April 23 / 16.30 Epsom

16.30

Good

Weatherbys Digital Solutions Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5400
  • 1m 0f 113y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
RTV
View Course
Weatherbys Digital Solutions Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £9.50
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 51-

Last run: 167 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Improved from his promising Newmarket debut last October when winning from 13 rivals in a Kempton maiden (1m, AW) the following month; probably needs a bit more to win this but remains open to improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

26th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 4

20:18 Bangor-on-Dee

Into Battle

12st 0lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Robert Stephens

Fairly useful on the Flat when based with Ed Walker; well beaten on stable/hurdle debut in January but his next two runs were much more encouraging, and there is still hope that more of his Flat ability can be transferred to this discipline.

5/1

3rd

2

15th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 209y

Class 4

16:35 Aintree

Into Battle

11st 2lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Robert Stephens

Useful on the Flat, of similar ability to Road To Wembley; made hurdle debut in a race won by Sober Glory, after which he had wind surgery; chased home a promising horse at Kempton and shouldn't be far away.

7/2

2nd

2

23rd Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:00 Kempton

Into Battle

11st 6lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Robert Stephens

Had wind surgery since finishing tailed off in Newbury novice hurdle for new yard; retains potential under this code, having proved fairly useful on the Flat.

16/1

13/8

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 522- BF

Last run: 169 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
From a successful family and improved from his Newmarket debut last August when runner-up at Goodwood (1m, good) in September and Kempton (1m, AW) in November, going down by only a short head on the second occasion; major player if returning in the same form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

(7)

17th Aug 2024

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

17:15 Newbury

Midair

8st 10lb

J: William Buick

T: Harry Charlton

towards rear

9/1

10th

12

(9)

25th Jul 2024

Good To Firm

1m 2f 23y

Class 2

20:30 Yarmouth

Midair

8st 3lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Harry Charlton

Yet to win but not fully exposed and he was better than the bare facts of his only start over this trip (met trouble); beaten a neck in 1m novice event at Windsor last time but interesting back up in trip returned to handicap.

9/2

2nd

7

(5)

10th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 0f 31y

Class 5

18:40 Windsor

Midair

9st 4lb

J: James Doyle

T: Harry Charlton

Runner-up three times in novice/maiden events at around 1m; suffered a miserable trip when fourth of eight in a 1m2f Ascot handicap last month (good; first-time cheekpieces); sets the standard back in novice company and he's a strong contender.

6/4

13/8

  • Place: £1.02

Form: 12- BF

Last run: 158 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Well backed when easily making a winning debut at Redcar (7f, good to firm) last September and may have paid for taking a keen hold when beaten a neck under his penalty in a Newcastle novice (7f, AW; 4-9) in November; this longer trip should suit and he is high on the list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

(3)

4th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 23y

Class 1

16:02 Beverley

Involvement

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Very useful gelding who landed 9.5f handicap in Meydan in March; posted a good fourth in Goodwood Listed event in May but last of six in similar company there (1m4f) last month; needs to bounce back.

8/1

6th

4

(4)

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 3f 218y

Class 1

16:45 Goodwood

Involvement

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Missed 2025; started this season at Meydan and Longchamp but returned to British soil with career-best form 16 days ago when a close fourth of nine in 1m2f Listed race at this track; more to prove on softer than good and this is also his first appearance beyond 1m2f, but that latest run gave some encouragement; either way he needs to find a bit extra.

9/1

4th

8

(6)

22nd May 2026

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

16:17 Goodwood

Involvement

9st 3lb

J: David Egan

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Missed 2025; last two performances, namely success at Meydan (handicap) and third at Longchamp (Listed), show that he retains plenty of ability; however, has something to find back on home soil.

12/1

100/1

Form: 8-0

Last run: 19 days

W: 8st 10lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Astronomical prices and has shown nothing in two starts over 7f/1m five months apart.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

(8)

3rd Jun 2024

Good

0m 7f 216y

Class 6

15:30 Brighton

Dwynwen

9st 10lb

J: Charlie Bennett

T: Jim Boyle

prominent, lost ground over 4f out

8/1

4th

6

(3)

9th May 2024

Soft

1m 1f 207y

Class 6

15:18 Brighton

Dwynwen

9st 8lb

J: Charlie Bennett

T: Jim Boyle

led, faced challenge from 2f out, headed 1f out, weakened gradually final 110yds

10/1

4th

6

(3)

9th May 2024

Soft

1m 1f 207y

Class 6

15:18 Brighton

Dwynwen

9st 8lb

J: Charlie Bennett

T: Jim Boyle

led, faced challenge from 2f out, headed 1f out, weakened gradually final 110yds

10/1

OUR TIP
5th
2 (6)
Thursday

100/1

Form: 00

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 11lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Huge prices and finished a well-beaten last in both starts over 7f on the AW.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(10)

1st Jul 2026

Good

1m 4f 6y

Class 6

19:32 Epsom

Thursday

9st 11lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Simon Dow

Dual winner (11.5f and 1m2f) who was placed in a couple of 1m2f handicaps here in 2024; the wheels have come off subsequently, however, and three starts this year promised little.

25/1

8th

5

(10)

15th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

14:20 Chepstow

Thursday

10st 12lb

J: Mr Guy Mitchell

T: Simon Dow

Finished last in two runs back having missed a little over a year; handicapper proving slow to relent and first-time headgear will need to make a difference.

20/1

13th

11

(8)

11th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

17:12 Windsor

Thursday

10st 1lb

J: Mr Guy Mitchell

T: Simon Dow

Won twice on fast ground in the summer of 2024, including at this track (extended 1m3f); she hasn't stood much racing since, seen just four times since September 2024, and there are major question marks over how much of that old ability she retains.

25/1

40/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 8st 10lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
1,500gns yearling; half-sister to 7f/9.5f winner Final Credit (including Italy); dam US 8.5f dirt/1m1f turf winner, half-sister to Canadian 1m1f/1m3f Grade 3 winner Raylene out of half-sister to 6f/1m Group 1 winner Ad Valorem; best watched unless market suggests otherwise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

13

(9)

22nd May 2024

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Five Threes

8st 9lb

J: Trevor Whelan

T: Adam West

125-1 and hasn't offered a huge amount in two turf runs this spring.

100/1

10th

13

(9)

22nd May 2024

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Five Threes

8st 9lb

J: Trevor Whelan

T: Adam West

125-1 and hasn't offered a huge amount in two turf runs this spring.

100/1

7th

7

(9)

9th May 2024

Soft

0m 6f 210y

Class 4

14:48 Brighton

Five Threes

9st 0lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Adam West

slowly away, held up in rear, hung left over 1f out, no impression

33/1

Form: 09

Last run: 13 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Easy winner on hurdling debut in January, but didn't build on it and failed to beat a rival in two starts when switched to the Flat at Kempton (1m, AW) this month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

20th Jul 2024

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 4

16:25 Market Rasen

Hill Spirit

11st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Paula Smith

Won against own age-group for Archie Watson on hurdle debut in January but his next two runs were underwhelming and his subsequent Flat record is very mixed; recently changed hands for 10,000gns; not the percentage call on this stable debut.

14/1

6th

7

(7)

13th Jun 2024

Soft

1m 6f 17y

Class 6

15:00 Yarmouth

Hill Spirit

9st 1lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Archie Watson

prominent, headed 3f out, weakened inside final furlong

7/2

2nd

10

(5)

6th Jun 2024

Standard

1m 6f 0y

Class 6

18:15 Chelmsford (AW)

Hill Spirit

9st 3lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Archie Watson

A fair 2m hurdles winner but he's yet to show that form in this sphere, tried in cheekpieces when beating only one in 11.5f Bath handicap 22 days ago; this longer trip promises to suit but others still appeal more.

9/1

Form: 79

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Sent off just 7-2 when in midfield on his debut for Johnny Murtagh at Dundalk (1m, AW) in January, but having been gelded he beat only one home on his first start for this yard at Kempton (1m, AW; 66-1) this month; stable also runs Dwynwen.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(8)

16th Feb 2025

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

16:52 Lingfield (AW)

Card Shark

9st 9lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Jim Boyle

in touch with leaders

11/2

3rd

2

(12)

15th Jan 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

18:30 Kempton (AW)

Card Shark

9st 9lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Jim Boyle

Soundly beaten in two completions for this yard; can only watch on handicap debut back from 243 days off.

25/1

3rd

2

(12)

15th Jan 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

18:30 Kempton (AW)

Card Shark

9st 9lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Jim Boyle

Soundly beaten in two completions for this yard; can only watch on handicap debut back from 243 days off.

25/1

Form: 82-

Last run: 240 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Improved from his Ascot debut last July when second of eight at Goodwood (1m, soft) the following month, albeit over 4l behind the winner; returns from eight months off, having been gelded, and needs to progress again but the stable has won three of the last five runnings of this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

14th Jul 2026

Good

2m 5f 185y

16:12 Downpatrick

Playtime

11st 12lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Leopardstown maiden hurdle winner (2m, soft) in March and runner-up to the smart Switch From Diesel in a novice two runs back; only seventh in a handicap since then but was beaten far; every chance on these terms.

7/4

7th

16

4th Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 40y

18:18 Bellewstown

Playtime

11st 4lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Good winner of a Leopardstown maiden hurdle (2m, soft) in March; handicap form is less persuasive, though the form of a Tramore third was boosted by Eastmore here on Thursday.

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £21.70
Straight Forecast £14.33
Trifecta £26.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Involvement

RP RATINGS:

Midair

LAMBOURN:

Into Battle

Telegraph:

Into Battle

NEWMARKET:

Involvement

The Times:

Involvement

The Guardian:

Involvement

Daily Mail:

Involvement

The Sun:

Involvement

POSTDATA:

Midair

D Express:

Midair

Daily Mirror:

Midair

The Star:

Midair

Daily Record:

Midair