May 18 / 16.57 Doncaster

16.57

Good

Proudly Supporting Mental Health Awareness Week Apprentice Handicap

  • Prize money: £4396.56
  • 1m 3f 197y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
Proudly Supporting Mental Health Awareness Week Apprentice Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 0601- D

Last run: 233 days

W: 9st 1lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 60

Form & Verdict
Good pedigree and he improved for the step up to 1m4f when leading close home on handicap debut at Pontefract (good to soft; first-time cheekpieces, retained) in September; up just 2lb in a less competitive race; improver who needs a solid pace on this less testing track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

23rd Aug 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:38 Worcester

Baltic

11st 4lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

A fairly useful 1m4f Flat winner for Harry Charlton in 2024; not so good in that sphere for his current yard and came in last of six in 1m6f Newmarket handicap 15 days ago; hurdle debut.

16/1

6th

3

(6)

8th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

17:23 Newmarket (July)

Baltic

10st 1lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: Lucy Wadham

Won five in a row at around 1m4f on turf/AW for the Charltons between September 2023 and July 2024; suffered heavy defeats on first three starts back from an absence for new yard and latest second of three at Yarmouth (1m6f, good to firm) in this headgear combination was no big step back in the right direction as he was beaten 8l.

11/1

2nd

3

(2)

28th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 17y

Class 5

14:35 Yarmouth

Baltic

9st 4lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Lucy Wadham

Won five in a row at around 1m4f on turf/AW for the Charltons between September 2023 and July 2024, but has suffered heavy defeats in all three starts since returning for this yard in May; new headgear combination will need to make a big difference.

7/1

100/30

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 95-681 D

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Two turf wins in 2023 (1m3f, good to firm; 1m2f, heavy); went off the boil in the autumn and disconcerting that he trailed home in his first two runs this year but he found plenty for a convincing AW win at Kempton (1m4f) ten days ago and this surface can suit back on grass.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

(12)

31st Aug 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

15:35 Epsom

Damascus Steel

11st 3lb

J: Mr Fletcher Yarham

T: Gihan Arnolda

2-4 for new stable, winning at Goodwood (1m4f, good; cheekpieces first time) before getting the better Epictetus over C&D last month; came unstuck at York in his hat-trick bid and this looks a competitive race in which to get back on track.

20/1

8th

8

(3)

25th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 188y

Class 3

16:17 York

Damascus Steel

9st 1lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Gihan Arnolda

Represents a new trainer in excellent form and has won at Goodwood (1m4f, good) and Epsom (1m4f, good to firm) on his last two outings, proving himself better than ever; edging up the weights only gradually and in the mix again.

10/1

1st

4

(8)

16th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

19:30 Epsom

Damascus Steel

10st 6lb

J: Miss Becky Smith

T: Gihan Arnolda

Did well on AW last winter and even better form when the cheekpieces replaced a visor at Goodwood (1m4f, good) four weeks ago, leading over 1f out to score with rather more authority than the half-length winning margin suggests; used to act on good to firm; up 3lb but firmly in the picture.

5/1

16/1

  • Place: £3.70

Form: 25766-

Last run: 289 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Minor hurdle form in four attempts over the winter, despite finishing in the frame each time; however he won three times at up to 1m2f in France and is better handicapped than when first starting out for this yard last summer; may still need more weight off his back, though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

18th Jul 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

18:45 Worcester

Mandega

10st 10lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Micky Hammond

Fair Flat-racer who has made the frame on all five hurdling starts, most recently when close third at Cartmel (2m1f, soft) in May; that form isn't anything out of the ordinary but, nevertheless, he has each-way claims again.

4/1

7th

5

(2)

27th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

14:10 Nottingham

Mandega

9st 10lb

J: Dominique Van Der Kraats

T: Micky Hammond

Ran creditably last month at Doncaster (1m4f) and Cartmel (2m1f novice hurdle); not far away on that evidence but others are preferred for the win.

11/2

Form: 8770-3

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 61

Form & Verdict
Often leads; low-key season after winning on second start after a break, at Pontefract (1m2f, good) last May, but now 8lb lower and he made a perfectly respectable return behind The Dancing Poet at Musselburgh 15 days ago; might find others seeing out the trip that bit better though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(5)

31st Oct 2024

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 6

19:45 Southwell (AW)

Masque Of Anarchy

9st 8lb

J: Matthew Lloyd Slater

T: Craig Lidster

led, headed over 3f out, weakened over 1f out

8/1

6th

4

(5)

31st Oct 2024

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 6

19:45 Southwell (AW)

Masque Of Anarchy

9st 8lb

J: Matthew Lloyd Slater

T: Craig Lidster

led, headed over 3f out, weakened over 1f out

8/1

2nd

1

(7)

24th Sep 2024

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 6

16:45 Newcastle (AW)

Masque Of Anarchy

9st 11lb

J: Matthew Lloyd Slater

T: Craig Lidster

Two-time C&D winner; near miss at Beverley in July (1m2f, good to firm) and he ran to a similar level at Ripon last month (1m3f, good); caught wide when underperforming at Pontefract last week; dangerous at this level in an uncompetitive race; jockey having first ride as an apprentice (0-5 as an amateur).

9/4

OUR TIP

Form: 437-81 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
Multiple winner, the last six over 1m4f on a variety of ground and most recently when things fell right for him at Musselburgh (good; cheekpieces refitted for the first time since August); back up 3lb but he's run well here in the past; on the premises.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

(3)

30th May 2025

Good To Soft

1m 3f 175y

Class 5

17:30 Haydock

The Dancing Poet

11st 2lb

J: Mr Matt Brown

T: Brian Ellison

The last three of his ten wins were last May-September (two over 1m4f then one at 1m6f) and he's 6-18 at Catterick, unraced here since two placed efforts in 2020; well beaten at three other tracks this term but he's now back to his last winning mark.

14/1

9th

2

(3)

30th May 2025

Good To Soft

1m 3f 175y

Class 5

17:30 Haydock

The Dancing Poet

11st 2lb

J: Mr Matt Brown

T: Brian Ellison

The last three of his ten wins were last May-September (two over 1m4f then one at 1m6f) and he's 6-18 at Catterick, unraced here since two placed efforts in 2020; well beaten at three other tracks this term but he's now back to his last winning mark.

14/1

8/1

Form: 063

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Classy pedigree, out of dual Group 1 winner; looked promising when winning two good-ground bumpers last May and June and although he hasn't featured in 1m4f events on AW and turf there's every chance he'll find his level in handicaps; considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(9)

16th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 6

20:00 Southwell (AW)

Mr Zippi

9st 9lb

J: Harrison Shaw

T: Sara Ender

Dual bumper winner and looks capable of winning on the Flat, coming from further back than the winner when second over 1m4f here in April; should be sharper for a recent comeback run at Newcastle and enters calculations.

8/1

1

(14)

28th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

15:20 Newcastle (AW)

Mr Zippi

9st 9lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: Sara Ender

Dual bumper winner and looks capable of winning on the Flat; came from further back than the winner when second at Southwell in April (1m4f); can go well fresh.

10/1

2nd

3

(13)

30th Apr 2025

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 6

18:10 Southwell (AW)

Mr Zippi

9st 8lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: Sara Ender

Dual bumper winner; close fourth over C&D in December but four lesser runs have followed, the latest in first-time cheekpieces.

10/1

Form: 4514-0 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
Record of 1-25 is offputting but he has quite a solid record over 1m4f in the last two years, including over C&D, and his AW win in October was convincing; had just two 1m2f runs since and not ruled out back at 1m4f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

(6)

22nd Nov 2024

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

15:39 Newcastle (AW)

Oriental Art

9st 10lb

J: Luke Morris

T: David Simcock

Chased home an improver at Wolverhampton (1m4f, Tapeta) 11 days ago and races off the same mark, but a record of 1-32 makes him hard to warm to.

6/1

2nd

7

(6)

22nd Nov 2024

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

15:39 Newcastle (AW)

Oriental Art

9st 10lb

J: Luke Morris

T: David Simcock

Chased home an improver at Wolverhampton (1m4f, Tapeta) 11 days ago and races off the same mark, but a record of 1-32 makes him hard to warm to.

6/1

2nd

6

(8)

11th Nov 2024

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

18:45 Wolverhampton (AW)

Oriental Art

9st 9lb

J: Hayley Turner

T: David Simcock

Placed a few times at up to 1m6f this term but form dipped the last twice; has a poor strike-rate (1-31) and is likely set for minor honours even if back on song.

14/1

Form: 494451 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 8st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 54

Form & Verdict
The wins don't come around too often but he had a mark in the 70s this time last year and he took advantage at Yarmouth (1m3f, good) 14 days ago; back up just 2lb; this asks for more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

7

(2)

17th Oct 2024

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 6

20:30 Southwell (AW)

Total Lockdown

9st 6lb

J: Christian Howarth

T: Alice Haynes

midfield

16/1

6th

2

(10)

8th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

1m 3f 198y

Class 6

15:40 Brighton

Total Lockdown

9st 7lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Alice Haynes

towards rear

8/1

5th

3

(13)

16th Sep 2024

Good

1m 4f 8y

Class 6

13:45 Thirsk

Total Lockdown

9st 10lb

J: Christian Howarth

T: Alice Haynes

Ex-Martin Dunne, winning for him at Yarmouth in May (11.5f, good); missed the break and pulled too hard on stable debut at Windsor last time (11.4f, good to firm; first run after a break); should be better for that run

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.00
Straight Forecast £10.41
Tricast £91.69
Trifecta £87.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Baltic

RP RATINGS:

Damascus Steel

Telegraph:

Mr Zippi

POSTDATA:

The Dancing Poet

Daily Mail:

Mr Zippi

The Times:

Baltic

The Guardian:

Baltic

Daily Mirror:

Baltic

The Star:

Baltic

Daily Record:

Baltic

NEWMARKET:

Damascus Steel

D Express:

Damascus Steel