April 12 / 17.00 Leicester

17.00

Heavy

Ronan Keating Ladies’ Day 15th June Handicap

  • Prize money: £5234
  • 1m 3f 179y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
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Ronan Keating Ladies’ Day 15th June Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

Abandoned

Form: 15406- D

Last run: 155 days

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Seven-time winner but his last turf success was in June 2022 and he was well held in final three runs last year; still 2lb higher than for his Polytrack win last summer and he has something to prove after five months off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

(5)

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:45 Goodwood

Appier

9st 1lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: Richard J Bandey

Recorded his tenth win when scoring at Wolverhampton (2m, Tapeta) in January; held his form with creditable efforts in next three starts but his good spell came to a halt at Lingfield last month; has bit to prove again after that heavy defeat and his last turf win was in 2022.

10/1

13th

10

(11)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

14:05 Lingfield (AW)

Appier

9st 5lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Richard J Bandey

Three course wins have come over 1m4f, but he has won over this sort of trip elsewhere; finished half a length behind St Faz when third of four at Southwell (1m6f, Tapeta) and now 11lb better off; each-way claims.

18/1

3rd

1

(3)

26th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 5

14:37 Southwell (AW)

Appier

9st 12lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Richard J Bandey

Multiple winner who arrives in form, his success at Wolverhampton (Tapeta) in January followed by solid third at Kempton (also about 2m, Polytrack) a fortnight later; ran well for second over extended 2m2f here three weeks ago and just as effective over this shorter trip; warrants respect.

11/2

OUR TIP

Form: 2731-9 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Has a patchy record but he ended last season with a heavy-ground win at Newmarket (1m4f) and he may have needed the run at Southwell on his return last month; still looks feasibly treated on that penultimate form and he's respected back on turf.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

16:05 Carlisle

Wind Your Neck In

11st 2lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Runner-up twice in February (including C&D on soft) before making it 14th time lucky over hurdles in 2m4f Sedgefield handicap (good) last month; he and the runner-up came well clear of the third so he should competitive off 6lb higher.

7/1

1st

5

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

14:18 Sedgefield

Wind Your Neck In

11st 8lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

0-13 over hurdles and becoming rather frustrating but came second twice over 2m3f last month (soft/good to soft) and seems very likely to be in the shake-up again here.

3/1

2nd

4

24th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 66y

Class 5

14:30 Catterick

Wind Your Neck In

11st 3lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Sam England

Last Flat win came in November 2023 and he's 0-12 over hurdles; however, he ran well when second off this reduced mark at Carlisle (2m3f, soft) last Monday and can be in the mix if backing that up.

5/2

Form: 433/1-

Last run: 377 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Had a solid record in five runs for David Loughnane but he found improvement upped to 1m2f on stable debut when landing a Doncaster maiden (heavy) last April; now returns to a handicap after a year off but that was an emphatic win last time and he could have more to offer at this trip; shortlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(8)

8th May 2026

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

15:05 Chester

Maxi King

9st 5lb

J: Toby Moore

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

Reliable sort with a good first-time-out record, and he looks well worth this first foray beyond 14.5f, but there is something to prove if the ground if firmer than good; promising 7lb claimer has his first ride at Chester.

14/1

1

(3)

21st Oct 2025

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 2

16:50 Newcastle (AW)

Maxi King

10st 2lb

J: David Egan

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

Lightly raced for a 5yo; has twice made the frame since returning from another seven months off in June, finishing fourth of 13 in the Mallard at Doncaster (14.5f, good to soft) last month (runner-up has since won the Cesarewitch); placed in both starts on AW as a 2yo including one here; not dismissed.

11/4

4th

2

(3)

12th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 6f 115y

Class 2

13:15 Doncaster

Maxi King

9st 11lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

Respectable eighth of 23 in the November Handicap here (1m4f, soft) ended his 2024 campaign; gelded before his good third of 14 at Epsom (1m4f, good) this April on final start for Raphael Freire (same stable) but absent again since; no show at Royal Ascot 2024 on his only go at this sort of trip.

12/1

Abandoned

Form: 52858- D

Last run: 161 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Six wins on turf, but none on worse than good to soft; went close off 3lb higher at Windsor (11.4f, good to firm) last August but he ended last season with a heavy defeat in the mud and the conditions are a concern again after 161 days off; cheekpieces removed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(6)

21st Oct 2024

Heavy

1m 2f 37y

Class 4

16:40 Bath

The Whipmaster

9st 7lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Returned after wind surgery with close thirds at Lingfield (1m4f, AW) and Windsor (11.4f, good) but he didn't find much when disappointing at Kempton last time; bit to prove again after that and he's had only one win in his last 17 starts.

6/1

11th

10

(3)

25th Sep 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 4

19:00 Kempton (AW)

The Whipmaster

9st 4lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Only recently returned from wind surgery and under positive rides has finished close up at Lingfield (1m4f AW) and Windsor (1m3.5f); had no excuses either time but he's unlikely to be far away.

7/1

3rd

5

(8)

16th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

1m 3f 99y

Class 4

15:12 Windsor

The Whipmaster

9st 11lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Gary & Josh Moore

First run after wind surgery when unable to exploit a soft lead on the AW recently (1m4f); however, six of his seven wins have been on turf and he likes it around here; dangerously handicapped.

5/1

Abandoned

Form: 37/7-0

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Useful dual 1m2f winner (soft/good to firm) for Sir Michael Stoute in 2021 but he's not seen much action since and has been well held in both runs (1m4f/1m3f) for current yard; now returns to turf off a falling mark but others are more convincing; hood added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

28th May 2026

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 4

18:00 Market Rasen

Wahraan

11st 4lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Jessica Bedi

Has some useful Flat form and kept on steadily from a long way off the pace to take third on hurdle debut at Wetherby (2m, soft) in November; subsequent Grade 2 defeat is easily overlooked but he has become a very awkward ride, often refusing to settle and/or hanging; comes with risk.

2/1

5th

3

(1)

22nd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 27y

Class 4

19:52 Pontefract

Wahraan

9st 3lb

J: Shay Farmer

T: Jessica Bedi

Quirky and sometimes blows the start; on a reduced mark and retains some ability but he is not the obvious solution to this puzzle.

20/1

10th

15

(6)

8th May 2026

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

16:10 Chester

Wahraan

9st 2lb

J: Shay Farmer

T: Jessica Bedi

Quirky and sometimes blows the start; well handicapped judged on lots of 2024 form over 1m4f-2m, but he's seldom sparked in the same way since.

33/1

Abandoned

Form: 82257- C

Last run: 155 days

W: 9st 7lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Veteran who is versatile ground-wise and is only 1lb higher than for his Salisbury win (1m4f, soft) last July; went close in this race on his seasonal return last spring and he's an interesting contender back from five months off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(7)

24th Oct 2025

Heavy

1m 2f 43y

Class 5

17:03 Doncaster

Croeso Cymraeg

9st 13lb

J: Archie Young

T: James Evans

Veteran who was successful in this race last year but was in slightly better form at the time (completed an October double); that said, wasn't entirely disgraced when in the frame on latest start.

10/1

4th

1

(10)

9th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 37y

Class 5

16:12 Bath

Croeso Cymraeg

9st 12lb

J: Christian Howarth

T: James Evans

Veteran who has lost his way since winning over this far at Lingfield in June (good to soft) but he is dropping back from Class 4 level.

20/1

4

(1)

12th Sep 2025

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 4

17:25 Sandown

Croeso Cymraeg

9st 13lb

J: Christian Howarth

T: James Evans

Veteran who showed a fire still burned when winning a six-runner handicap at Lingfield (1m2f, good to soft) in June; third to Beach Point over C&D next time but his form has dipped on his last two starts; rain will help but vulnerable to less-exposed sorts.

33/1

Abandoned

Form: 3213- BF

Last run: 203 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Unexposed filly who won a Ffos Las maiden (1m2f, good to soft) last August before ending last season with a fair third on her handicap debut at Newbury (1m4f, soft); that latest run was behind an emphatic subsequent winner and she should have more to offer at middle distances this season; respected on return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(4)

22nd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 3f 188y

Class 1

16:10 York

Esmeray

9st 9lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

Registered a hat-trick in good-ground handicaps at Lingfield (1m2f), Pontefract (1m4f) and Chester (10.3f) this May/June; however, Listed race at Newmarket (1m4f, good to firm; 10-1) on latest start saw a heavy defeat.

25/1

10th

4

(7)

20th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

18:35 Newmarket (July)

Esmeray

9st 6lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Ralph Beckett

Form figures of 32122111, defying a 6lb rise when completing a handicap hat-trick in cosy fashion at Chester (extended 1m2f) three weeks ago; a fair bit more will be needed now stepping up in class but she can't be discounted as a thriving sort from a leading stable; has raced only on good or softer.

12/1

1st

1

(3)

29th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 2f 70y

Class 3

17:20 Chester

Esmeray

10st 2lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Ralph Beckett

raced in second early, soon led

2/1

Abandoned

Form: -11233 D BF

Last run: 23 days

W: 8st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Not out of the first four in seven AW runs for this yard, winning three of those (all at Lingfield from 1m4f to 1m5f); creditable third off this mark at Southwell (1m6f) last time but his turf record is uninspiring and he needs to transfer his progress back to this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

(5)

19th May 2026

Good

1m 3f 133y

Class 5

14:10 Lingfield

Upepo

8st 12lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Tony Carroll

Well backed when winning here on the AW over 1m4f in December but never featured when beating only one rival home 19 days ago; 0-9 on turf and others are preferred.

12/1

7th

3

(5)

30th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

18:10 Lingfield (AW)

Upepo

9st 6lb

J: Myla Coppins

T: Tony Carroll

Well backed when winning over C&D in December off a 2lb lower mark (ridden by Myla Coppins); the odd solid effort since and he can't be ruled out.

5/1

9th

3

(13)

8th Apr 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 6

20:30 Kempton (AW)

Upepo

9st 5lb

J: Myla Coppins

T: Tony Carroll

Not the most consistent, but has won six times on the AW including five over 1m4f/1m5f at Lingfield; has run well here, but stall 13 isn't ideal even over this trip.

12/1

Verdict

Maxi King returns after a year off but he forged clear in a Doncaster maiden on his last outing and is respected back in a handicap at this new trip. Croeso Cymraeg went close off 1lb higher in this race on his return last year, while another to consider is Wind Your Neck In, who looks interesting in ideal conditions on his switch back to turf. However, the vote goes Ralph Beckett’s unexposed filly ESMERAY, who has a generally progressive profile and should have more to offer at middle distances this season.[David Moon]