for Roger Varian, often in notable handicaps (won one at York in 2024); failed to reproduce his peak figures in a light 2025 campaign and sold for 60,000gns since last run; the betting may prove best guide on AW/stable debut.

20/1

9/2

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 621117

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Below par at Ascot last time on his first crack at 1m4f and it's hard to be confident on the back of that, but he went there on the back of a hat-trick of 1m2f wins and it's possible this sort of trip will be within range; drops back down in grade today and is not written off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

19:10 Cartmel

Golden Maverick

11st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Jamie Snowden

Rewarded determined ride when keeping on strongly from poor position to lead on the post at Carlisle (2m1f, soft; visored) in February but again raced lazily at Stratford (2m, good to soft; first-time blinkers) in March, where he was beaten before final-flight fall; worth a go over this longer trip but it's hard to predict the extent to which he'll warm to the task; visor refitted.

11/2

3

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

19:10 Cartmel

Golden Maverick

11st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Jamie Snowden

Rewarded determined ride when keeping on strongly from poor position to lead on the post at Carlisle (2m1f, soft; visored) in February but again raced lazily at Stratford (2m, good to soft; first-time blinkers) in March, where he was beaten before final-flight fall; worth a go over this longer trip but it's hard to predict the extent to which he'll warm to the task; visor refitted.

11/2

2

10th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 70y

Class 3

15:20 Stratford

Golden Maverick

11st 9lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

raced lazily at times, prominent, hit 3rd, reminder before 4 out, lost ground on turn before last, weakening when fell last

4/1

3rd
5 (2)
Feud

7/2

Form: -54123 CD BF

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Won over C&D (good) in July on third handicap start and solid efforts at Catterick and Newbury the next twice; every chance he'll be thereabouts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

18th Jan 2026

Yielding

1m 7f 168y

13:40 Thurles

Feud

11st 12lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: Richard John O’Brien

Maiden/novice wins during the summer of 2024; mostly disappointing in the meantime, 35l behind at Leopardstown last time (2m, yielding); others preferred.

33/1

1

27th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 0y

15:20 Listowel

Feud

11st 12lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: Richard John O’Brien

Dual novice winner (including here over 2m) last year; best effort in 2025 a neck second at Wexford (2m1f, gd-yld) on penultimate; didn't back that up off 7lb higher at Newton Abbott latest (pulled up); talented on his day but difficult to predict.

11/1

1

30th Aug 2025

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 2

16:30 Newton Abbot

Feud

12st 0lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: Richard John O’Brien

Launched hurdling career with two 2m wins in novice company last year and was close second on handicap debut at Wexford (2m1f, good to yielding) this month; could have untapped potential over this longer trip; commands respect.

5/2

Form: 417 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Has something to prove having finished tailed off in Kempton novice (1m4f, AW) last month; however, she made an encouraging debut over this C&D (good to firm) in June before winning at Carlisle (1m3f, good to soft) in July, and this very lightly raced 400,000gns yearling retains potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

(7)

8th Sep 2023

Good

1m 3f 140y

Class 4

13:30 Haydock

Fifth Harmonic

9st 7lb

J: P J McDonald

T: James Horton

Has something to prove having finished tailed off in Kempton novice (1m4f, AW) last month; however, she made an encouraging debut over this C&D (good to firm) in June before winning at Carlisle (1m3f, good to soft) in July, and this very lightly raced 400,000gns yearling retains potential.

11/1

7th

1

(3)

9th Aug 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 3

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Fifth Harmonic

9st 9lb

J: P J McDonald

T: James Horton

Last of four finishers on her Haydock debut (11.6f, good to firm) in June, but showed ability and built on it when making all to beat Let Life Happen by a length at Carlisle (1m3f, good to soft) last month; 7lb worse off with that rival, but she remains open to further progress and two of the last four winners of this had been successful before.

5/1

1st

3

(5)

8th Jul 2023

Good

1m 3f 39y

Class 5

19:22 Carlisle

Fifth Harmonic

9st 2lb

J: P J McDonald

T: James Horton

Last of the four finishers in a Haydock fillies' novice over a similar trip last month but that looked a good race and she showed clear signs of ability; should fare better today.

5/1

Form: -62124 D

Last run: 62 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Won at Doncaster (1m4f, good to firm) in June and bumped into well-treated winner when second of three at Goodwood (1m4f, good to firm) next time; 1m6f appeared to stretch him here two months ago and this 3yo could have a part to play now back down in trip for last year's winning yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(1)

14th Jul 2026

Good

1m 3f 209y

Class 5

17:14 Ffos Las

Bulldog Spirit

9st 12lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: Bernard Llewellyn

On a good mark and knows how to win; however, three of his four runs since a break have been underwhelming.

13/2

5th

1

(6)

30th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 0y

Class 6

20:39 Ffos Las

Bulldog Spirit

9st 9lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Bernard Llewellyn

Dual winner last year, latterly off 4lb higher, who's running in a 0-65 for the first time; finished last on his latest start but wasn't beaten far and Cieren Fallon (0-5 for the yard) is a positive booking; ought to fare better.

14/1

Non-runners

Molinari, Dubai Crystal

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £12.40
Straight Forecast £13.02
Trifecta £25.90

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Feud

SPOTLIGHT:

Dubai Crystal

NEWMARKET:

Shadow Dance

The Sun:

Shadow Dance

POSTDATA:

Feud

Telegraph:

Feud

The Guardian:

Feud

Daily Mail:

Feud

D Express:

Feud

The Times:

Dubai Crystal

Daily Mirror:

Dubai Crystal

The Star:

Dubai Crystal

Daily Record:

Dubai Crystal