July 20 / 18.25 Haydock

18.25

Good To Soft

Steve Yarborough Memorial Handicap (A Jockey Club Grassroots Middle Distance Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £5234
  • 1m 2f 42y
  • Class 5
  • 11 runners
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Steve Yarborough Memorial Handicap (A Jockey Club Grassroots Middle Distance Series Qualifier)

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

OUR TIP

14/1 (Won)

  • Win: £11.00
  • Place: £2.60

Form: 649460

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Three AW wins at slightly shorter trips but 0-17 on grass and the majority of his turf form in 2023 leaves him with work to do; tongue-tie refitted for the first time since last July.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

(6)

11th May 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Tiger Beetle

9st 3lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: Thomas Faulkner

Three-time C&D winner who's getting on and been on the downgrade since missing a year; found his level again lately but is some way down the pecking order.

16/1

5th

2

(7)

10th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Tiger Beetle

9st 9lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: Thomas Faulkner

Used to stay this sort of trip; very low-key start for this yard but has gradually found his level and was blinkered when third in 9.5f course selling handicap ten days ago; cheekpieces, previously worn without success, are refitted.

10/1

3rd

4

(2)

31st Mar 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Tiger Beetle

9st 5lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: Thomas Faulkner

Won three over C&D and once on turf when trained by Mark Rimell; has not been in the same form since and blinkers now replace cheekpieces; down to a career-low mark but doesn't look ready to take advantage.

12/1

13/8

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 70-113 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Can start slowly and that cost him over 1m at Sandown (good) recently, where he came from way back to take a late third; had previously won his first two starts for this yard, at 1m (AW) and 1m2f (good to soft) and is weighted to win again on old form now back at 1m2f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(5)

15th Nov 2024

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 5

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Beautiful Crown

10st 1lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Jack Jones

Habitual slow starter; made a flying start to life with this yard in the summer, winning handicaps at Lingfield (1m, AW), Chepstow (1m2f) and Chelmsford (1m2f, AW); not so good the last twice but those runs were on slow ground; return to AW in his favour but still to convince he needs this far.

3/1

3rd

1

(5)

15th Nov 2024

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 5

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Beautiful Crown

10st 1lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Jack Jones

Habitual slow starter; made a flying start to life with this yard in the summer, winning handicaps at Lingfield (1m, AW), Chepstow (1m2f) and Chelmsford (1m2f, AW); not so good the last twice but those runs were on slow ground; return to AW in his favour but still to convince he needs this far.

3/1

9th

3

(13)

6th Nov 2024

Soft

1m 0f 75y

Class 5

15:18 Nottingham

Beautiful Crown

9st 13lb

J: Jack Dace

T: Jack Jones

Often slowly away but had been running well until a remote fourth on heavy at Newbury and does handle those conditions; could bounce back.

14/1

9/1

  • Place: £2.80

Form: 643-54

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Raced at 1m to 1m4f for the Gosdens in 2023, failing to progress; promising yard debut when a close fifth, after not getting a clear stab at things, on handicap debut at Leicester (1m, good) in May but a later 1m2f run at Newmarket didn't go far enough to fancy for this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(6)

28th Oct 2024

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

20:30 Southwell (AW)

Savanna King

9st 11lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Joseph Parr

Well-related ex-Gosden maiden who's gone as far as 1m4f and been expensive to follow; didn't improve for the drop back to this trip last time but the handicapper's given him every chance on his AW debut.

10/1

1st

2

(6)

28th Oct 2024

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

20:30 Southwell (AW)

Savanna King

9st 11lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Joseph Parr

Well-related ex-Gosden maiden who's gone as far as 1m4f and been expensive to follow; didn't improve for the drop back to this trip last time but the handicapper's given him every chance on his AW debut.

10/1

7th

1

(11)

1st Oct 2024

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

14:40 Bath

Savanna King

10st 1lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Joseph Parr

0-9 with his best effort for this yard when third of 11 at Haydock (1m2f, good) in July; down in grade but not sure dropping back in trip is the answer.

8/1

16/1

Form: 953-50

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Third in this (soft) last year before going on to win at Nottingham (extended 1m, heavy; when 2lb higher); no involvement in two starts this year but he could be plotting the same course as 12 months ago; not ignored.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(5)

19th Jan 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

13:08 Kempton (AW)

Equion

9st 7lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Tony Carroll

6lb below his last winning mark but recent form has been patchy, his narrow defeat at Wolverhampton (8.6f, Tapeta) last month surrounded by lesser efforts at the same track; 1-18 on AW; others more compelling.

6/1

4th

1

(4)

30th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

14:25 Bath

Equion

9st 9lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Tony Carroll

Won over 1m on soft and heavy ground last year and best run this campaign was four weeks ago when fourth at Nottingham (good to soft); interesting with conditions in his favour and off a good mark.

7/2

1

(4)

30th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

14:25 Bath

Equion

9st 9lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Tony Carroll

Won over 1m on soft and heavy ground last year and best run this campaign was four weeks ago when fourth at Nottingham (good to soft); interesting with conditions in his favour and off a good mark.

7/2

Form: -77338

Last run: 32 days

W: 8st 7lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 54

Form & Verdict
Multiple winner at up to about 1m but there are inevitable stamina questions to answer now trying 1m2f for the first time in a long career.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

(8)

15th Oct 2024

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

Mr Strutter

9st 4lb

J: Andrew Elliott

T: David Thompson

1-17 here, the win coming off this mark over this trip in June last year; some fair efforts on turf this season and 1m2f would have been too far on his return to this venue a fortnight ago, but others are still more solid; stable also runs Wheres The Crumpet.

14/1

9th

2

(7)

1st Oct 2024

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 6

17:00 Newcastle (AW)

Mr Strutter

9st 8lb

J: Andrew Elliott

T: David Thompson

Course winner (1m, June 2023); consistent over 7f-1m1f lately, shaping as if in need of a greater stamina test when third over 7f at Catterick (soft); head carriage isn't always alluring, but he is worth another go over 1m2f; stablemate of Wheres The Crumpet.

8/1

3rd

6

(9)

10th Sep 2024

Good

0m 7f 6y

Class 6

17:30 Catterick

Mr Strutter

9st 2lb

J: Andrew Elliott

T: David Thompson

in touch with leaders, outpaced and lost position when edged left after 3f

13/2

5/1

Form: 413142 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 8st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 57

Form & Verdict
Two wide-margin wins this year, over 1m3f at Carlisle (soft) and 1m1f at Hamilton (good); now 11lb higher than the former but he's been holding his own since and looks good for another solid run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(5)

29th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 4f 15y

Class 6

17:20 Hamilton

Hot Team

9st 0lb

J: Jake Dickson

T: Patrick Morris

Has won eight races, including four over 1m1f here; third to Dandy's Angel in this race last term, but not been in the best of form this season; others appeal more.

33/1

5

(5)

2nd Aug 2025

Good

1m 1f 35y

Class 6

21:00 Hamilton

Hot Team

9st 3lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Patrick Morris

Has won plenty during his career but a 9yo now and he's been out of form for a while.

20/1

Form: 5-8639 CD

Last run: 5 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
C&D winner (good; made all) and also a close second (good to soft) here last summer; best effort of this year when third of nine back over 1m2f at Nottingham (good to firm; first-time blinkers, cheekpieces today); rivals had his number next time but the return to this track is a plus.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

(9)

7th Feb 2025

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

20:15 Southwell (AW)

Leap Year Lad

9st 7lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Kevin Ryan

Just 2-31 but had dropped in the weights and undergone wind surgery before finishing a creditable third of ten at Newcastle (1m, Tapeta) in December; each-way claims if backing it up.

9/2

9th

3

(9)

7th Feb 2025

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

20:15 Southwell (AW)

Leap Year Lad

9st 7lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Kevin Ryan

Just 2-31 but had dropped in the weights and undergone wind surgery before finishing a creditable third of ten at Newcastle (1m, Tapeta) in December; each-way claims if backing it up.

9/2

3rd

4

(10)

17th Dec 2024

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

16:30 Newcastle (AW)

Leap Year Lad

9st 8lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Kevin Ryan

He's been disappointing since July and has undergone wind surgery since finishing seventh here (1m2f) last month; drops in trip/grade and a market check looks prudent.

10/1

25/1

Form: 045209

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Maiden who went very close over a similar trip to today's in France (AW) as a 2yo; was running well on AW for this yard early in 2024 but he hasn't excelled himself at Kempton or when back on turf at Doncaster (1m2f; first-time cheekpieces, retained) on last two starts; bit to prove now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(5)

12th Sep 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

19:30 Newcastle (AW)

LArgent

9st 9lb

J: Frederick Larson

T: Michael Appleby

14-race maiden; best British effort came here in February, when 2l second over C&D; that form would probably be good enough to win this but he's not been as good since on either turf or AW; still entitled to each-way claims after another 2lb drop.

4/1

4th

10

(8)

30th Aug 2024

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

17:58 Southwell (AW)

LArgent

9st 4lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Michael Appleby

13-race maiden; well treated on this winter's AW best and there have been more promising signs on turf the last twice; not discounted.

13/2

3rd

9

(1)

16th Aug 2024

Good

0m 7f 218y

Class 5

20:15 Thirsk

LArgent

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Michael Appleby

Ex-French; 12-race maiden; best AW run was off 8lb higher when second in a Newcastle handicap in February; hasn't run as well since, but fair 3.5l fifth of eight at Nottingham last time (8.5f, good to firm; hood on for first time); headgear retained; a possible.

6/1

Form: 150-80 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Newmarket winner over 1m2f (good to firm) last August but out the back in both runs this year, failing to beat a rival on each occasion; back on that winning mark but hard to embrace.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

1

(3)

17th Oct 2024

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 6

20:30 Southwell (AW)

Olympicus

9st 11lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Michael Appleby

pulled extremely hard, prominent, raced wide over 8f out, pulled way into lead over 6f out

7/1

8th

6

(2)

10th Oct 2024

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 6

19:00 Southwell (AW)

Olympicus

9st 6lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Michael Appleby

Sole success in 14 starts came off 9lb higher at Newmarket (1m2f, good to firm) in August last year; hasn't shown much in five starts since returning from eight months off in June and another 3lb drop not enough to tempt; can take a keen hold.

12/1

9th

5

(6)

24th Sep 2024

Good To Firm

1m 1f 207y

Class 6

13:40 Beverley

Olympicus

9st 11lb

J: Frederick Larson

T: Michael Appleby

Hindered by often failing to settle but is well handicapped granted a return to best; sole success came off 6lb higher.

10/1

Form: 954

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Tailed off in one bumper completion but he surprised a few with his fifth of ten in 1m Nottingham maiden on second Flat start; unable to back it up next time and that penultimate run means he goes handicapping off a high mark; probably up against it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(6)

1st Jun 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 6

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Beaming Light

9st 9lb

J: William Pyle

T: David Loughnane

Off the boil since finishing second off a 4lb higher mark over C&D in February but he's been running in sprints latterly; this is easier than he's used to and he ought to fare much better back from a short break.

8/1

5th

3

(3)

26th Apr 2026

Good

0m 6f 18y

Class 6

15:20 Nottingham

Beaming Light

9st 5lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: David Loughnane

Completed a 1m hat-trick last June; form has dipped over 7f/6f/5f in last three outings and he has enough to prove in another sprint race; tongue-tie added.

14/1

Form: -33755

Last run: 19 days

W: 8st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 56

Form & Verdict
Handles most ground and has slipped a few pounds since finishing a close third at Pontefract (1m, soft) in April but nearly all his best form is at trips short of 1m2f and he remains a maiden.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

8

(1)

30th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 6

17:17 Southwell (AW)

Fiftyshadesaresdev

10st 9lb

J: Miss Becky Smith

T: Micky Hammond

Placed on numerous occasions, including at Southwell, but remains a longstanding maiden and he's been beaten around 12l in his two runs this year; blinkers return and cheekpieces are removed.

16/1

7th

7

(5)

28th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 6

20:00 Southwell (AW)

Fiftyshadesaresdev

9st 3lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

Placed numerous times, including at Southwell, but remains a longstanding maiden and sole effort this year doesn't suggest he's about to belatedly get off the mark.

20/1

7th

11

(7)

2nd Feb 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

17:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Fiftyshadesaresdev

10st 2lb

J: Mr Felix Foster

T: Micky Hammond

36-race maiden but he went close in two turf handicaps (1m4f) last summer; returns after 210 days off but he's effective on Tapeta and is not ruled out on his first run since rejoining Micky Hammond; reapplied cheekpieces replace a visor.

9/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £45.20
Straight Forecast £35.67
Tricast £206.66
Trifecta £340.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Beautiful Crown

RP RATINGS:

Hot Team

Telegraph:

Beaming Light

TOPSPEED:

Leap Year Lad

NEWMARKET:

Savanna King

Daily Mail:

Beaming Light

POSTDATA:

Leap Year Lad

D Express:

Savanna King

The Guardian:

Beautiful Crown

Daily Mirror:

Beautiful Crown

The Sun:

Beautiful Crown

The Star:

Beautiful Crown

The Times:

Hot Team

Daily Record:

Hot Team