June 08 / 14.25 Haydock

14.25

Good

Betfred ‘Play Fred’s £5 Million’ Handicap

  • Prize money: £25770
  • 1m 3f 175y
  • Class 2
  • 8 runners
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Betfred ‘Play Fred’s £5 Million’ Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £6.50
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 47-316 D BF

Last run: 22 days

W: 8st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Used to front-run but held up nowadays; some ups and downs in his ten-race profile, for instance winning easily at Doncaster (1m4f, good to soft; both wins have been there) early last month and meeting a heavy defeat off this 8lb higher mark at Newmarket (1m4f, good; unraced on firmer) 15 days later; he looks good on his day and Jamie Spencer rides him for the first time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(6)

26th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 2f 43y

Class 2

15:15 Doncaster

Iron Lion

9st 13lb

J: David Nolan

T: David O’Meara

4yo who has enjoyed a progressive season with three handicap wins (1m4f, good to soft/good; including here); won soft-ground novice over C&D last year; however, he's gone off the boil the last twice and has to bounce back.

20/1

6th

5

(7)

14th Sep 2024

Heavy

1m 4f 63y

Class 1

14:05 Chester

Iron Lion

9st 5lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: David O’Meara

held up in rear

14/1

19th

20

(19)

24th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 2

15:35 York

Iron Lion

8st 13lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: David O’Meara

Progress has not been smooth but he's scored this season over 1m4f at Doncaster, Haydock and Ripon; fair fifth of nine at Ayr (1m5f, sole run on good to firm) on penultimate start perhaps dents his prospects and he was well beaten last term on sole attempt at 1m6f; however, he's looked good for those three wins, better than the winning margin suggests on last two occasions.

16/1

7/2

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 31-283 D

Last run: 8 days

W: 8st 7lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Won twice over today's trip at Ripon last June (on good to firm first occasion); absent 311 days before this season, in which he's run well to be placed in two of his three starts, the latest when meeting some trouble in running at Doncaster eight days ago; one to take seriously.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(2)

9th Jun 2025

Good

1m 4f 5y

Class 4

18:20 Pontefract

Knightswood

9st 10lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Charlie Johnston

Ran as if something was amiss last time; in good form otherwise this term and looks capable of being involved; however, he's still seeking a first handicap success away from Ripon.

9/2

4

(3)

16th May 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 3

16:38 Newmarket

Knightswood

9st 0lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Charlie Johnston

Loves Ripon where he won again last month by a narrow margin; badly in under a penalty when a close third over 1m6f here 12 days ago and he's 2lb lower for this; can be relied upon to give his running and be seriously involved.

2/1

4

(3)

16th May 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 3

16:38 Newmarket

Knightswood

9st 0lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Charlie Johnston

Loves Ripon where he won again last month by a narrow margin; badly in under a penalty when a close third over 1m6f here 12 days ago and he's 2lb lower for this; can be relied upon to give his running and be seriously involved.

2/1

9/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 442-90 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 1lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Versatile tactically and on ground; won at Chester (1m4f, soft) last May on seasonal debut; rather a mixed record afterwards and he's returned from a gelding operation with two disappointing runs this term, the latest at Epsom last Saturday; on a good mark were he to return to his best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

14th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

13:58 Perth

Struth

11st 5lb

J: Gregor Walkingshaw

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Useful on the Flat in his prime but has yet to better fair form over hurdles, weakening into a well-held fifth on 2m2f Kelso handicap debut in this sphere 24 days ago; might have needed that after a break but he's still hard to make a good case for.

20/1

5th

3

20th Apr 2026

Good

2m 2f 25y

Class 5

16:00 Kelso

Struth

11st 8lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Showed only minor promise in three novice/maiden hurdles (1m7f-2m) last September-November but was useful on the Flat in his prime and may yet transfer more of that ability to this code; wears first-time tongue-tie for handicap hurdle debut; market may guide.

11/2

10th

5

24th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

14:33 Perth

Struth

11st 0lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Very useful on the Flat in his prime but has not been firing on all cylinders this year and made a low-key stable/hurdle debut when well-held fourth over C&D (good) 16 days ago; needs to take a big step forward today.

10/1

11/4

Form: 8112-3 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 8st 11lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Raced mainly on good/firmer; ended last season on the upgrade and reappeared with a good third of 11 at Goodwood (again 1m4f) 15 days ago; nudged up another 1lb but needs plenty of respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(3)

31st May 2025

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:15 York

Divina Grace

9st 5lb

J: David Probert

T: Andrew Balding

Took her form to a new level with a game success in Newbury Group 3 on stable/seasonal debut; not so good front-running in a four-runner Group 2 at Newmarket (also 1m4f on good) three weeks later; player if reverting to the Newbury form but her three attempts at this sort of trip (summer 2023) were not as good as that year's runs at 1m4f.

5/1

6th

1

(3)

31st May 2025

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:15 York

Divina Grace

9st 5lb

J: David Probert

T: Andrew Balding

Took her form to a new level with a game success in Newbury Group 3 on stable/seasonal debut; not so good front-running in a four-runner Group 2 at Newmarket (also 1m4f on good) three weeks later; player if reverting to the Newbury form but her three attempts at this sort of trip (summer 2023) were not as good as that year's runs at 1m4f.

5/1

3rd

4

(2)

2nd May 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

16:05 Newmarket

Divina Grace

9st 2lb

J: David Probert

T: Andrew Balding

Useful for Rae Guest; took her form to a new level with a game success in Newbury Group 3 on stable/seasonal debut, taking record to 6-21; faces a stiffer task in this grade but may rate higher still and she's the sole C&D winner in the field; very hard to dismiss.

6/1

Form: 46052- BF

Last run: 264 days

W: 8st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Best results have been on AW, although he ran respectably over 2m on good to firm here once last May; absent 264 days and this trip has to be a big concern, as all of his nine handicaps have been at either 1m6f or 2m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

(7)

31st May 2026

Good

2m 0f 13y

Class 3

18:15 Thirsk

Mountain Road

9st 5lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

4-15 for David Simcock; four runs for current yard, absent 582 days before this season's, in which he showed that significant ability remains; needs to build on those performances but going back up from the 1m5f of last two outings should suit and he continues down the weights; case can be made.

10/1

5th

7

(12)

17th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 3

16:45 Hamilton

Mountain Road

9st 4lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

4-15 for David Simcock; absent for 582 days before having two runs for new yard this spring, runs which showed that significant ability remains but he needs to build on those performances.

16/1

3rd

2

(6)

3rd May 2026

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 3

14:40 Hamilton

Mountain Road

9st 4lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

4-15 for David Simcock; absent for 582 days after a heavy defeat on debut for this yard and last week's comeback run at Musselburgh was just okay (2m, good); others preferred.

10/1

Form: 62813-

Last run: 175 days

W: 9st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Probably acts on good to firm; raised his game last season, including two runs over 1m4f at Ascot and a 1m3f win in November on Kempton AW; left Kevin Philippart De Foy for 47,000gns this February; needs to resume in good form but this isn't the strongest race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(12)

27th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 3

20:30 Kempton (AW)

Max Mayhem

9st 9lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: George Baker

Three times down the field in Bahrain for this yard and can't support with confidence, for all moving back up in trip should help.

25/1

6th

5

(2)

5th Jul 2025

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 2

17:15 Sandown

Max Mayhem

9st 10lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Hilal Kobeissi

Usually ridden patiently at about 1m4f in recent times but he made the running when fourth of 17 at Glorious Goodwood (good) last July, on most recent attempt at 1m2f (off this mark); found wanting since a convincing winner at Meydan in March and needs more for the now-rare 1m2f run.

10/1

OUR TIP

20/1

Form: /120-8 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Very productive and progressive for two and a half years before tailing off in Ascot Gold Cup last June; first run since when well beaten at 40-1 in useful handicap at Newmarket five weeks ago; dropped 2lb, which still probably requires a career best and he looks vulnerable over a trip this short.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

24th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

15:03 Kelso

Wise Eagle

11st 1lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Adam Nicol

Looked better than ever when third in the Morebattle Hurdle here in February and posted a good third on the Flat at Musselburgh last month; must enter calculations in refitted cheekpieces.

3/1

3rd

1

(11)

4th Apr 2026

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 3

15:05 Musselburgh

Wise Eagle

9st 9lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Adam Nicol

Won this prize in 2023 and had a fruitful Flat/hurdles campaign last winter before his close fourth in this; while he did not make an impact in either of his Flat runs this winter, latest hurdles form was his best in that sphere; 8lb lower than the 2025 renewal and a case can certainly be made.

13/2

3rd

10

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

14:55 Kelso

Wise Eagle

11st 3lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Adam Nicol

Runner-up here (2m, soft) last February and back on song when third at Musselburgh (1m7f, good to soft) four weeks ago; he's lightly raced over hurdles and is on an attractive mark judged on his very useful Flat form, but he needs to raise his game if he's to take this.

12/1

Form: 656-21 D

Last run: 88 days

W: 8st 2lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Held up these days; 1m4f novice win in 2022 was on good to firm and up with his best form, but he's fared better on AW than turf in a rather mixed career since; narrow loss this February and narrow win in March, both 1m4f on Tapeta; more to prove back on turf today from 2lb out of the handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(7)

30th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 4

17:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Melek Alreeh

9st 11lb

J: Luke Morris

T: David Simcock

Triple 1m4f winner, including on Tapeta; handicapper has just had his measure since his last win but he's gone very close several times, the latest at Chelmsford (1m2f, Polytrack); up 1lb; respected.

13/2

6th

3

(2)

23rd Sep 2025

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 4

20:00 Southwell (AW)

Melek Alreeh

9st 6lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: David Simcock

Currently 2-2 round here, both over 1m4f; proved consistent during a limited campaign this year, following wind surgery, bar a forgivable blip in a race that didn't pan out his way latest; a player if stamina holds now going beyond 1m4f for the first time.

7/1

Non-runners

Maghlaak

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £23.90
Straight Forecast £35.88
Tricast £160.84
Trifecta £186.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Divina Grace

D Express:

Max Mayhem

RP RATINGS:

Divina Grace

TOPSPEED:

Divina Grace

POSTDATA:

Divina Grace

NEWMARKET:

Divina Grace

The Times:

Divina Grace

Telegraph:

Divina Grace

The Guardian:

Divina Grace

Daily Mail:

Divina Grace

Daily Mirror:

Divina Grace

The Sun:

Divina Grace

The Star:

Divina Grace

Daily Record:

Divina Grace