May 09 / 14.35 Chester

14.35

Good

Halliwell Jones Handicap

  • Prize money: £22932
  • 0m 7f 127y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
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Halliwell Jones Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

11/10 (Won)

  • Win: £2.00
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 22-1

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Very strong form last summer, finishing second in two races won by subsequent Group 1 scorers; comfortably went one better at Thirsk (7f, soft) on reappearance and should have plenty more to offer; opening mark looks very workable; highly respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

(4)

24th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Sandown

Never So Brave

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Did very well (3-5) last season for new stable, completing a notable summer hat-trick (7f/1m, good to firm) that culminated in Group 1 success at York; not disgraced from unfavourable draw in the QEII on final outing; may rate higher still and looks likely to go well.

13/2

6

(13)

18th Oct 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:25 Ascot

Never So Brave

9st 6lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Won 7f handicap (good to firm) at the Royal meeting here and followed up in the Group 2 Summer Mile on the round course here (good to firm), before landing the hat-trick in the Group 1 City Of York Stakes (7f, good to firm); they finished in a heap at York and a bigger performance is needed in this hotter Group 1, but he's highly progressive and warrants respect.

13/2

16/1

  • Place: £6.00

Form: 6322-5 C

Last run: 33 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Only about 4l behind Notable Speech (subsequent 2,000 Guineas winner) in AW contest on seasonal debut; showed useful form on turf as a 2yo and now returns to the scene of his debut win; could go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

(19)

18th Oct 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

Witness Stand

9st 4lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Better than ever this year, winning Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood (7f, good) in July and running just as well when second in Group 2 Hungerford at Newbury (7f, good to firm; strong form) in August; drawn wide when down the field in the Foret at Longchamp, and may well bounce back, with this drop back to 6f unlikely to inconvenience him; possibilities.

20/1

2nd

1

(2)

16th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newbury

Witness Stand

9st 11lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Can front-run; his form took off once the cheekpieces went on over 7f last season, including for wins on good to firm and on soft, the latter in a Listed race at this track; reached even greater heights with his Group 2 win at Goodwood (7f, good) 18 days ago, challenging over 2f out to score at 25-1; there was an element of having the run of the race that day and he's now penalised, but the win was clearcut and he needs respect.

9/2

Form: P211-2

Last run: 20 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Scored twice over 1m on AW in December; good second in Newbury handicap (7f, good to soft; off 2lb lower) on reappearance, showing that he's just as effective on turf; open to further improvement and holds solid-looking claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

12

(13)

2nd May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 218y

Class 2

14:40 Thirsk

Dashing Darcey

8st 13lb

J: Oisin McSweeney

T: Geoffrey Harker

Just second outing for Geoff Harker when runner-up off 1lb higher at Haydock (1m, good) last May but never involved when dropped to 7f at York the following month and not seen since (gelded); this is a tough race to return in.

14/1

12th

4

(13)

14th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

13:50 York

Dashing Darcey

9st 13lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Geoffrey Harker

Just second outing for current yard when adding to his good Haydock record with a closing second over 1m three weeks ago; slight doubts as to whether the drop back to 7f will be ideal but his mark is definitely workable.

11/2

2nd

7

(14)

24th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 37y

Class 3

13:15 Haydock

Dashing Darcey

9st 5lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Geoffrey Harker

Won over C&D (good) for Roger Varian last summer and another fine effort over C&D when second on soft in the autumn; changed hands for 110,000gns after final 3yo start; never involved in the Lincoln at Doncaster on reappearance for new yard but he did meet trouble in running; stall 14 could make life tricky.

8/1

Form: 851-33 BF

Last run: 92 days

W: 8st 11lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Has shown fairly useful form on AW, winning twice as a 2yo and creditable third in both runs this year; however, faces a stiffer task in this grade returned to turf and back from three-month break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

(9)

27th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:25 Kempton (AW)

Gunfighter

9st 13lb

J: Liam Wright

T: John Butler

Dual winner for Hugo Palmer (6f/7f); third the best he managed for Robert Eddery; failed to see out 1m in two previous attempts so looks best watched on debut for John Butler, who runs two others, back from 292 days off.

20/1

13th

12

(3)

8th Aug 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

19:05 Newmarket (July)

Gunfighter

9st 6lb

J: David Egan

T: Robert Eddery

Two AW wins when trained by Hugo Palmer; he has found the handicapper in command since joining this stable and although his penultimate third at Yarmouth was better, he doesn't look the obvious answer here; stable also run Spring Bloom.

33/1

5

(4)

25th Jul 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

16:10 Ascot

Gunfighter

9st 7lb

J: David Probert

T: Robert Eddery

Not totally solid on his form for current yard but has possibilities off current mark provided latest effort (third at Yarmouth) is backed up; well treated on peak figures.

14/1

Form: 630-21

Last run: 36 days

W: 8st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Progressive results on AW, most recently winning a Kempton maiden (7f) by narrow margin; hit with a 4lb rise in his mark and has something to prove in this useful handicap back on turf.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

(4)

15th Oct 2024

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 4

16:58 Newcastle (AW)

Celtic Warrior

9st 10lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Heavy ground the likely reason for his modest effort at Chester (1m2f) last month, but was only been beaten a neck over the same trip at Epsom (good) the time before; record on the AW reads 321 and stable 31-131 (24%) here in past five seasons; respected.

11/2

4th

2

(7)

13th Sep 2024

Soft

1m 2f 70y

Class 4

17:40 Chester

Celtic Warrior

9st 11lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Andrew Balding

prominent, ridden 4f out, lost position 3f out, weakened 1f out

9/4

4/1

Form: 2083-1

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Gelded prior to his 8l romp in Wolverhampton novice event (8.5f, AW) on seasonal debut; could well build on that success and show further progress; revised mark looks kind if the bare result is taken literally; one for the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(1)

25th Oct 2025

Heavy

1m 2f 43y

Class 2

16:25 Doncaster

Grey Cuban

10st 2lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Hugo Palmer

Front-runner who defied top weight at York (1m2f, good) a fortnight ago and won over this C&D (good to soft) last September; has run some good races on soft ground in the past; he's just 2lb higher than last time and can produce another bold show.

5/1

1

(9)

11th Oct 2025

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 2

14:05 York

Grey Cuban

9st 9lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Hugo Palmer

Front-runner who won at Chester (1m2f, good) in July and returned to form when third of five in Listed race there (1m4f, good to soft) last month; he's saved his best for Chester this season but has shown promise at York in the past and the drop back in trip is a likely plus; can make a bold bid.

20/1

3

(1)

13th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 1

14:05 Chester

Grey Cuban

9st 5lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Hugo Palmer

This course rather dominates his turf record, most notably with a big career best to win 1m2f handicap in July in good style from the front; the scale of his defeats at other tracks on his last two outings is a concern and although better seems likely on this return to Chester, stamina is in doubt.

14/1

16/1

Form: 5-1221

Last run: 12 days

W: 8st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Solid record switched to AW this year, most recently winning at Wolverhampton (8.5f Class 5); however, faces a much tougher assignment upped three grades and returned to turf; 2lb out of weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(14)

11th Oct 2024

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

19:45 Kempton (AW)

Havanarama

9st 11lb

J: Brandon Wilkie

T: Hugo Palmer

in rear

10/1

9

(1)

21st Sep 2024

Good To Soft

1m 2f 70y

Class 4

17:20 Chester

Havanarama

9st 0lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Hugo Palmer

prominent early, in touch with leaders after 1f, weakened over 2f out

11/2

6th

8

(2)

10th Sep 2024

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

19:30 Newcastle (AW)

Havanarama

9st 6lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Hugo Palmer

Steady progression in handicaps this year but he's had plenty of racing now and the handicapper knows where he is; no obvious reason he won't go well again for his in-form yard but is vulnerable to improvers.

6/1

Non-runners

Nellie Leylax, Brunel Nation

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £17.50
Straight Forecast £24.49
Tricast £83.85
Trifecta £73.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Never So Brave

The Times:

Dashing Darcey

POSTDATA:

Celtic Warrior

The Star:

Grey Cuban

Daily Record:

Dashing Darcey

RP RATINGS:

Never So Brave

TOPSPEED:

Never So Brave

NEWMARKET:

Never So Brave

Telegraph:

Never So Brave

The Guardian:

Never So Brave

D Express:

Never So Brave

Daily Mirror:

Never So Brave

The Sun:

Never So Brave

Daily Mail:

Celtic Warrior