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

10

(1)

23rd Oct 2025

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 4

19:30 Southwell (AW)

Baba Reza

9st 4lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Julie Camacho

Inconsistent this year but ran encouragingly over C&D returned to AW last time and has possibilities provided he builds on that effort; defied higher marks twice in this sphere in 2021.

8/1

3rd

8

(4)

3rd Oct 2025

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 5

19:15 Southwell (AW)

Baba Reza

9st 9lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Julie Camacho

Shaped with encouragement on his return to action at Chelmsford in May (6f); three disappointing turf runs have followed but he's slipped down the weights and drops into a Class 5 for the first time since his easy Haydock win last summer; not ruled out.

12/1

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

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

12th

5

(12)

30th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 6

17:07 Lingfield (AW)

Secret Road

9st 6lb

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Laura Mongan

Looked in excellent nick on last month's stable debut, gaining clearcut C&D win in first-time cheekpieces; not quite in same form when fourth off new mark here three weeks later but still considered.

7/1

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

7th

5

(10)

13th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

19:00 Newcastle (AW)

Paddys Day

9st 3lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Nigel Tinkler

Won six 5f handicaps here in 2025; only 1lb higher than for the latest of them but he is rarely seen over 6f and connections now turn to a tongue tie for the first time.

7/1

5th

3

(4)

27th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

19:00 Newcastle (AW)

Paddys Day

9st 9lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Nigel Tinkler

Boasts a fine record over 5f here, winning in December and reaching the frame on all three outings this year; 6f AW winner for previous stable but has raced almost exclusively at the minimum trip for Nigel Tinkler; should be on the premises if still fully effective at 6f.

8/1

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

2nd

3

(3)

4th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 110y

Class 6

17:15 Wetherby

Hes An Angel

9st 9lb

J: William Pyle

T: Kevin & Lauren Frost

Often blows the start and/or races too freely but is a six-time AW winner, most recently in 5f Wolverhampton classified on Monday; faces tougher task under 5lb penalty in this handicap and his turf strike-rate is 0-13.

10/1

1st

5

(2)

1st Jun 2026

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 6

20:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Hes An Angel

9st 9lb

J: William Pyle

T: Kevin & Lauren Frost

Not as good since missing more than a year, does most racing over 6f and will always come with risks, given a propensity to blow the start and/or pull hard; this is easier down to 0-50 company for the first time, though, and he's capable if it falls right.

8/1

8th

5

(8)

22nd May 2026

Good

0m 5f 160y

Class 6

17:40 Bath

Hes An Angel

9st 6lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Kevin Frost

Hold-up performer who scored at Wolverhampton (6f, AW) in January but he's not hit the same level since and has finished eighth in his three runs (Tapeta/turf); on dangerous mark but he has something to prove and slow starts can be an issue.

12/1

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

6th

5

(8)

28th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

17:20 Ripon

Our Absent Friends

9st 5lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Tristan Davidson

Seven wins, the latest at Newcastle in December off a 6lb lower mark; good second off 1lb lower back at Newcastle in March but well held back on turf at Doncaster later that month; freshened up since.

10/1

17th

14

(4)

29th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

17:50 Doncaster

Our Absent Friends

9st 0lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Tristan Davidson

Seven wins, the latest at Newcastle in December off a 6lb lower mark; good second off 1lb lower back at Newcastle 24 days ago; should give his running but others may prove better treated.

12/1

2nd

10

(8)

5th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

19:30 Newcastle (AW)

Our Absent Friends

8st 13lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Tristan Davidson

Gained a third C&D success in December and largely in good nick since, fourth of nine over C&D two weeks ago; ought to be in the shake-up.

10/1

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