February 17 / 19.15 Wolverhampton (AW)

19.15

Standard

Build Your Acca With BetUK Handicap

  • Prize money: £12988.08
  • 1m 4f 51y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
SKY
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Build Your Acca With BetUK Handicap

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £2.40

Form: 3946-2 D BF

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Triple Group 3 winner; has done the majority of his racing on turf but he wasn't far off his best when runner-up in a similar race at Kempton (1m4f, Polytrack) three weeks ago; on same mark here and he's respected on this switch to Tapeta.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(6)

26th Oct 2024

Heavy

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Max Vega

9st 6lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Ralph Beckett

raced in second

10/1

9th

7

(9)

20th Apr 2024

Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:30 Newbury

Max Vega

9st 2lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

prominent

20/1

9th

7

(9)

20th Apr 2024

Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:30 Newbury

Max Vega

9st 2lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

prominent

20/1

9/1

  • Place: £3.10

Form: 123-42 D

Last run: 8 days

W: 8st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Won two in a row on AW in November (1m6f/2m) and he's reached the frame on Tapeta in his last four starts; still looks on a workable mark but this is a big step back up in grade and his tactical speed will be tested back at this trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

1

(1)

27th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 3

20:30 Kempton (AW)

Aqwaam

9st 9lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Ian Williams

Four wins (three on AW at 1m6f and 2m) and was last seen finishing third in the 2024 Cesarewitch; has gone well over this shorter trip but can only be considered if market vibes are positive.

14/1

3rd

13

(22)

12th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 2f 0y

Class 2

15:40 Newmarket

Aqwaam

8st 9lb

J: Trevor Whelan

T: Ian Williams

Reached new heights during a pretty busy AW campaign prior to his creditable and none-too-lucky sixth in the 2m2f Chester Cup in May when last seen (finished lame); that was on good to firm and easily his best turf form, but he won on soft in 2022; withdrawn twice last month; on the Chester Cup evidence he could still be capable of better.

28/1

Form: 559/73

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Smart earlier in his career (including Listed placed); his last win was in 2020 but he's had only eight runs since then and was a rallying third off a falling mark at Kempton last month; finished just behind Max Vega in that race and he's not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

(4)

17th Feb 2024

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 2

19:15 Wolverhampton (AW)

West End Charmer

9st 7lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Charlie Johnston

led, set steady pace

7/1

3rd

5

(1)

27th Jan 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 2

19:30 Kempton (AW)

West End Charmer

9st 8lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Charlie Johnston

Smart earlier in his career (including Listed placed); met trouble at a crucial stage when seventh (Teumessias Fox fifth) of 13 in 1m2f Newcastle handicap on his recent AW debut after another long absence, showing enough to suggest a good chunk of his ability remains; fine at 1m4f; no surprise were he to go well.

8/1

7th

2

(10)

1st Jan 2024

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 2

15:10 Newcastle (AW)

West End Charmer

9st 9lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Charlie Johnston

Smart middle-distance handicapper in his youth; the handicapper was in charge when last seen, however, and he's only been dropped 6lb after a 524-day absence.

33/1

Form: 6552-1 CD

Last run: 43 days

W: 9st 1lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
All five wins have come on Tapeta and latest was a brave success at Southwell (1m4f) last month; 3lb higher on this step up in grade but he beat a subsequent winner last time and he seems as good as ever.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

(4)

17th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 3

16:45 Hamilton

Nolton Cross

9st 8lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Hugo Palmer

Six wins (latest in February) from 24 AW starts but 0-10 on turf; Newmarket 15 days ago saw first turf race since 2023 and he came last of eight.

25/1

8th

8

(1)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 2

16:45 Newmarket

Nolton Cross

8st 11lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Hugo Palmer

Six wins from his 24 AW starts, the latest in February, but 0-9 on turf and he was last seen in this sphere in 2023; fit from AW action (well beaten in hot race last time) but other options seem more likely.

25/1

13th

10

(2)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 2

16:10 Newcastle (AW)

Nolton Cross

8st 11lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Hugo Palmer

Six wins from his 23 AW starts, the latest at Wolverhampton (1m4f, Tapeta) in February; has continued in good form when fourth at Lingfield and Kempton on last two starts, but he may again be vulnerable today.

25/1

Form: 17411- CD

Last run: 70 days

W: 8st 13lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Progressive son of Galileo who made it 2-2 on AW when completing a double under positive tactics in a C&D handicap (Class 2) in December; up another 3lb but that latest form has been boosted by the third since and he could continue on the upgrade; big player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

(2)

1st Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:35 Newbury

Vaguely Royal

8st 12lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Ian Williams

Third in his last three starts, but may not have achieved that much and remains without a win on the Flat since the end of 2023; others more compelling.

9/1

3rd

5

(4)

22nd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 27y

Class 4

19:52 Pontefract

Vaguely Royal

8st 10lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Ian Williams

Comes here on the back of two third-place finishes but the latest was behind Trojan Soldier and there is no obvious reason why the placings would be reversed.

10/1

3rd

5

(7)

17th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:17 Ripon

Vaguely Royal

9st 9lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Ian Williams

There was some restoration of his Flat fortunes when third of five at Southwell (1m6f, AW; stays 2m) on latest start but he's without a win on the Flat since the end of 2023; has another career-low mark but it's hard to know when he will take advantage.

7/1

Form: 14111-

Last run: 338 days

W: 9st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Has thrived for Mick Appleby on AW since last December, winning seven times (1m/1m2f) including at Newcastle (twice) and Chelmsford in his final three runs last spring; returns after 338 days off but he still looks feasibly treated and has shaped as though this new trip should be within range; needs a close look.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

14

(12)

11th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 7f 192y

Class 2

13:30 York

Zealot

8st 8lb

J: Frederick Larson

T: Michael Appleby

All eight wins have been on the AW and he's been coming up short in weaker handicaps than this on turf.

12/1

2nd

1

(1)

25th Sep 2024

Heavy

1m 1f 11y

Class 4

17:50 Goodwood

Zealot

9st 9lb

J: Frederick Larson

T: Michael Appleby

dwelt start, took keen hold, raced in second, led narrowly going best 2f out, headed over 1f out, no match for winner

7/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £32.20
Straight Forecast £33.39
Trifecta £100.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Vaguely Royal

TOPSPEED:

Nolton Cross

Telegraph:

Zealot

The Guardian:

West End Charmer

RP RATINGS:

Vaguely Royal

NEWMARKET:

Vaguely Royal

The Times:

Vaguely Royal

Daily Mail:

Vaguely Royal

D Express:

Vaguely Royal

The Sun:

Vaguely Royal

The Star:

Vaguely Royal

Daily Record:

Vaguely Royal

POSTDATA:

Nolton Cross

Daily Mirror:

Nolton Cross