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

4

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 2

16:40 Sandown

Palamon

10st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Returned to form and rewarded heavy market support at Bangor (2m4f, good; tongue-tie refitted) last month, his fifth start for Dan Skelton; just a respectable sixth under penalty in the Red Rum at Aintree (2m, good to soft) nine days later and his mark is another 5lb higher here, but he remains very much of interest.

11/4

6th

15

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Palamon

10st 2lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Dan Skelton

Well-backed, even-money favourite at Bangor (2m4f) last Tuesday, when reverting to good ground in a reapplied tongue-tie and returning to form with a convincing win; 9lb higher in a much hotter race today but not ruled out for his top yard on the back of that stylish success.

9/1

1st

8

31st Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

15:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Palamon

11st 5lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Maiden chaser and with an overall strike-rate of 2-32; he hasn't got anything going over fences for current yard but he's dropped sharply in the weights and getting back on good ground can only help; would be interesting if the market offered encouragement.

5/2

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

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

4th

3

9th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

14:32 Taunton

Corsican Caper

11st 2lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Kevin Frost

A fair 1m6f Flat winner; built on his hurdling debut seventh when third of four in 2m Doncaster novice 27 days ago but this demands considerably more.

12/1

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

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

6th

6

(8)

6th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 4

17:30 Newcastle (AW)

Tribal Wisdom

9st 3lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Ian Williams

Had a good spell in late 2025, winning three Tapeta handicaps at around this trip; good second to a well-handicapped opponent at Southwell last week; one to take seriously.

9/2

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