July 19 / 15.15 Haydock

15.15

Good To Soft

Victor Welsh Ltd Handicap

  • Prize money: £4187.2
  • 0m 6f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
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Victor Welsh Ltd Handicap

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

16/1 (Won)

  • Win: £10.80
  • Place: £3.10

Form: 38/94- D

Last run: 435 days

W: 9st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Began last season with two below-par runs and has been absent for 14 months since but resumes on a tempting mark and with trip/ground suitable; had wind op in April; market may guide.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

9

(2)

31st Aug 2026

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 5

17:00 Southwell (AW)

Baba Reza

9st 4lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Julie Camacho

Missed a few chunks of his career and is on the decline now; remains consistent, though, is well drawn for one happiest on the sharp end and is being given every chance by the handicapper.

10/1

4th

5

(6)

6th Aug 2026

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 5

19:51 Southwell (AW)

Baba Reza

9st 6lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Julie Camacho

8yo who has been beaten ten times since his last win in July 2024 but he's been placed on both starts this summer (6f, soft/Tapeta); chance.

13/2

3rd

4

(4)

6th Jul 2026

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 5

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Baba Reza

9st 7lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Julie Camacho

Hasn't won for two years but made an encouraging return from his second wind op and a six-month layoff when runner-up at Carlisle (6f, soft) last month; holds claims if he can back up that run.

7/1

16/1

  • Place: £4.90

Form: 624-99

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Still unexposed after only five starts but was beaten about 16l after racing too freely in both handicaps this season (7f/6f) and needs to get her career back on track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

(3)

5th Dec 2024

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

18:10 Chelmsford (AW)

Glitterella

9st 9lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Clive Cox

prominent

8/1

7th

3

(3)

5th Dec 2024

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

18:10 Chelmsford (AW)

Glitterella

9st 9lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Clive Cox

Nine-race maiden; placed twice on turf this summer but she has been a shade disappointing the last twice; should be fine on AW and better drawn today than when sixth at Wolverhampton last time.

8/1

6th

4

(9)

14th Oct 2024

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 5

17:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Glitterella

9st 9lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Clive Cox

In good form without winning in 2024 but only sixth in 6f Salisbury handicap last month; she's the sort to bounce back though.

6/1

20/1

  • Place: £4.80

Form: 374155 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Led close home for AW win in March but returned from ten-week break with low-key turf run this month and stable's other runner Our Absent Friends looks more interesting here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

3

(10)

20th Aug 2026

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

20:54 Newcastle (AW)

Secret Road

9st 8lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Samantha & Jacqueline Coward

Eight-time winner; made a winning stable debut for Laura Mongan (1m, AW) in March but that wasn't a springboard to better things; sold for 2,000gns in July; return to 6f should suit on stable debut.

20/1

9th

6

(2)

4th Jun 2026

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 6

17:10 Lingfield (AW)

Secret Road

9st 5lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Laura Mongan

Won at 6f and over C&D for James Owen at the start of the year, then over 1m here on yard debut in March, but his last three runs have been nothing like as good; has plenty to prove back at 7f.

25/1

10th

6

(12)

1st Jun 2026

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 6

14:07 Lingfield (AW)

Secret Road

9st 5lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Laura Mongan

Enjoyed a revival for James Owen and this yard earlier in the year, with three wins, including two round here; up in the weights now, though, and finished well behind a couple of these over C&D a month ago; needs more from somewhere.

20/1

Form: 4-5627 D BF

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 11lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Did not fire when favourite at Ffos Las last month but ran big race in defeat when close second at Newbury (6f, good to firm) two starts ago and has obvious claims if back at that level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

(9)

9th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 160y

Class 5

16:47 Bath

Starproof

9st 10lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Muir & Chris Grassick

Can race freely and isn't the only potential pace influence here, but confidence in her restored by last month's Kempton rout (6f); hiked beyond any winning mark again, but goes on anything and this dual Ffos Las scorer won't fail for the return to a galloping track.

9/4

2

(2)

24th Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

20:10 Kempton (AW)

Starproof

9st 12lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: William Muir & Chris Grassick

All three wins (6f) on turf and she won well at Ffos Las (good) in August; 0-10 on AW, though, and she raced freely and hung for pressure when sixth of nine over C&D 19 days ago.

11/2

6th

9

(7)

5th Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

20:17 Kempton (AW)

Starproof

9st 4lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: William Muir & Chris Grassick

All three 6f wins on turf; has form on both AW surfaces but record on sand now stands at 0-9 and this is her first Polytrack run for two years.

6/1

Form: 1-3543 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Ended last season with 6f AW novice win and has performed well in all four handicaps this year, most recently when keeping-on third in first-time blinkers (retained) at Newmarket (6f, good to firm) last month; ought to make her presence felt again here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

(9)

19th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

15:15 Haydock

Royal Elysian

9st 9lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: James Ferguson

Ended last season with 6f AW novice win and has performed well in all four handicaps this year, most recently when keeping-on third in first-time blinkers (retained) at Newmarket (6f, good to firm) last month; ought to make her presence felt again here.

9/2

3rd

3

(1)

22nd Jun 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

14:45 Newmarket (July)

Royal Elysian

9st 9lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: James Ferguson

in rear

10/1

4th

1

(1)

7th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

15:38 Thirsk

Royal Elysian

9st 10lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: James Ferguson

6f novice win on AW as a 2yo; not looked ahead of her mark in two runs this season, albeit latest Yarmouth fifth is working out; down in trip and class and could bounce back.

8/1

5/1

Form: 262725 D

Last run: 11 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Won over 6f on 2yo debut but has not run over this far since that season; went close over 5f on Tapeta last month and his turf run a few days later was pefectly respectable; does not have much margin for error off current mark but Alex Jary (who won on him last year) claims 5lb today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

6

(7)

29th Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 3

13:45 Beverley

Paddys Day

9st 4lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Nigel Tinkler

Won six times on AW last year; has just one success on turf (good to firm on his debut in 2022) but he was placed on both starts here and last time's third of seven at Doncaster (5f, good to firm) was a solid effort; regularly stays away from ground worse than good so probably doesn't want any rain, which is forecast.

12/1

3rd

1

(1)

3rd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 3y

Class 3

15:10 Doncaster

Paddys Day

10st 0lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Nigel Tinkler

He's just 1-25 on turf but was runner-up over C&D (good to firm) last month and wasn't beaten far in a competitive Class 2 at favourite course Newcastle (5f, AW) last Friday; could be in the mix.

7/2

7th

14

(9)

26th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

19:28 Newcastle (AW)

Paddys Day

9st 1lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Nigel Tinkler

Won this race 12 months ago off a 1lb higher mark and recorded his seventh C&D win when scoring in December; solid second on turf three weeks ago; should run his race.

10/1

Form: -11115 D

Last run: 127 days

W: 9st 11lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Won four in a row on AW (5f-6f) for Peter Niven at start of this year but subsequent four-month break might have checked his momentum, and this switch back to turf may not be ideal for his stable debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(5)

14th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

16:23 Beverley

Hes An Angel

9st 9lb

J: William Pyle

T: Kevin & Lauren Frost

Has won six times on the AW, but 0-15 on turf; creditable second at Wetherby two runs back (5.5f, good to firm) but well beaten last time (6f).

8/1

8th

7

(1)

21st Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

14:05 Pontefract

Hes An Angel

9st 5lb

J: William Pyle

T: Kevin & Lauren Frost

Back in better form (over 5f/5.5f) this month, winning AW classified event then solid second (behind a rival who was on the middle leg of hat-trick) in Wetherby handicap; has won over 6f; 0-14 on turf but holds a fighting chance.

8/1

Form: 380-80 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 11lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Placed on stable debut at Wolverhampton (7f, AW) in November but subsequent AW form was underwhelming, and he was in rear throughout (saddle slipped) when back on turf last month; others have less to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

(8)

10th Sep 2024

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

Captain Cuddles

9st 10lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: Fionn McSharry

Ex-Richard Hannon; not at his best this year and although well handicapped as a result, has plenty to find on recent efforts; tongue-tie now tried.

20/1

8th

8

(11)

17th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

0m 7f 6y

Class 5

15:07 Doncaster

Captain Cuddles

9st 2lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Fionn McSharry

6f novice winner for Richard Hannon in July 2022 (good to firm); has not shown a great deal lately but is on a career-low mark as a result.

40/1

Form: 906002 D

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Suddenly emerged from spell in the doldrums with close second at Ripon (5f, good) last week and remains 6lb lower than when scoring at Ayr (6f, soft) last July; major player if that recent effort can be built upon.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(9)

31st Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:10 Ripon

Our Absent Friends

10st 0lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Tristan Davidson

Acts on good to firm and soft; nine-time winner who scored by 4l at Catterick two weeks ago but was disappointing under a penalty there last Wednesday; up another 4lb, but he was as good as ever on his penultimate run and is a player if he can recapture that form.

5/1

5th

9

(9)

26th Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

16:15 Catterick

Our Absent Friends

9st 0lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Tristan Davidson

Failed to beat a rival home at Thirsk (5f, good) but he's won over this C&D either side of that, including when coming 4l clear nine days ago; looks well treated under a 4lb penalty but this is a step up in class.

4/1

1st

3

(4)

17th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:15 Catterick

Our Absent Friends

9st 13lb

J: David Allan

T: Tristan Davidson

Wins his share and he got off the mark for the year over C&D last month; well held at Thirsk three days ago but in a Class 4; this should be more suitable.

6/1

Non-runners

Vince Lombardi

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £142.20
Straight Forecast £130.91
Tricast £2123.97
Trifecta £1625.50

Selections

NEWMARKET:

Royal Elysian

RP RATINGS:

Our Absent Friends

SPOTLIGHT:

Paddy's Day

Telegraph:

Starproof

TOPSPEED:

Captain Cuddles

Daily Mirror:

Vince Lombardi

The Times:

Royal Elysian

The Guardian:

Royal Elysian

The Sun:

Royal Elysian

The Star:

Royal Elysian

D Express:

Paddy's Day

POSTDATA:

Our Absent Friends

Daily Mail:

Our Absent Friends

Daily Record:

Our Absent Friends