June 20 / 14.50 Chelmsford (AW)

14.50

Standard

Esprit Couture 1er Cru Handicap

  • Prize money: £6280.8
  • 0m 5f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
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Esprit Couture 1er Cru Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Polytrack

Weather: Partly cloudy

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £1.60

Form: -87532 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 8st 13lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Yet to win for his new yard but he made a bold bid when second at Lingfield 16 days ago (cheekpieces first time; Harry Brown back in third); well drawn but he might have to work harder to dominate this time though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

(1)

6th Jul 2026

Standard

0m 5f 6y

Class 4

16:50 Lingfield (AW)

Almaty Star

9st 11lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Robert Cowell

Front-runner who's drawn to attack and boasts a solid record over C&D; not much room for manoeuvre off this mark, though, for a yard also responsible for Ziggy's Missile.

8/1

8th

6

(5)

22nd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 21y

Class 3

19:17 Windsor

Almaty Star

9st 8lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Robert Cowell

Front-runner who was found an ordinary Yarmouth handicap when winning easily in the spring; handicapper had his say for that and he finished well beaten behind Dream Composer upped in class at Epsom last time; yard also runs Rhythm N Hooves.

12/1

18th

20

(13)

6th Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Epsom

Almaty Star

8st 10lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Robert Cowell

Better on AW than turf but took advantage of a good opportunity at Yarmouth in April (5f, good); hit with an 8lb rise for that, bringing his turf and AW marks into line; blew the start back at Yarmouth last month but the stewards deemed him a non-runner due to having his head turned as the stalls opened; risky on the back of that and there are other pace influences to contend with today.

20/1

8/1

  • Place: £4.70

Form: 37162- C

Last run: 376 days

W: 9st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Front-runner; given a peach of a ride when winning at Lingfield last April (6f, AW) and ran well at Haydock when last seen 376 days ago; can go well fresh but there is other pace to deal with on this rare 5f run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

9

(8)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 3

16:45 Newmarket (July)

Emperor Spirit

9st 5lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Michael Keady

First run for Michael Keady when winning this race 12 months ago off a 3lb higher mark; two good runs on fast ground this year (below par on slower going in the Epsom Dash) and he's likely to make another bold bid.

5/1

2nd

3

(3)

3rd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

19:02 Beverley

Emperor Spirit

9st 11lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Michael Keady

Blows hot and cold but he is on a dangerous mark and his second of 17 at Ascot (5f, good to firm) in May was a fine effort; subsequent run in the Dash at Epsom can be forgiven (ground) and this should be more to his liking; other pace influences on show.

7/1

14th

16

(7)

6th Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Epsom

Emperor Spirit

8st 11lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Michael Keady

Appreciated the return to turf when finishing second of 17 at Ascot five weeks ago; 1lb rise still leaves him on a feasible mark; rarely seen on slower than good.

20/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 4-5111 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 8st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Five wins from ten starts in C&D handicaps, including his last three; up in class today but he's on the up and shouldn't be underestimated.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(3)

27th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 6

20:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Dark Side Prince

9st 8lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Jessica Macey

Prolific 5f winner, including over C&D, most recently at Chelmsford in October off 2lb lower; however, he was disappointing back at Chelmsford in February and has a bit to prove this time.

5/1

8th

5

(3)

21st Feb 2026

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

18:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Dark Side Prince

9st 3lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Jessica Macey

Recorded his 11th AW win when narrowly beating Shalaa Asker over C&D in October; been absent since then but he's only 2lb higher than for that last win and he has won after a break in the past; dangerous on return.

4/1

14/1

Form: 131105 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 8st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Cheekpieces have turned things around for him, winning four handicaps since March (including C&D; last two runs suggest the handicapper has caught up now though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(8)

24th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 6

17:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Buraback

9st 9lb

J: Jack Callan

T: Derek Shaw

Conditions to suit and he ran well in defeat at Chelmsford (5f) in February/March; didn't run badly in a stronger C&D handicap last week and he can feature prominently back into 0-55 company.

6/1

7th

10

(8)

20th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 5

16:22 Wolverhampton (AW)

Buraback

8st 4lb

J: Faye McManoman

T: Derek Shaw

Finished a solid second at Chelmsford (5f Class 6) on his last two starts and his turn looks near; back up in grade but receives weight all round and remains favourably treated on plenty of form; not dismissed.

7/1

Form: -24553 CD

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Losing run up to ten but he ran as well as he ever has when third of six at Lingfield (5f, AW; Almaty Star second) 16 days ago; 1-1 over C&D; drawn widest but this should be run to suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

(1)

9th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 3y

Class 4

19:50 Epsom

Harry Brown

8st 11lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: Peter Crate

Scored at Lingfield (5f, good to firm) in May and probably bettered that performance when very close second at Brighton (5.2f, good to firm) last month; recent Windsor run is best overlooked (saddle slipped); slightly out of the weights but the return to 6f won't be a problem; probably won't be far away.

14/1

13th

5

(5)

29th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 21y

Class 6

19:30 Windsor

Harry Brown

9st 7lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Peter Crate

Nothing like the force of old but he won at Lingfield in May and has been bang there at Newbury and Brighton (beaten a nose) on both starts since, all over about 5f on good to firm; should go well again.

5/1

2nd

4

(3)

22nd Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 60y

Class 6

18:05 Brighton

Harry Brown

9st 6lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Peter Crate

Useful 3yo who's come back to form since dropped to 5f on turf, minus the blinkers, following up his Lingfield win off 3lb lower with a solid effort at Newbury; needs considering but wants a proper test at this trip and a bigger field would have helped.

7/2

Form: 25-450 CD

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Never going the pace in the Dash at Epsom 19 days ago; has a fine record over C&D, is down to a dangerous mark and much better is expected from him this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

12

(2)

30th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

16:10 Goodwood

Lord Riddiford

8st 4lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: John & Sean Quinn

Has a stunning record at this meeting, winning four of his five attempts, including this race for the last three years (soft, good and good to soft); well held of late but he ran no worse last time out than he had in his prep race before the 2023 win and he's weighted to have a big chance despite being 3lb wrong; Hollie Doyle rode for his 2021 win; drying ground could be the sticking point, however.

5/1

6th

4

(5)

20th Jun 2024

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

14:50 Chelmsford (AW)

Lord Riddiford

9st 7lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

bumped start, midfield, switched right and some headway 2f out, weakened from 1f out

10/1

12th

10

(3)

1st Jun 2024

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

15:45 Epsom

Lord Riddiford

8st 2lb

J: Paddy Mathers

T: John & Sean Quinn

Unplaced in this race in 2021 and 2023 and short of his best when last seen on AW in February; his last three wins have come in the same 5f handicap at Glorious Goodwood and that race looks a better fit than today's.

20/1

16/1

Form: 40-504 C

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Two creditable 7f runs on AW this year but she looks to be on the downgrade and it won't be easy trying to dominate now dropped back to 5f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(7)

19th Nov 2024

Standard

0m 6f 1y

Class 5

14:15 Lingfield (AW)

Princess Shabnam

9st 9lb

J: Ben Sanderson

T: S Woods

Seen more regularly on turf and it's over two years since her one AW win (6f) but she's been running well off much-reduced mark of late; shouldn't be too far away if no ill effects from leaving off the headgear.

9/2

6th

1

(7)

19th Nov 2024

Standard

0m 6f 1y

Class 5

14:15 Lingfield (AW)

Princess Shabnam

9st 9lb

J: Ben Sanderson

T: S Woods

took keen hold, prominent, pressed winner over 4f out, lost second over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong

9/2

3rd

1

(7)

7th Nov 2024

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

20:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Princess Shabnam

9st 9lb

J: Ben Sanderson

T: S Woods

took keen hold, led, headed over 1f out, weakened and lost second towards finish

3/1

OUR TIP

Form: -90315 D BF

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Strong at the finish when winning a Windsor handicap on his stable debut last month (5f, good to firm); solid run off this mark last time and he's likely to be in the shake-up once again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(4)

17th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

19:33 Newmarket (July)

Rocking Ends

10st 0lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Tom Clover

He's on a hat-trick in this race and followed last year's win by also scoring at Windsor and Yarmouth (all 5f on good to firm in cheekpieces) in August; no wins since but he didn't get much cover when midfield over C&D one week ago and his race record means he can't be discounted; also ran well sole previous go in a visor.

11/4

7th

7

(12)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 3

16:45 Newmarket (July)

Rocking Ends

9st 7lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Tom Clover

C&D record reads 131, the defeat coming behind Emperor Spirit in this race last year; 5lb lower than for his last win and although he's yet to really shine this year, the booking of Oisin Murphy is notable; contender with frequent cheekpieces now discarded.

11/2

5th

1

(6)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 42y

Class 4

14:40 Yarmouth

Rocking Ends

9st 11lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Tom Clover

C&D win last August came off a 3lb higher mark; encouraging reappearance here five weeks ago and today's ground will be more suitable; solid claims dropped into a Class 4.

11/2

Non-runners

The Defiant

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £77.70
Straight Forecast £70.99
Tricast £401.63
Trifecta £311.10

Selections

NEWMARKET:

Almaty Star

POSTDATA:

Dark Side Prince

RP RATINGS:

Harry Brown

SPOTLIGHT:

Rocking Ends

The Times:

Buraback

TOPSPEED:

Lord Riddiford

D Express:

Almaty Star

Daily Mirror:

Almaty Star

Daily Record:

Almaty Star

The Sun:

Harry Brown

Telegraph:

Rocking Ends

The Guardian:

Dark Side Prince

Daily Mail:

Dark Side Prince

The Star:

Dark Side Prince