April 28 / 16.05 Wetherby

16.05

Soft

Vickers.Bet Proudly Supporting British Racing Handicap

  • Prize money: £6359.3
  • 0m 5f 110y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
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Vickers.Bet Proudly Supporting British Racing Handicap

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.00
  • Place: £1.10

Form: -36522 BF

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Pretty consistent on AW since the autumn and clear second twice on heavy ground since returned to turf this month (5f/6f); has to take a recent 4lb rise on the chin but ought to be right in the thick of things again; blinkers (used occasionally in recent years) are refitted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(11)

27th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

14:50 Ripon

Illusionist

9st 6lb

J: Oliver Stammers

T: Grant Tuer

Hold-up sprinter; just one win to his name since May 2022; shaped with some promise at Haydock three weeks ago (after a break) and he's on a fair mark; effective at the track.

12/1

78

19th Sep 2025

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:40 Ayr

Illusionist

8st 13lb

J: Oliver Stammers

T: Grant Tuer

6

(4)

5th Sep 2025

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:15 Haydock

Illusionist

9st 7lb

J: Oliver Stammers

T: Grant Tuer

Below par on both runs this term but didn't perform badly at Hamilton in May last time on good going that may not have been ideal; now 2lb lower than when winning at Wetherby (soft) last year and the more rain the better.

16/1

5/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 63444-

Last run: 183 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Ended last season in good form, making the frame in four consecutive valuable 5f handicaps (good to soft-heavy); resumes on a workable mark and ran well on last year's reappearance outing; high on the list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

(7)

17th Oct 2026

Good

0m 5f 212y

Class 4

14:45 Catterick

Manila Scouse

9st 6lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

Course winner as 2yo; useful type who is 2lb lower than for his Ayr win (6f, good) in July but he hasn't been in the same form of late and it's hard to argue that a return to form is imminent.

16/1

6th

8

(4)

11th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 5f 15y

Class 3

15:17 Chester

Manila Scouse

8st 12lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Only 2lb higher than when beating 16 rivals in a 6f handicap at Ayr in July; struggled since but the ability is there if this is a going day.

12/1

12th

13

(10)

28th Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

16:00 Thirsk

Manila Scouse

9st 7lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Back to winning ways at Ayr (6f) in July but well below par both runs since and he failed to beat a rival in Great St Wilfrid at Ripon last time; needs to take a major step forward.

33/1

14/1

Form: 173-69

Last run: 11 days

W: 8st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Made satisfactory seasonal/stable debut when midfield at Southwell (6f, AW) and should also be suited by today's trip-and-ground combination, but he spoiled his chance by refused to settle at Kempton recently.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

(1)

29th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

15:10 Carlisle

Digital

9st 6lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Four-time turf winner who won off today's mark at Newcastle (5f, AW) in February; however, he's finished down the field on his last four starts and a major turnaround is necessary.

12/1

11th

3

(13)

3rd May 2026

Good

0m 5f 7y

Class 6

17:00 Hamilton

Digital

9st 9lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Won three 5f AW handicaps through the winter but his last three efforts were nothing to shout about; capable on turf but needs to turn a corner.

14/1

9th

10

(6)

2nd Apr 2026

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 4

17:48 Southwell (AW)

Digital

8st 9lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Ruth Carr

In good form for much of the winter, winning three 5f handicaps, but his form has cooled on his last two starts; others look stronger in this grade.

25/1

12/1

Form: 15915-

Last run: 173 days

W: 8st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Won three times over 5f (good-soft) last season and will be fine over today's slightly longer trip but he will need to resume in peak form to have any chance off current mark; swaps blinkers for refitted cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(2)

30th Sep 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

17:55 Catterick

Albegone

11st 2lb

J: Mr Thomas Easterby

T: Tim Easterby

In-form 8yo who can boast four wins and four seconds from 13 starts here; nailed Jojo Rabbit in the final stride at Pontefract (5f, good) on Thursday; goes unpenalised for that success and must be considered.

9/4

1st

1

(5)

24th Sep 2026

Good

0m 5f 3y

Class 6

13:32 Pontefract

Albegone

9st 9lb

J: Jake Dickson

T: Tim Easterby

Won at Musselburgh (5f, good) last month before close second at Carlisle (5f, good), and he suffered a troubled passage when 3l ninth of 13 at Redcar (5f, good) last Tuesday; this in-form 8yo is high on the list.

2/1

9th

11

(3)

15th Sep 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

16:54 Redcar

Albegone

9st 5lb

J: Jake Dickson

T: Tim Easterby

Finally back to winning ways at Musselburgh (5f) in August and followed it up with a good neck second of 12 in 5f Carlisle handicap six days ago; not taken lightly in his current mood.

9/2

14/1

Form: 19495-

Last run: 195 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Won comfortably off a much reduced mark at Brighton (6f, good) for Stuart Williams in September but was sold out of that stable for 15,000gns after some underwhelming efforts in the autumn; has no ground worries on this stable debut but others have more persuasive profiles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

13

(4)

2nd Oct 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

13:50 Ascot

Tolstoy

10st 12lb

J: Mr Matt Brown

T: Brian Ellison

His win in the Leger Legends 0-70 classified event at Doncaster (1m, good) three weeks ago came a little out of the blue but the form has worked out, with the second and fourth winning since; only nudged up 1lb and has won back to back before; considered.

8/1

1st

10

(12)

11th Sep 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

13:50 Doncaster

Tolstoy

11st 7lb

J: Niall P Madden

T: Brian Ellison

Fairly useful on his day and this assignment is a drop in class; however, has a doubt over current form, having posted duck eggs in last three appearances; revival is required.

20/1

17th

15

(12)

15th Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

14:55 Ripon

Tolstoy

9st 4lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Brian Ellison

Low-key return to turf at York (6f, good to firm) three weeks ago; should be well treated but he comes with risks attached.

25/1

20/1

Form: 55139-

Last run: 303 days

W: 8st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Held on gamely to win for Tim Easterby at Thirsk (6f, good to firm; also suited by soft) last June but signed off for that stable with a lesser effort ten months ago and has fitness to prove on debut for Derek Shaw.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

10

(3)

2nd Jun 2026

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

19:45 Newcastle (AW)

Barneys Bay

9st 1lb

J: Faye McManoman

T: Derek Shaw

1-34 on the AW, that win coming over 6f at Southwell in April 2021; rather out of sorts over 6f-1m this year and now tries 5f for the first time since May 2024.

33/1

11th

11

(9)

11th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

19:15 Southwell (AW)

Barneys Bay

9st 0lb

J: Faye McManoman

T: Derek Shaw

Without a victory since 2023 and he has yet to make the frame in seven starts in 2026; hard to warm to.

33/1

6th

9

(5)

23rd Mar 2026

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 6

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Barneys Bay

9st 0lb

J: Faye McManoman

T: Derek Shaw

Minor classified form at 1m, 7f and 6f this year and it's 13 months since he posed a serious threat in a handicap (over 7f at Southwell); up against it.

25/1

Non-runners

Mythical Phoenix, Mountain Warrior, Gemini Star, Exalted Angel

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.60
Straight Forecast £3.34
Tricast £8.64
Trifecta £9.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Illusionist

NEWMARKET:

Gemini Star

RP RATINGS:

Manila Scouse

POSTDATA:

Exalted Angel

The Sun:

Mythical Phoenix

The Times:

Gemini Star

TOPSPEED:

Manila Scouse

Telegraph:

Illusionist

Daily Mirror:

Illusionist

The Star:

Illusionist

Daily Record:

Illusionist

D Express:

Exalted Angel