June 08 / 18.45 Lingfield

18.45

Good To Firm

Ben Martin Big Birthday Bash Handicap

  • Prize money: £4972.3
  • 1m 2f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Ben Martin Big Birthday Bash Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 322-32

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Placed in all five starts, most recently second in 1m Redcar handicap on good to firm; came back for more when headed there so the return to 1m2f could be a good move; should go well again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(6)

18th Sep 2024

Good

1m 1f 21y

Class 3

16:05 Yarmouth

Arctic Mountain

9st 12lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Saeed bin Suroor

took keen hold, pressed leader

6/1

4th

1

(4)

13th Aug 2024

Soft

1m 1f 35y

Class 3

19:00 Hamilton

Arctic Mountain

10st 3lb

J: Joe Fanning

T: Saeed bin Suroor

Placed on first five starts (including on soft) before dominant display in Lingfield handicap (1m2f, good to firm) in June; saddle slipped and lost weightcloth at York six days later (eased; disqualified); he's 11lb higher than two starts ago but this unexposed 4yo could have more to offer.

9/2

16th

1

(1)

14th Jun 2024

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 4

16:45 York

Arctic Mountain

10st 0lb

J: Christian Howarth

T: Saeed bin Suroor

started quickly, took keen hold, led

15/8

11/2

  • Place: £3.50

Form: 54-115 BF

Last run: 119 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Improved when winning at Wolverhampton (9.4f) and Kempton (1m3f) in January; possibly stretched by 1m4f when fifth in hat-trick bid back at Wolverhampton in February; freshened up since; first handicap start on turf.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(3)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 23y

Class 4

15:15 Yarmouth

Charlies Choice

9st 9lb

J: Taryn Langley

T: David Simcock

Won three handicaps at Lingfield (1m4f-1m5f, AW) this winter; never a threat when fourth back on turf at Windsor last month; others hold stronger claims.

14/1

4th

6

(8)

18th May 2026

Good

1m 3f 99y

Class 4

19:40 Windsor

Charlies Choice

9st 2lb

J: Taryn Langley

T: David Simcock

All eight wins have been on AW but he's lost his way with heavy defeats at Newcastle (12.4f, Tapeta) and Lingfield (2m, Polytrack) in last two runs; still lightly raced on turf but he needs a major revival back in this sphere.

20/1

11th

2

(5)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

14:05 Lingfield (AW)

Charlies Choice

9st 9lb

J: Taryn Langley

T: David Simcock

Three-time winner over 1m4f/1m5f here and Taryn Langley gets on well with him, but he has never attempted this far before and he must put an uncharacteristically poor effort at Newcastle 13 days ago behind him.

16/1

Form: 72-356 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Started the season with creditable efforts over C&D and at Windsor last month; failed to stay when stepped up to 1m4f on AW here last weekend; eased 2lb and back to the mark he defied on good to firm at Windsor last summer; good shout if the first-time blinkers have a positive effect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

(7)

24th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 99y

Class 4

18:18 Windsor

Morcar

9st 9lb

J: Pat Dobbs

T: Richard Hannon

Resumed winning ways at Lingfield (1m2f) in May and backed it up with a good second of five at Sandown (1m2f) following month; must enter calculations after a break.

7/1

6th

6

(7)

23rd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 209y

Class 4

15:30 Sandown

Morcar

9st 2lb

J: Pat Dobbs

T: Richard Hannon

Returned to form to win at Newbury (1m2f, good to firm) this month and he's since been second at Windsor (1m2f, good to firm), albeit no match for the progressive winner; there's every chance he'll be in the mix.

13/2

2nd

5

(2)

13th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 4

20:20 Windsor

Morcar

9st 7lb

J: Pat Dobbs

T: Richard Hannon

Prevailed narrowly at Newbury last time, taking record to 5-28 and confirming that he's well suited by fast ground; back up 3lb but remains well handicapped on peak form and is a dual C&D winner; good third in this race last year; one of the main players.

5/1

OUR TIP

11/2

Form: 3-5236 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Placed twice over 1m2f at Windsor (good/good to soft) this spring and beaten only 1.5l when sixth (Morcar fifth) there latest; likely to be on the premises.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(10)

27th Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

17:07 Ffos Las

Fast Steps

9st 13lb

J: Charlie Tucker

T: Rod Millman

Runner-up over this C&D in June; shaped better than the bare result at Windsor (1m2f, good to firm) next time and didn't get home there last time over 11.5f after kicking clear; now 14lb below his last winning mark and he'll appreciate this drop back in trip.

6/1

4th

4

(3)

3rd Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 99y

Class 5

18:00 Windsor

Fast Steps

10st 11lb

J: Mr Patrick Millman

T: Rod Millman

Latest defeat when sent off favourite here (1m2f, good to firm) a fortnight ago wasn't quite as bad as it looks, but his losing run is now up to 20 and his best form has come over shorter.

9/2

9th

5

(2)

20th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

20:20 Windsor

Fast Steps

9st 7lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Rod Millman

His last win was two years ago but he's been placed in all three runs this season including close calls over C&D (good to firm) and at Ffos Las (1m2f, good); remains well handicapped on his old form and he should make another bold bid.

3/1

Form: 2411-4 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 9st 10lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Ended last season in career-best form, winning twice over 8.5f at Epsom (good to firm) in cheekpieces; reappearance fourth of seven over 1m2f at Brighton was respectable but underlines she needs a bit more from her new mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(1)

31st Oct 2024

Standard

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

20:00 Chelmsford (AW)

New Heights

10st 2lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Jonathan Portman

Won her novice on Polytrack but hasn't run well on the AW since and has rather struggled this year, coming 9lb down the weights; needs a revival back from six weeks off.

6/1

6th

1

(1)

31st Oct 2024

Standard

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

20:00 Chelmsford (AW)

New Heights

10st 2lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Jonathan Portman

Won her novice on Polytrack but hasn't run well on the AW since and has rather struggled this year, coming 9lb down the weights; needs a revival back from six weeks off.

6/1

7th

5

(2)

21st Sep 2024

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 4

17:05 Newmarket

New Heights

10st 11lb

J: Mr James Harding

T: Jonathan Portman

led, led narrowly 4f out, headed over 2f out, soon weakened

14/1

Form: 943-08

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Did well in novices as a 2yo but has struggled to get competitive in handicaps since; dropped 7lb in two starts this year but need to see more before lending support.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(5)

31st Aug 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 113y

Class 5

16:40 Epsom

Oj Lifestyle

9st 13lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Five-time winner, all on good to firm ground; arrives in good form but the ground looks a potential stumbling block.

7/2

3rd

2

(1)

30th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 17y

Class 5

17:30 Epsom

Oj Lifestyle

9st 10lb

J: Jude Fernandes

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Best known as a Brighton specialist but also runs this track well; needs to rebound from disappointing C&D run four weeks ago but looked in good nick when scoring at Brighton (1m2f, good to firm) in June; shortlisted.

3/1

7th

1

(8)

1st Jul 2026

Good

1m 2f 17y

Class 5

17:20 Epsom

Oj Lifestyle

10st 3lb

J: Toby Moore

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Five-time winner who has been placed in half of his six visits here, including when third in this race in 2024; carries a 5lb penalty for winning at Brighton (1m2f, good to firm) ten days ago but Toby Moore's 7lb claim will aid his bid to go back-to-back; considered.

4/1

10/1

Form: 4-34

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Reached the frame in Dundalk maidens (10.7f/1m4f) for Joseph O'Brien over the winter; ran to a similar level when fourth in 1m Nottingham maiden (good) for new yard 18 days ago; brings unexposed potential to handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

21st Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 44y

Class 6

19:57 Salisbury

Moab

10st 2lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Henrietta C Knight

Dual-purpose gelding whose sole win came in a 1m6f AW handicap last October off 6lb lower; has performed well under both codes since, last time third of 24 in a handicap hurdle at Punchestown in April; fast ground might not be ideal, so any rain would be a blessing.

3/1

3rd

22

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 3f 81y

15:05 Punchestown

Moab

10st 4lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Henrietta C Knight

British challenger; dual-purpose; has won on the AW on the Flat but is 0-10 over hurdles; went close off 1lb lower at Huntingdon (20.5f, soft) in January; ground may have been too lively at Southwell latest; could outrun his odds back on easier ground.

28/1

4th

9

24th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

16:30 Southwell

Moab

11st 4lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Henrietta C Knight

No match for the winner in his last two races over hurdles but both were well handicapped and returning to a longer trip looks the right move; on the shortlist.

5/1

Non-runners

Rockit Tommy

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.20
Straight Forecast £19.51
Tricast £53.41
Trifecta £53.10

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Arctic Mountain

SPOTLIGHT:

Morcar

The Star:

New Heights

The Times:

Fast Steps

NEWMARKET:

Arctic Mountain

Telegraph:

Arctic Mountain

The Guardian:

Arctic Mountain

Daily Mail:

Arctic Mountain

Daily Mirror:

Arctic Mountain

The Sun:

Arctic Mountain

RP RATINGS:

Morcar

POSTDATA:

Morcar

Daily Record:

New Heights

D Express:

Fast Steps