October 12 / 17.30 Chelmsford (AW)

17.30

Standard

Illuminate Christmas Ball Handicap

  • Prize money: £6621
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 10 runners
RTV
View Course
Illuminate Christmas Ball Handicap

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Polytrack

Weather: Showers

9/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.50
  • Place: £2.40

Form: 455505 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 10st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Formerly useful, but no win in over two years; latest 1m Kempton fifth (Baltimore Boy ahead in third) was creditable but he'll need to build on it to snap that losing run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(1)

31st Oct 2025

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 2

19:15 Southwell (AW)

Fantastic Fox

9st 2lb

J: Aidan Keeley

T: Roger Varian

Drawn a blank since January 2024 but he hasn't had much clemency from the handicapper; latest AW run saw him finish fourth at Newcastle in June having met trouble in running and he will be in the shake-up if anywhere near that level.

5/1

8

(1)

31st Oct 2025

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 2

19:15 Southwell (AW)

Fantastic Fox

9st 2lb

J: Aidan Keeley

T: Roger Varian

Drawn a blank since January 2024 but he hasn't had much clemency from the handicapper; latest AW run saw him finish fourth at Newcastle in June having met trouble in running and he will be in the shake-up if anywhere near that level.

5/1

7/1

  • Place: £3.20

Form: 122322 BF

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Won by 5l over the extended 1m at Nottingham in June and he's continued in form with five placed efforts since, the latest a second over C&D; should be competitive; non-runner Nottingham yesterday.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

(6)

12th Oct 2023

Standard

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Roman Dynasty

9st 6lb

J: David Probert

T: Joseph Parr

dwelt start, midfield

7/1

10/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 369406 BF

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 11lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Won over 7f at Goodwood in May and then third in the Britannia (1m) at Royal Ascot; major claims on all that but he's just gone cold of late; switches to AW for the first time here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(5)

8th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 0f 75y

Class 4

15:58 Nottingham

Urban Sprawl

9st 10lb

J: Archie Young

T: Charlie Johnston

Already a three-time scorer (around 1m) in 2025 and he comes here on the back of a very good second of 13 in 1m Newcastle handicap; must enter calculations off an unchanged mark.

9/2

2nd

5

(12)

28th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 4

18:15 Newcastle (AW)

Urban Sprawl

9st 12lb

J: Archie Young

T: Charlie Johnston

Career win number eight when prevailing narrowly in a Class 4 at Beverley (extended 1m) and tends to find Class 2s too tough these days, so excused his Doncaster run; only 1-17 on the AW but could be a factor.

14/1

10th

12

(1)

13th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

13:15 Doncaster

Urban Sprawl

8st 9lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Charlie Johnston

Tough sort but has done his winning this year in Class 4, including at Beverley (8.5f, good to firm) last time when taking record to 8-55; faces a tougher task back up two grades.

14/1

Form: -83056 CD BF

Last run: 112 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Failed to fire over C&D when last seen in June but this dual C&D winner is nicely handicapped if staging a revival after a break (has gone well fresh before); first-time cheekpieces are reached for.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

(1)

3rd Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 18y

Class 6

17:18 Nottingham

Court Of Session

9st 4lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Phil McEntee

All five wins have been on the AW over further than this, the latest at Wolverhampton in January; below his best in three starts since finishing third there in February and he's 0-15 on turf.

12/1

7th

8

(6)

6th May 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

21:00 Kempton (AW)

Court Of Session

9st 6lb

J: Connor Planas

T: Phil McEntee

Five-time AW winner who scored at Wolverhampton (7f) in January but he's been out of sorts on Tapeta in his last two runs; has plenty to prove again and all of his wins have been over longer trips.

25/1

16/1

Form: 8-5459

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Low-mileage colt who recorded some creditable efforts between 1m and 1m3f in the summer (including Polytrack) but he needs to shrug off a lesser run at Yarmouth (1m2f) last month; back down in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

(10)

11th Jan 2024

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 4

13:30 Southwell (AW)

Band Of Steel

9st 8lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: S Woods

Form dipped at Wolverhampton three weeks ago but he is normally consistent on AW and could well rebound; back on career-low mark and holds a good chance if taking well to new headgear (tongue-tie and blinkers replace hood/cheekpieces).

11/2

0

5

(10)

22nd Dec 2023

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 4

19:15 Wolverhampton (AW)

Band Of Steel

9st 7lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: S Woods

0-9 since his novice win here (8.6f) last September but he's reached the frame in last three runs and was beaten less than 2l behind See You Boy at Lingfield (7f) last week; hasn't had much luck with the draw again but he shouldn't be far away.

9/1

4th

1

(10)

13th Dec 2023

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 5

12:00 Lingfield (AW)

Band Of Steel

9st 10lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: S Woods

Had been running over further but was bang there on the return to 7f last week at Chelmsford when tried in this new headgear combination; the draw could prove troublesome.

5/2

8/1

Form: -28144 D BF

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Did well in competitive Racing League handicaps around 1m at the end of the summer, including a win at Windsor; didn't quite see it out back up to 1m2f at Newmarket since and treated as if still in good form; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(7)

7th Apr 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

18:30 Kempton (AW)

Pjanoo

9st 8lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Stuart Williams

Made a successful reappearance at Wolverhampton (8.6f, Tapeta) a year ago when trained by Richard Spencer, but below form in his last three starts and now makes his debut for a new yard in a first-time tongue-tie; market useful.

8/1

6th

4

(7)

7th Apr 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

18:30 Kempton (AW)

Pjanoo

9st 8lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Stuart Williams

Made a successful reappearance at Wolverhampton (8.6f, Tapeta) a year ago when trained by Richard Spencer, but below form in his last three starts and now makes his debut for a new yard in a first-time tongue-tie; market useful.

8/1

6th

1

(4)

28th Jan 2025

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 3

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Pjanoo

9st 11lb

J: George Wood

T: Richard Spencer

Returned from six months off to win a C&D handicap last April off 5lb lower; ran well on his next three AW starts but his form has dipped the last twice; new visor replaces blinkers; dangerous if left alone up front.

8/1

Form: -43511

Last run: 13 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Well-bred filly who improved to win 7f handicaps at Brighton and Newcastle (AW) last month; the way she picked up well to lead late on at the latter track suggests there could be more to come now stepping up to 1m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

10

(1)

12th Oct 2023

Standard

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Turquoise Diamond

8st 13lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

prominent

3/1

1st

7

(5)

29th Sep 2023

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

19:30 Newcastle (AW)

Turquoise Diamond

9st 4lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

Took a good step forward when readily accounting for five rivals at Brighton 18 days ago (7f, good; Class 6); 6lb rise against stronger opposition shouldn't prevent another big run.

11/4

1st

2

(1)

11th Sep 2023

Good

0m 6f 210y

Class 6

17:45 Brighton

Turquoise Diamond

9st 9lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Down the field in sole 2yo start but she's shown promise in her three runs this year; never got involved when fifth behind Moondial on her handicap debut at Epsom (7f, good) last month but she missed the break and was beaten only 2l in the end; still has potential for top yard and she's in the mix.

6/4

OUR TIP

Form: 001306 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 10st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Both wins on AW, the latter coming in a 1m Kempton handicap off 3lb lower in August; below par on turf at Newmarket 13 days ago but he's largely consistent on AW and could bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

1

(8)

14th Aug 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Baltimore Boy

10st 2lb

J: P J McDonald

T: James Horton

C&D win for Michael Bell 12 months ago came off a 3lb higher mark; his two best runs for his new yard came over C&D too and when fifth at Ascot last time he was away from the main action; good claims.

11/2

5th

4

(3)

12th Jul 2024

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:15 Ascot

Baltimore Boy

9st 9lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: James Horton

in rear

16/1

25/1

Form: 287360 C

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 7lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Five-time winner on Polytrack; currently on a handy mark but never landed a blow in Racing League contests at Wolverhampton and Southwell on her last two starts, taking her Tapeta record to 0-6; needs a return to Polytrack to help spark a revival.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

6

(2)

12th Oct 2023

Standard

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Cry Havoc

9st 7lb

J: Callum Shepherd

T: Rae Guest

towards rear

25/1

13th

7

(10)

13th Sep 2023

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 4

18:45 Southwell (AW)

Cry Havoc

9st 7lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Rae Guest

Five-time winner on Polytrack; currently on a handy mark but never landed a blow in Racing League contest at Wolverhampton (8.5f) last week, taking Tapeta record to 0-5; opposed on first Southwell run.

20/1

6th

10

(6)

7th Sep 2023

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 3

19:15 Wolverhampton (AW)

Cry Havoc

8st 11lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Rae Guest

All of her wins have come at 6f/7f but she finished well when third at Kempton (7f, Polytrack) last time; now goes back up in grade but she's on a dangerous mark and looks worth another try at this trip; not ruled out.

12/1

7/2

Form: -36312 D BF

Last run: 48 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Came home well to make it sixth-time lucky at Haydock (1m, good to soft) in August; things didn't pan out ideally for him when second at Newmarket (1m again) later that month and every chance he's still on a winning mark; visored first time (wore blinkers earlier in the season).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(2)

31st May 2026

Good

1m 0f 75y

Class 5

17:25 Nottingham

Leadenhall

9st 6lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Tim Easterby

6lb lower than when winning at Haydock last summer (1m, good to firm); two creditable runs in defeat this season and he now drops in class.

3/1

7th

14

(2)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 218y

Class 3

16:47 Thirsk

Leadenhall

8st 7lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

Ended 2025 in poor form but he built up a head of steam to take a late fourth on his recent Pontefract return (1m, good); now 4lb lower than his Haydock win (1m, good to firm) last August so weighted to be competitive.

9/1

12

(11)

9th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 75y

Class 4

15:25 Nottingham

Leadenhall

8st 12lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Tim Easterby

Now 4lb lower than for his win at Haydock (1m, good to firm) last summer and he wasn't beaten far on his reappearance at Pontefract (1m, good) ten days ago; should get a decent tow into this race and has claims if he can build on that last run.

7/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £105.60
Straight Forecast £106.65
Tricast £676.48
Trifecta £516.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Turquoise Diamond

The Times:

Leadenhall

RP RATINGS:

Court Of Session

Daily Mirror:

Baltimore Boy

The Guardian:

Roman Dynasty

POSTDATA:

Cry Havoc

Daily Mail:

Leadenhall

The Sun:

Leadenhall

Daily Record:

Leadenhall

NEWMARKET:

Turquoise Diamond

Telegraph:

Turquoise Diamond

D Express:

Turquoise Diamond

The Star:

Turquoise Diamond

TOPSPEED:

Court Of Session