October 01 / 17.15 Ffos Las

17.15

Soft

Linda Jones Memorial Handicap

  • Prize money: £3873.16
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
Linda Jones Memorial Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

Abandoned

Form: -48400

Last run: 52 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Ex-French 4yo who is yet to be placed after five starts for new stable this year; unable to land a telling blow in headgear (retained) on last couple of outings and will need to up his game here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(2)

25th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 31y

Class 3

17:00 Windsor

Nikovo

9st 7lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: Michael Herrington

Not disgraced in the Victoria Cup last time but, generally speaking, is perhaps still on a difficult mark on turf; gained last three wins on Newcastle AW and has shown peak form there.

12/1

8th

24

(25)

9th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

14:20 Ascot

Nikovo

8st 13lb

J: Dylan Hogan

T: Michael Herrington

Registered last three wins on Newcastle AW and ran respectably there on finals day; came up well short in the Spring Cup returned to turf last time and remains on a difficult mark in this sphere; sole handicap success on grass was off 13lb lower.

66/1

16th

18

(16)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:10 Newbury

Nikovo

9st 0lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Michael Herrington

Kept busy on AW during the winter, winning over 7f at Newcastle and far from disgraced in a valuable 1m event there on Good Friday; however, his turf form is at a lower level and he'll do well to regain the winning thread.

40/1

Form: 41154- C

Last run: 370 days

W: 10st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Dual course winner over 1m2f last summer, looking particularly effective on heavy going on latter occasion; not seen since underwhelming hurdle debut in November but will warrant consideration if the ground becomes very testing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

(11)

27th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

14:12 Lingfield (AW)

Zambezi Magic

10st 12lb

J: Miss Jessica Llewellyn

T: Bernard Llewellyn

Prolific at Ffos Las in the mud but just 1-40 away from that track; easy enough to look elsewhere now returning from an absence and from a wide stall.

33/1

5

(3)

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

12:50 Newbury

Zambezi Magic

11st 1lb

J: Miss Jessica Llewellyn

T: Bernard Llewellyn

The last six of his seven wins have been at Ffos Las and four of the last five were on heavy going, including two over 1m2f last month; latest win was under Jessica Llewellyn and by 16l, but an 11lb higher mark has now kicked in; that, and the way he's drawn a blank at other tracks and over 1m3f/1m4f, pours some cold water on his chance.

7/1

Abandoned

Form: 6633

Last run: 64 days

W: 9st 11lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Unexposed 3yo who was creditable third in more competitive race than this on handicap debut at Newmarket (1m, good) in July; major player off same mark if handling the slower ground here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

(1)

11th Oct 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

19:00 Kempton (AW)

Sherood

9st 7lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Ed Walker

midfield

3/1

3rd

5

(5)

29th Jul 2023

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:45 Newmarket (July)

Sherood

9st 8lb

J: James Doyle

T: Ed Walker

Just fair form in three runs over 7f but he retains potential having been short of room when a one-paced third of 12 at Haydock (good) three weeks ago; should be at least as effective over this longer trip and moves into handicaps on a workable mark considering his fairly useful pedigree; shortlisted.

4/1

Form: 503424

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
A maiden after 14 runs but has posted two good efforts over 1m2f since cheekpieces were added in August (good to soft/soft); can cope with today's drop back in trip and probably won't be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(3)

25th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

16:22 Lingfield (AW)

Change Of Fortune

9st 9lb

J: David Probert

T: Bernard Llewellyn

Just one win from 35 starts and he finished eighth of nine in a classified event at Wolverhampton (9.4f) last month; remains unexposed over this trip but he's hard to predict and others are more convincing.

14/1

8th

2

(5)

23rd Feb 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Change Of Fortune

9st 9lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Bernard Llewellyn

Record of 1-34 but his win was at Ffos Las last summer and he returned from a break with an encouraging fifth here (8.6f classified) last month; should benefit from that run and he could be dangerous back up in trip.

13/2

Abandoned

Form: 354579 CD

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Has something to prove after two below-par runs at Bath but won this race off a 4lb higher mark last year and copes well with soft ground (unraced on heavy); dangerous to ignore.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

(3)

25th Aug 2025

Good

1m 0f 14y

Class 2

15:03 Chepstow

Rival

8st 11lb

J: Elizabeth Gale

T: John & Rhys Flint

Infrequent winner who's found his level again in lesser handicaps of late having missed almost a year; gave his running once more behind Ajrad over C&D 11 days ago and is 7lb better off but the winner had a good bit in hand that day.

12/1

2

(10)

14th Aug 2025

Good

1m 0f 14y

Class 6

16:10 Chepstow

Rival

9st 7lb

J: Elizabeth Gale

T: John & Rhys Flint

Without a win since September 2022 but comes here after two good efforts at Windsor (1m, good to firm/soft) this summer and holds each-way claims.

7/1

14

(3)

21st Jul 2025

Good

1m 0f 31y

Class 6

20:40 Windsor

Rival

9st 4lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: John & Rhys Flint

11 months off before this season and returned to some form when second of 13 over C&D (good to firm) three weeks ago; capable of better last term, including on soft, so he's back in place contention, but no win since 2022.

9/1

Form: 311539 C

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Struck form and won twice in August (7.3f, heavy/1m, good); needs to bounce back from a below-par run at Chepstow last month but current mark is not beyond her.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(4)

23rd Jun 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

16:10 Ffos Las

Thewaytothestars

9st 10lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Grace Harris

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, headway over 3f out, outpaced 2f out, soon weakened

7/1

9th

5

(9)

17th Jun 2024

Good

1m 0f 14y

Class 6

16:55 Chepstow

Thewaytothestars

9st 7lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Grace Harris

held up in rear, brief headway 3f out, outpaced 2f out, soon weakened

4/1

4th

1

(3)

8th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 0f 14y

Class 6

20:30 Chepstow

Thewaytothestars

9st 9lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Grace Harris

Won on heavy and good ground last August and fairly handicapped if returning to that level, which is a big if after her recent struggles.

14/1

Abandoned

Form: 731726

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Came good with front-running win at Chepstow (1m2f, good to firm) in June and went close over that trip here (soft) last month but was below form a fortnight ago and some of the others in this field look stronger.
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: 0-7384

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Low-mileage 3yo who ran quite well when fourth of seven at Beverley (1m2f, heavy) 11 days ago, albeit well held in the end; 2lb lower here and may benefit from the drop back in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

6

7th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

15:30 Fairyhouse

Leitrim Rock

11st 7lb

J: Conor McNamara

T: E McNamara

Modest Flat performer and not bred for jumps; new yard.

20/1

6th

11

(2)

16th Oct 2023

Soft

1m 0f 3y

Class 5

17:05 Yarmouth

Leitrim Rock

9st 3lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: William Knight

Fair maiden who wasn't discredited when fourth of seven in 1m2f Beverley handicap 26 days ago; he handles soft ground so is no forlorn hope with few miles still on the clock.

14/1

Verdict

Sherood was third off today’s mark on his handicap debut at Newmarket in July and should still have more to offer but it might be worth chancing the fitness of dual course winner ZAMBEZI MAGIC, who has been off since last November but excelled on heavy ground here last August and is likely to have conditions in his favour again. Last year’s winner Rival is back on a good mark and also makes appeal.[Chris Wilson]

Selections

D Express:

Sherood

SPOTLIGHT:

Zambezi Magic

NEWMARKET:

Leitrim Rock

The Times:

Khangai

The Star:

Nikovo

Telegraph:

Thewaytothestars

POSTDATA:

Change Of Fortune

RP RATINGS:

Rival

Daily Mirror:

Sherood

The Sun:

Sherood

Daily Record:

Zambezi Magic