May 08 / 14.35 Chester

14.35

Good

tote.co.uk Saddle-Up For More Than Racing Handicap

  • Prize money: £15288
  • 0m 5f 15y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
ITV4
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tote.co.uk Saddle-Up For More Than Racing Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £12.00
  • Place: £2.80

Form: 2831-2 BF

Last run: 35 days

W: 8st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Record of 2312 on ground softer than good, most recently second at Catterick (6f) on stable/seasonal debut; place possibilities off same mark, especially granted another slow surface.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

(6)

25th Jul 2026

Good

0m 5f 15y

Class 5

17:33 Chester

Knicks

9st 6lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Michael & David Easterby

8lb lower than when beaten a head in a division of this last year; missed the kick here two weeks ago but nothing finished better and he looks ready to win again.

6/1

2nd

13

(8)

11th Jul 2026

Good

0m 5f 15y

Class 5

14:10 Chester

Knicks

9st 1lb

J: Laura Pearson

T: Michael & David Easterby

Went close in a C&D handicap last July when rated 8lb higher; he has run some fair races in defeat this summer and shouldn't be too far away.

5/1

4th

5

(5)

29th Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

16:30 Pontefract

Knicks

9st 8lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

Latest effort suggests he remains in form; still on a long losing sequence but looked an unlucky third, having been forced to switch, over C&D on penultimate start; possibilities off same mark.

5/1

4/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 45-311 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Made all at Ripon (6f, heavy; won easily) and Catterick (5f, soft; comfortably defied a penalty) the last twice, taking record since handicapping to 2-3; improving sharply and may well cope with new mark; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

(10)

26th Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

16:15 Catterick

Vince LAmour

9st 0lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Soft-ground C&D winner in 2024; finished down the field in the Silver Cup at Ripon (6f, good) 11 days ago but he ran well at Thirsk (5f, good) the time before and should be happier back at 5f; others preferred, however.

16/1

15th

17

(4)

15th Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

14:55 Ripon

Vince LAmour

9st 4lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

5f win here off 2lb higher in May; quiet afterwards until reviving with a second of six at Thirsk last week; has a C&D win on his record but rarely seen over 6f in recent times.

16/1

2nd

4

(6)

7th Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

15:40 Thirsk

Vince LAmour

9st 7lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Recorded his fifth turf win when scoring at Ripon (5f, good) in May but he's struggled since and has failed to beat a rival in his last three starts; now 3lb lower than for his last success but he needs a big turnaround.

16/1

8/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 11247- D

Last run: 191 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Went very close off this mark over C&D (good to soft) last September when bidding to go 3-3; regressed in two subsequent runs but looks interesting back here, from a good draw, on reappearance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

(7)

28th Dec 2024

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

18:30 Newcastle (AW)

Due For Luck

9st 9lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

Well treated on this year's best and his penultimate effort suggested he was still in good order; latest Chelmsford run was disappointing though and he'll need the new hood to have a positive effect; drops in class.

14/1

9th

2

(7)

28th Dec 2024

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

18:30 Newcastle (AW)

Due For Luck

9st 9lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

Well treated on this year's best and his penultimate effort suggested he was still in good order; latest Chelmsford run was disappointing though and he'll need the new hood to have a positive effect; drops in class.

14/1

9

27th Dec 2024

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 4

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Due For Luck

8st 13lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

7/1

Form: 33431- D

Last run: 145 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Absent since winning nicely at Southwell (5f, AW; off 7lb lower) five months ago on second start for new yard; may improve further, provided he gets the breaks (held up in rear the last twice).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(1)

25th Oct 2025

Heavy

0m 5f 3y

Class 2

13:30 Doncaster

Blue Storm

9st 7lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Gemma Tutty

Had some useful form last year, including on soft, but he has yet to find his best in three runs in a truncated 2025 campaign; 9lb lower than when midfield in this race last year; others look safer.

12/1

4

(2)

11th Oct 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:15 York

Blue Storm

9st 7lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Gemma Tutty

Progressive last season when his two successes included the 3yo Dash on Derby day; missed the first half of this season and might have needed his first two runs back, never-dangerous fourth of ten at Haydock on latest; raced only at 5f but may now be ready for this step up in distance; still relatively low mileage and not ruled out.

20/1

1

(7)

27th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

14:05 Haydock

Blue Storm

9st 12lb

J: Sam James

T: Gemma Tutty

Progressive for Gemma Tutty last season, winning the 3yo Dash on Derby day and posting a personal best when beating nine rivals in this contest (just 1lb higher today) 12 months ago; weak in the market and might have needed the run after over ten months off when only sixth of eight here on reappearance; big player if building on that.

7/1

Form: 262-21 D

Last run: 46 days

W: 8st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Runner-up three times prior to going one better in Wolverhampton maiden (5f, AW) in March, comfortably beating a dual subsequent scorer; open to further improvement and holds strong claims from the plum draw on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(5)

1st Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

16:55 Thirsk

Kings Merchant

9st 12lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Philip Kirby

2-6 over C&D; ended a 17-race losing run at Chester (7f, good) last month and only beaten just over 2l into fourth of eight at Catterick (7f, good to firm) ten days ago; shouldn't have an issue with the return to this trip and shortlisted.

7/2

4th

3

(7)

22nd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 6y

Class 6

15:10 Catterick

Kings Merchant

9st 13lb

J: Dale Swift

T: Philip Kirby

Won his first race since September 2024 when scoring at Chester last time (7f, good; third run in cheekpieces, runner-up third there the next day); up 3lb; goes well on fast ground; a possible.

11/4

1st

5

(7)

10th Jul 2026

Good

0m 7f 1y

Class 5

20:50 Chester

Kings Merchant

9st 9lb

J: Dale Swift

T: Philip Kirby

Gained all four wins over sprint trips, the latest in September 2024; ran quite well over 7f at Catterick (good) in May, though, and nearly exploited this career-low mark at Doncaster (6f, good to firm; second run in cheekpieces) a week ago; due to go back up 3lb; must be considered.

11/4

Form: -21224 D

Last run: 5 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Form dipped a tad last week but is normally very consistent (on AW/turf) and could well rebound; close second at Thirsk (5f, soft) the time before; nicely drawn and has possibilities in first-time headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

12

(7)

4th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:47 Haydock

Moonstone Boy

9st 3lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Jennie Candlish

He has no problem with soft ground but hasn't scored since last May and there were diminishing returns in four starts for this yard earlier in the year; career-low mark, however, and maybe a 147-day break will have chalked his cue; watch the market.

20/1

8th

4

(1)

10th Apr 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

18:10 Thirsk

Moonstone Boy

9st 12lb

J: Luke Catton

T: Jennie Candlish

Four wins over 5f for Iain Jardine, but unplaced in three starts on the AW since returning for this yard in January; 8lb below last winning mark, but drying ground and return to 6f pose questions; cheekpieces return.

12/1

7th

2

(12)

5th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

19:30 Newcastle (AW)

Moonstone Boy

9st 9lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Jennie Candlish

A fair 5f scorer for Iain Jardine; shaped encouragingly for his new yard when fourth at Southwell (5f) in January but raced too freely over 6f when seventh at Wolverhampton since; can bounce back here.

16/1

Form: 18 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 8st 11lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Newcastle debut success (5f, AW) came at the expense of Kings Merchant; dropped away in closing stages at Pontefract (6f, heavy) since but may fare better returned to the minimum trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

(6)

1st Jun 2024

Good To Soft

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

16:45 Musselburgh

Dandy Devil

9st 1lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard Fahey

dwelt start, hampered soon after start, in rear, detached after 1f

9/1

7th

9

(5)

8th May 2024

Good

0m 5f 15y

Class 3

14:35 Chester

Dandy Devil

8st 11lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Richard Fahey

in rear, some headway against far rail inside final furlong

12/1

7th

9

(5)

8th May 2024

Good

0m 5f 15y

Class 3

14:35 Chester

Dandy Devil

8st 11lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Richard Fahey

in rear, some headway against far rail inside final furlong

12/1

Form: 2419-5 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Scored twice during a largely consistent 2yo campaign; seemed to need his Thirsk reappearance run; however, looks more exposed than many of these rivals and has a difficult draw.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

(10)

8th Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

18:00 Ayr

Midnight Lir

9st 8lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Michael Dods

Without a win since his 2yo days; he has run some sound races in Class 6 handicaps this year but needs to pull out more for the win; stable also runs Keep The Gold.

10/1

4th

1

(3)

24th Jul 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

17:27 Thirsk

Midnight Lir

9st 12lb

J: Shay Farmer

T: Michael Dods

Some creditable efforts season including when fourth of ten over C&D (good) on his penultimate run; that form puts him in the picture but overall record is now 2-31 and his last win was in 2023.

7/1

4th

7

(1)

5th Jul 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

14:11 Ayr

Midnight Lir

10st 7lb

J: Mr Matt Brown

T: Michael Dods

It's now 21 starts since his last success but he comes here in good form, fourth of ten in 5f Thirsk handicap 19 days ago; well in the mix.

5/1

Non-runners

Ziggys Missile, Indicate, Rainyniteingeorgia, Enchanting

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £73.90
Straight Forecast £78.82
Tricast £305.70
Trifecta £390.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Kings Merchant

RP RATINGS:

Vince L'Amour

Daily Mail:

Due For Luck

NEWMARKET:

Rainyniteingeorgia

The Guardian:

Blue Storm

POSTDATA:

Kings Merchant

The Times:

Kings Merchant

Telegraph:

Kings Merchant

Daily Mirror:

Kings Merchant

The Sun:

Kings Merchant

Daily Record:

Kings Merchant

The Star:

Due For Luck

TOPSPEED:

Vince L'Amour

D Express:

Vince L'Amour