September 17 / 13.50 Doncaster

13.50

Soft

Hippo Carpet Protector Handicap

  • Prize money: £5154
  • 1m 2f 43y
  • Class 5
  • 10 runners
SKY
View Course
Hippo Carpet Protector Handicap

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.34
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 34223

Last run: 36 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Five-race maiden who is proving consistent; went close twice this summer, including over C&D (good); respectable third at Haydock (wore blinkers) on latest outing; appears to have solid claims back here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found
OUR TIP

4/1

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 431473 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Acts on soft and good to firm; creditable third in AW race last month; has done all his winning on turf, most recently off 2lb lower at Lingfield in May (sole start under Saffie Osborne); enters calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(4)

19th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

1m 4f 5y

Class 4

20:25 Pontefract

Richard P Smith

10st 2lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Ed Dunlop

towards rear

10/1

3rd
4 (3)
Ayyab

7/2

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 7432

Last run: 33 days

W: 9st 11lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Form figures of 7432 reflect her steady progress at maiden/novice level, runner-up at Nottingham (1m, good) most recently; could well take another step forward now handicapping and upped in distance; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

(6)

4th Nov 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 1

14:20 Kempton (AW)

Ayyab

9st 2lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: S Woods

held up in rear, some headway 2f out, went modest fourth over 1f out, kept on

25/1

4th

3

(6)

4th Nov 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 1

14:20 Kempton (AW)

Ayyab

9st 2lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: S Woods

held up in rear, some headway 2f out, went modest fourth over 1f out, kept on

25/1

10th

2

(4)

5th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Newmarket

Ayyab

9st 4lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: S Woods

Won at Goodwood (1m4f) in May and has run creditably on three of her four starts since; apparently no ground worries and she has place claims.

10/1

7/1

Form: 7-7544

Last run: 37 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Six-race maiden; has shown consistent form (off 2lb higher) since handicapping, creditable fourth upped to 1m2f at Newmarket most recently; needs to find extra but that is possible; not dismissed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

29th Aug 2026

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 4

16:25 Cartmel

Palamon

11st 12lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Suddenly bounced back to form when heavily punted at Bangor (2m4f, good; tongue-tie refitted) in May, but recent efforts have been underwhelming and this drop back in trip may not be ideal; considered only if the subject of another big market move.

8/1

5th

2

19th Aug 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:02 Worcester

Palamon

11st 12lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Returned to form in a reapplied tongue-tie (retained since) and justified strong market support at Bangor (2m4f, good) in March; mixed form since, however, and only fifth at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) last month following a break and wind surgery; needs to raise his game and is unproven at the trip.

12/1

5th

1

26th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:42 Uttoxeter

Palamon

12st 1lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Dan Skelton

Back today from a second wind operation and it took him a while to find his form after the first; only four ran when third in his latest race and he does look on a stiff mark, 10lb higher than for the easy Bangor win in March.

10/1

Form: 334070

Last run: 28 days

W: 8st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 58

Form & Verdict
3yo maiden who is looking rather exposed now (0-12); not screaming to be backed, especially having failed to beat a rival in lower grade last time (second run for new yard).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

(7)

13th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 24y

Class 6

13:20 Bath

Corsican Caper

9st 5lb

J: Jack Callan

T: Kevin & Lauren Frost

Five-time Flat winner; ended losing run when winning a small-field novice handicap hurdle three weeks ago; has the ability to play a big part but breaking on terms is an issue for him.

3/1

1st

2

24th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

14:52 Uttoxeter

Corsican Caper

11st 9lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Kevin Frost

Lots of Flat racing and lowly rated these days; hadn't shown much over hurdles but kept finding to finish a 5.5l third over 2m4f here 22 days ago on his handicap debut, and this longer trip looks the obvious move.

100/30

3rd

11

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

15:50 Uttoxeter

Corsican Caper

10st 2lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Kevin Frost

Lowly rated these days on the Flat and has shown little in three runs over hurdles; makes handicap hurdle debut up in trip and needs to show significant improvement.

14/1

6th
9 (1)
Khangai

6/1

Form: 273172 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
Campaigned mostly in Class 6 this year, sole win recorded at Chepstow (1m2f); close second at Ffos Las most recently; bit to prove in this higher grade but arrives in form; cheekpieces replace usual tongue-tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

11

(5)

18th Nov 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 6

15:45 Newcastle (AW)

Khangai

9st 5lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Patrick Morris

Formerly effective on AW but has produced best results for current stable on turf; regressive form since returned to AW started with a modest third over C&D (sole 2m attempt).

25/1

Form: 255

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Thrice-raced gelding; showed some promise over 1m on debut; looked unsuited by 7f last time; has some middle-distance winners in his pedigree; possible improver upped to 1m2f on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

14:42 Worcester

Knights Affair

11st 2lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Fair Flat racer who battled well to pip Don Virginia in small field at Stratford (2m6f, good to firm) last month and is now 2-4 over hurdles; ought to run his race again but others have more compelling form.

12/1

3

18th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

2m 6f 7y

Class 4

14:57 Stratford

Knights Affair

11st 7lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Dual Flat winner who scored on hurdling debut at Huntingdon (2m4f, good) in May and came second on both subsequent hurdling starts (2m5f/2m; form well advertised by the two winners since); not at best when back on the Flat last month but a major player.

6/4

6

(5)

18th Jul 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:25 Haydock

Knights Affair

9st 3lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Jamie Snowden

Won two handicaps (1m6f/2m) on the Flat last season and he's done well switched to hurdling for new yard since May including a win at Huntingdon (2m4f, good); still has potential as a stayer on the Flat and he's in the mix back in this sphere.

11/2

16/1

Form: 0-307

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
Only midfield in 1m AW handicap last month, taking record to 0-4; well held in his two turf attempts; however, pedigree suggests this new trip is a possible source of improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

3rd Aug 2026

Good

2m 1f 0y

15:30 Cork

Redcliff Glen

11st 0lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: C Byrnes

Limerick handicap hurdle win came back in 2024 off 94; couple of ordinary efforts in May and has had time off since.

8/1

5th

8

27th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 0y

18:19 Wexford

Redcliff Glen

11st 2lb

J: Tom Kelly

T: C Byrnes

Limerick handicap hurdle winner in October 2024 off 94; little of note in his form since then however, recent Punchestown run a bit more encouraging; more needed.

10/1

6th

6

13th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

17:50 Punchestown

Redcliff Glen

11st 3lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: C Byrnes

Limerick handicap hurdle winner by a neck in October 2024 off 94; little of note in his form since then, now down to 89.

10/1

Form: 25-007

Last run: 57 days

W: 9st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Showed ability for Charlie Appleby, without making the expected progress; has not threatened in his three runs for new stable and is best watched unless the market suggests improvement is expected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(1)

30th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 4

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Tribal Wisdom

9st 8lb

J: David Probert

T: Ian Williams

4-8 at Wolverhampton and never ideally positioned in a slowly run race here 17 days ago; never ruled out around here.

12/1

5th

4

(5)

13th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 4

18:10 Wolverhampton (AW)

Tribal Wisdom

9st 4lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Ian Williams

Wouldn't judge him too harshly on latest Newcastle run and he had bumped into a progressive one at Southwell beforehand; this C&D winner has the assistance of Billy Loughnane in the saddle today; contender.

7/2

8/1

Form: 9-7145 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 10st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
All wins on good/good to soft, the most recent off 2lb lower at Wetherby in May; form dipped at Ayr last time and he is now conceding weight to several 3yos who are much less exposed; opposed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

2

(4)

17th Sep 2023

Soft

1m 2f 43y

Class 5

13:50 Doncaster

Arch Moon

10st 0lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Michael Dods

All wins on good/good to soft, the most recent off 2lb lower at Wetherby in May; form dipped at Ayr last time and he is now conceding weight to several 3yos who are much less exposed; opposed.

8/1

5th

2

(5)

12th Aug 2023

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

18:37 Ayr

Arch Moon

10st 1lb

J: Phil Dennis

T: Michael Dods

in touch with leaders on outer

13/2

4th

3

(8)

17th Jul 2023

Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

17:30 Ayr

Arch Moon

10st 2lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Michael Dods

took keen hold, prominent, switched to near side over 2f out

9/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £28.60
Straight Forecast £27.58
Tricast £117.31
Trifecta £152.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Ayyab

NEWMARKET:

Richard P Smith

TOPSPEED:

Corsican Caper

POSTDATA:

Palamon

D Express:

Khangai

RP RATINGS:

Ayyab

The Times:

Ayyab

Telegraph:

Ayyab

Daily Mirror:

Ayyab

The Sun:

Ayyab

Daily Record:

Ayyab

The Star:

Richard P Smith