August 17 / 13.57 Doncaster

13.57

Good To Firm

Believe Specialist Finance Apprentice Handicap

  • Prize money: £4396.56
  • 1m 2f 43y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Believe Specialist Finance Apprentice Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 33344

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 11lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
In the frame on all starts, including in both handicaps, last time finishing fourth over 1m4f at Thirsk (good); yet to run on fast ground; back down in trip with cheekpieces tried.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 4

14:58 Sedgefield

Liberty Coach

11st 5lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: John & Sean Quinn

Useful Flat racer who kept on for third over hurdles at Wetherby (2m, soft) in December; well beaten twice since but had excuses last time (heavy ground; finished lame) and will be dangerous here if back on song; cheekpieces left off this time.

7/2

6

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

14:30 Kelso

Liberty Coach

11st 7lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: John & Sean Quinn

Two heavy defeats among his three hurdle starts but in between he caught the eye keeping on for third at Wetherby (2m, soft); has potential off opening jumps mark in view of his useful Flat form, and his four wins in that code came in cheekpieces which he wears over hurdles for the first time.

9/2

6th

9

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 3

13:45 Doncaster

Liberty Coach

11st 2lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: John & Sean Quinn

Useful, four-time Flat winner who made eyecatching late headway into third at Wetherby (2m, soft) last month on his second hurdle start, beaten about 6l by Minstrel Knight who now carries a 6lb penalty; open to further improvement in this code and he's one to be interested in.

8/1

2/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 365222

Last run: 2 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
Hasn't won since June 2023; in fair form on last few starts, notably when clear second at Salisbury on Thursday (1m, good to firm); stays 1m2f; contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(7)

30th Aug 2025

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 6

16:50 Lingfield (AW)

Persian Phoenix

11st 2lb

J: Miss Brodie Hampson

T: Archie Watson

Successful on Jersey in May and followed up over 1m2f on AW here in June; his two subsequent efforts have been poor and tries a change of headgear (first-time blinkers in place of cheekpieces) in a bid to get back to form.

8/1

7th

5

(1)

6th Aug 2025

Good

1m 2f 5y

Class 6

14:30 Pontefract

Persian Phoenix

10st 10lb

J: Miss Brodie Hampson

T: Archie Watson

Sole turf win was in Jersey this May, preceding a Lingfield AW win in June; tailed off at Newcastle eight days later, which she needs to bounce back from, but the string of seconds (three on good to firm) at this time last year makes this look a good mark.

11/2

15/2

Form: 46237

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
11,000gns buy out of David Loughnane's yard in July; has shown some promise (close third in a 1m2f handicap at Yarmouth in July) and should improve upon last month's stable debut run at Redcar (1m2f, good to firm); player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

(1)

17th May 2026

Good

1m 1f 35y

Class 3

17:45 Hamilton

Epidavros

8st 11lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Katie Scott

On a losing run but this C&D scorer comes here in decent nick, fourth of 12 in 1m1f Musselburgh handicap three weeks ago; 2lb out of the handicap here though.

6/1

4th

4

(5)

26th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 208y

Class 5

16:45 Musselburgh

Epidavros

9st 12lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Katie Scott

0-12 last year but often ran well, including over C&D, and she reappeared with a solid fourth here (1m, good) a fortnight ago; has a chance.

11/2

4th

6

(8)

12th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 2y

Class 4

16:45 Musselburgh

Epidavros

9st 2lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Katie Scott

Both wins (7.7f/1m1f) in September 2024, but 0-13 since; now back off her last winning mark, but she may just need this after 194 days off.

16/1

Form: 1-7776

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
Wolverhampton nursery winner in November last year (8.5f); now 4lb lower, having failed to live up to that AW win in turf handicaps this season; needs to bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

(1)

2nd Jun 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

21:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Roman Secret

9st 5lb

J: Alec Voikhansky

T: Kevin & Lauren Frost

Was returning from six months off and drawn wide when beating Arlecchino's Rex by a short head over C&D in April, but found the trip too far at Southwell (1m3f, Tapeta) 13 days later; still 3lb higher than for the win, but still high on the list back under these conditions.

10/1

6th

5

(1)

30th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 6

17:52 Southwell (AW)

Roman Secret

9st 6lb

J: Alec Voikhansky

T: Kevin Frost

Overcame a wide draw to resume winning ways at Wolverhampton (9.4f; 22-1) a fortnight ago; that was her first win for 29 months and, while it's possible she'll strip fitter again, you couldn't be totally confident of a repeat from this 3lb higher mark.

4/1

1st

3

(13)

17th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

17:35 Wolverhampton (AW)

Roman Secret

9st 7lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Kevin Frost

Only 1-21, the win coming over 8.6f here in late 2023 for Richard Fahey; off since October when she wasn't in great form.

20/1

8/1

Form: 1-6177 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 9st 10lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Three AW wins at up to 9.5f last autumn; off the mark on turf in three-runner event at Redcar in May (1m2f, soft) despite being slowly away; has since run twice over hurdles and well beaten back on the Flat last time (1m4f, soft); hood now tried.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

(9)

9th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

17:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Kaaress

9st 3lb

J: James Glennon

T: Michael Attwater

Won a classified event at Lingfield (1m2f, AW; first-time visor) in January; held in three starts since, most recently in a classified 15 days ago; others make more appeal.

12/1

5th

9

(3)

25th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

17:52 Lingfield (AW)

Kaaress

9st 9lb

J: Kieren Fox

T: Michael Attwater

Two of these behind when springing a surprise over C&D in January (first-time visor, switched from cheekpieces); not as good since and is some way down the pecking order.

12/1

6th

9

(5)

9th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 6

17:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Kaaress

9st 0lb

J: Isobelle Chalmers

T: Michael Attwater

Sprung 16-1 surprise in a 1m2f classified event at Lingfield in January; last of eight back in handicap at Chelmsford 11 days ago; others safer.

14/1

Form: 0968

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Modest efforts in three 7f novice events; well beaten when stepped up to 1m on handicap debut at Ayr last time (good); may do better over 1m2f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

(10)

28th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

15:20 Newcastle (AW)

Spring Festival

9st 1lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

No wins in 17 and soundly beaten more often than not this season; runs well now and again but he's very light on AW experience.

16/1

5th

7

(6)

13th Sep 2025

Good

1m 0f 2y

Class 6

16:10 Musselburgh

Spring Festival

9st 3lb

J: Oisin McSweeney

T: David O’Meara

16-race maiden; went close in Ayr classified (1m, good) last month but finished well down the field in a subsequent AW handicap (1m2f) and cannot be relied upon heavily; swaps cheekpieces for refitted visor.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 4-2544

Last run: 65 days

W: 9st 11lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Ex-Richard Hughes; 20,000gns buy in July; seven-race maiden; fair efforts on last two starts, finishing fourth in a Nottingham maiden (8.5f, good) and a Newbury handicap (1m, good to firm); fourth on only go at 1m2f; quite interesting on stable debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(5)

2nd Aug 2025

Good

1m 0f 68y

Class 5

20:30 Hamilton

Keady Town

9st 8lb

J: Mohammed Tabti

T: Barry Murtagh

Ex-Richard Hughes; no worthwhile form since moving yards, under both codes, and blinkers replace the tongue-tie.

50/1

8

(6)

5th Jul 2025

Soft

1m 1f 0y

Class 5

20:12 Carlisle

Keady Town

10st 1lb

J: Paula Muir

T: Barry Murtagh

Ex-Richard Hughes 4yo; no worthwhile form since moving yards, under both codes.

66/1

13th

2

(3)

4th Jun 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

19:22 Ripon

Keady Town

9st 9lb

J: David Nolan

T: Barry Murtagh

Had some fair Flat form last year for Richard Hughes but he was beaten 32l in this sphere on yard debut last August and has shown little over hurdles in two starts this year.

50/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £6.30
Straight Forecast £5.33
Trifecta £27.70

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Persian Phoenix

The Guardian:

Liberty Coach

SPOTLIGHT:

Epidavros

D Express:

Roman Secret

Telegraph:

Kaaress

Daily Mail:

Liberty Coach

The Sun:

Liberty Coach

POSTDATA:

Persian Phoenix

The Times:

Persian Phoenix

Daily Mirror:

Persian Phoenix

The Star:

Persian Phoenix

Daily Record:

Persian Phoenix