December 30 / 15.40 Wolverhampton (AW)

15.40

Standard

Bet £10 Get £40 At BetMGM “Hands And Heels” Apprentice Handicap (Part Of The RE Initiative)

  • Prize money: £3140.4
  • 1m 0f 142y
  • Class 6
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
Bet £10 Get £40 At BetMGM “Hands And Heels” Apprentice Handicap (Part Of The RE Initiative)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Rain

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.25
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 701155 CD

Last run: 2 days

W: 9st 13lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
C&D and Lingfield (hands and heels) 1m wins in recent weeks, and nothing went right back here three weeks ago (clipped heels); new 3lb higher mark looks fair, but pulled chance away at Newcastle on Tuesday.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(6)

8th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

17:04 Windsor

Finn Russell

9st 10lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Ian Williams

Six-time winner, the latest over C&D in May off 2lb lower; underfoot conditions shouldn't faze him but he does need to rebound from a lesser effort at Chester six weeks ago.

10/1

6th

9

(5)

26th Jul 2025

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 4

17:30 Chester

Finn Russell

9st 2lb

J: Stevie Donohoe

T: Ian Williams

Only 3lb lower when beating five others at Windsor (1m2f, good to firm) in May but he was beaten a long way over hurdles last time having bled from the nose.

12/1

OUR TIP

10/1

  • Place: £2.40

Form: 993907

Last run: 11 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
Only minor late headway on this month's stable debut here (9.5f), but he's dipping sharply in grade from that 0-85; best RPR was gained here in June, and Jack Doughty recorded his first win last week; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

1

(3)

4th Nov 2025

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Verona Star

9st 12lb

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Tony Carroll

Dual course winner who has been off 11 months since a narrow success over 7f here; worth a market check, albeit his stamina for this far remains unproven; stable also runs Moon Over The Sea.

8/1

1st

2

(3)

9th Dec 2024

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 6

18:15 Wolverhampton (AW)

Verona Star

9st 6lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Tony Carroll

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, headway over 2f out, nudged along to lead over 1f out, faced challenge inside final 110yds, hung right towards finish, just did enough

10/1

1st

2

(3)

9th Dec 2024

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 6

18:15 Wolverhampton (AW)

Verona Star

9st 6lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Tony Carroll

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, headway over 2f out, nudged along to lead over 1f out, faced challenge inside final 110yds, hung right towards finish, just did enough

10/1

10/1

  • Place: £2.90

Form: 0P7037

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Dual 1m Polytrack winner off up to 8lb higher last winter; never getting there soon enough returned to 7f last time and today's extra yardage makes complete sense; only runner in line-up unraced on Tapeta.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

19th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:46 Kempton

High Court Judge

12st 0lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: James Owen

Very productive on AW this year and also scored over hurdles in the spring; suffered a heavy defeat on most recent attempt in this sphere but remains well treated judged on Flat form.

7/1

2

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:27 Worcester

High Court Judge

11st 12lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Won a maiden at Huntingdon (2m, good) in May on third hurdle start and scored on the Flat at Lingfield (1m4f, AW) four weeks ago; in view of his Flat ability he has potential off this opening hurdle mark.

100/30

1st

1

(6)

30th Aug 2025

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

19:25 Lingfield (AW)

High Court Judge

10st 2lb

J: Alexandra Egan

T: James Owen

Resurgent on AW in early part of this year, winning six times including over C&D; opened hurdling account in May and he had an excuse on slow ground when returned to the Flat at Hamilton in June; now drops back in grade after a break and he needs a close look returned to AW.

15/2

12/1

Form: 092746

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 0lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Consistently outrunning her mark when keeping on in better 9.5f-1m2f Tapeta and Polytrack handicaps than this since October, without ever looking to get there in time; drop in class a plus, the drop in trip less so.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

5

(1)

12th Jun 2025

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

13:30 Newbury

Ellexis

10st 13lb

J: Miss Megan Jordan

T: Roger Teal

Won off 1lb higher at Lingfield (1m2f, AW) in January but her subsequent form hasn't come up to scratch, including back on turf at Bath last month; now 0-6 on grass and others have less to prove.

16/1

4th

3

(4)

5th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 2f 37y

Class 5

14:15 Bath

Ellexis

11st 2lb

J: Miss Megan Jordan

T: Roger Teal

Triple AW winner who swooped late when scoring at Lingfield (1m2f) in January but she was tailed off back there (first-time cheekpieces) in March; back on last winning mark but has something to prove with visor now tried and her last turf run was in 2023.

12/1

4th

3

(4)

5th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 2f 37y

Class 5

14:15 Bath

Ellexis

11st 2lb

J: Miss Megan Jordan

T: Roger Teal

Triple AW winner who swooped late when scoring at Lingfield (1m2f) in January but she was tailed off back there (first-time cheekpieces) in March; back on last winning mark but has something to prove with visor now tried and her last turf run was in 2023.

12/1

Form: 972879 C

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Now 2lb below the mark of his success over 9.5f here in March, but winless otherwise and likely needs it all to fall right to get there in time over shorter trips; just okay efforts so far for new yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(8)

29th Feb 2024

Standard

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

19:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Give A Little Back

9st 3lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Amy Murphy

Strike-rate is a moderate 1-25, that sole success coming almost a year ago; form patchy since and below best last time; Hollie Doyle again rides but probably one to watch.

12/1

9th

11

15th Feb 2024

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

14:02 Southwell (AW)

Give A Little Back

9st 4lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Amy Murphy

Only 1-24 but ran his best race yet for current connections when beaten a length in this new headgear combination at Chelmsford; has won on Tapeta and should be well handicapped.

7/1

3rd

1

(4)

9th Feb 2024

Standard

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

20:15 Chelmsford (AW)

Give A Little Back

9st 9lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Amy Murphy

Generally consistent for three yards but has only won once from 23 starts, that coming over further on Tapeta; is down to a career-low mark, though, and needs a second look in first-time cheekpieces.

8/1

Form: 014558 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 60

Form & Verdict
Back to the mark of October's C&D success; well below his recent best here 14 days ago, but interesting to see whether stall one prompts a return to frontrunning (has won under every tactic imaginable).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

1

(3)

10th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 6

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Harbour Vision

9st 9lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Scott Dixon

11-time course winner, including three since December; only 1lb higher than when completing a C&D double in February but he has struggled on his last four starts; needs to get back on track.

20/1

9th

8

(4)

31st Mar 2026

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 5

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Harbour Vision

8st 13lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Scott Dixon

11-time course winner, including three since December; only 1lb higher than for the latest win but he has struggled on his last three starts.

33/1

9/4

Form: 3-2131 C

Last run: 43 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Triumphant return to the Flat over 9.5f here last month, value for far more than the near-3l margin (eased); not unduly punished with a 6lb rise, and scored over today's shorter trip as recently as June (on turf).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(9)

1st Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 99y

Class 6

19:45 Windsor

Graffiti

9st 7lb

J: Nicola Currie

T: Gary Brown

Has caught the eye a couple of times recently, but isn't proving easy to win with despite a declining mark; needs first-time blinkers to make a difference.

9/1

5th

1

(5)

13th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 37y

Class 6

20:12 Bath

Graffiti

9st 9lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Gary Brown

On a long losing spell but has shaped encouragingly in two AW outings this year and remains on a workable mark; effective on turf and difficult to dismiss.

7/2

3rd

4

(6)

26th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

20:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Graffiti

9st 8lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Gary Brown

It's now 12 starts since his last victory but he got back on track in first-time cheekpieces when fourth of eight in 1m2f Lingfield handicap last month; headgear is dispensed with now but he still needs considering eased 1lb.

12/1

Form: 507675

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 57

Form & Verdict
British career yet to catch light, though laying up in a 5f maiden last time (Tapeta debut) was likely a tall order; certainly encouragement for longer trip on dam's side, and interesting in new headgear mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

(12)

20th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

0m 6f 210y

Class 6

17:15 Brighton

Awesome Spirit

9st 1lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Michael Appleby

towards rear, headway up the centre over 1f out, ran on well towards finish, never on terms

10/1

5th

9

(12)

20th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

0m 6f 210y

Class 6

17:15 Brighton

Awesome Spirit

9st 1lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Michael Appleby

towards rear, headway up the centre over 1f out, ran on well towards finish, never on terms

10/1

9th

3

(10)

10th Apr 2024

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 6

17:20 Wolverhampton (AW)

Awesome Spirit

9st 9lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael Appleby

Regressive maiden who never looked like justifying favouritism in a weak Chelmsford handicap (Hard Solution third) back from wind surgery early last month; a poor effort since tempers enthusiasm from a wide stall.

12/1

Non-runners

Prince Ali

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £12.40
Straight Forecast £10.18
Tricast £68.73
Trifecta £100.80

Selections

The Guardian:

Graffiti

Telegraph:

Finn Russell

SPOTLIGHT:

Verona Star

POSTDATA:

Prince Ali

The Times:

High Court Judge

The Star:

Harbour Vision

D Express:

Finn Russell

Daily Mail:

Graffiti

Daily Mirror:

Graffiti

Daily Record:

Graffiti

RP RATINGS:

Verona Star

The Sun:

Prince Ali