August 26 / 14.42 Epsom

14.42

Good

Betfred ‘The Classic Bookmaker’ Handicap

  • Prize money: £10308
  • 0m 7f 3y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
Betfred ‘The Classic Bookmaker’ Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.38
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 41-103 D

Last run: 37 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 4yo; won a maiden on final start last term and a novice on first this season, both 7f Kempton AW; 1m at Royal Ascot did not work out but she resumed progress when a close third of 12 at Doncaster (7f, good) in her second turf run, hooded for the first time and perhaps finding herself in front too soon (over 1f out); big shout if she adapts to this track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(4)

17th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

0m 6f 3y

Class 3

16:35 Yarmouth

Summer Of Love

10st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Saeed bin Suroor

Lightly raced 4yo who is 3-6; this is her first crack at sprinting but she doesn't look short of gears and would have won more easily at Epsom (7f, good) recently had she not idled; 3lb higher; hooded the last twice but not today.

6/4

1st

5

(7)

26th Aug 2024

Good

0m 7f 3y

Class 3

14:42 Epsom

Summer Of Love

9st 8lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Saeed bin Suroor

sweating, swerved right start, took keen hold, in touch with leaders, switched to centre 3f out, pushed along 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, idled final 110yds, always doing enough

9/4

3rd

4

(3)

20th Jul 2024

Soft

0m 7f 6y

Class 3

19:45 Doncaster

Summer Of Love

9st 11lb

J: Christian Howarth

T: Saeed bin Suroor

prominent on outer, led over 1f out

11/2

12/1

  • Place: £3.90

Form: 378215 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 8st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Won on good to soft as 2yo; seems to have settled at a fair level this season for new yard but winning so well at Beverley (7.4f; made all) on penultimate start has resulted in 11lb higher mark today, which looks tough.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

(9)

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 96y

Class 4

16:00 Beverley

Bell Shot

9st 8lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Michael Appleby

Kickstarted 2026 with 6f success at Southwell and comes here on the back of a good third of 11 in 7f Kempton handicap; this three-time C&D scorer must enter calculations.

9/2

3rd

3

(5)

20th May 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Bell Shot

9st 8lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: Michael Appleby

Nine-time winner (6f-7.4f), who defied this mark at Southwell in January but he's been well held in three runs since; now drops back in grade but he needs to get back near his best.

20/1

6th

10

(2)

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 1y

Class 3

16:45 Chester

Bell Shot

9st 4lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Michael Appleby

Did too much up front kept to AW on return from break last time, again running below the form of his January win; effective on turf but has never defied a mark as high as current one.

20/1

13/2

Form: 0-4200 D

Last run: 44 days

W: 9st 13lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Has won on soft but better form when it's not that testing; a Group 3 fourth scuppered his handicap mark for the second half of last term but he was short-headed off a reduced mark at Newmarket (7f, good) this May; well held at Royal Ascot and ran poorly in the Bunbury Cup, but this is a big step down in class.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(6)

23rd Aug 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

14:05 Goodwood

Gorak

9st 0lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Charlie Fellowes

Best form this season when placed twice at Haydock, including latest start; still on a workable mark but continues on a long losing sequence, which makes him a similar type to Billyjoh.

16/1

3

(2)

9th Aug 2025

Good

0m 7f 37y

Class 3

16:10 Haydock

Gorak

9st 13lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Charlie Fellowes

Record over C&D includes a success in May 2023 and solid second on reappearance this term; disappointing favourite here on penultimate start and losing run is mounting up; best form certainly gives him a good chance off current mark back down in grade.

7/1

11

(1)

12th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

14:50 Newmarket (July)

Gorak

9st 4lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Charlie Fellowes

Disappointing favourite at Haydock last Saturday, extending his long losing sequence; beaten twice in this contest (seventh in 2023, well held in 2024) and can be opposed.

33/1

OUR TIP

6/1

Form: 610174 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Won on heavy as 2yo; this season he scored at Newbury (7f, good to firm) in June and Newmarket (first go at 1m, good to soft) in July; ran creditably on last two outings and should not be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(11)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:42 Newmarket

Sterling Knight

9st 11lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Ed Dunlop

Having dropped 1lb below his last winning mark he returned to form when third of 13 over C&D a fortnight ago (good to firm; Final Night second); he can be in the mix back up 1lb if backing up that latest performance.

8/1

3rd

8

(2)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

17:55 Newmarket

Sterling Knight

9st 8lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: Ed Dunlop

Fine stable servant with 11 wins to his name, although recent efforts have been underwhelming; only seventh of ten at the Craven meeting here and he needs to be revived by the presence of Ryan Moore in the saddle.

18/1

Form: 2115 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Twice made all (Chester and Thirsk) in his three novice races, latterly on good to soft; made most but well held when second favourite for handicap debut at Newmarket (7f, good to firm) 16 days ago, suggesting he's not on the best of marks; it's unchanged today but these are early days for him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

(12)

30th May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 1y

Class 2

15:30 Chester

Bobby Bennu

9st 3lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Course winner; only eighth in the corresponding race 12 months ago; 4lb lower today but he is drawn wide and this may not be his day.

16/1

Form: 432424

Last run: 11 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Consistent 3yo whose run of minor honours includes a second at Glorious Goodwood (7f, good to firm; acts on good to soft); wore cheekpieces last two starts, now it's blinkers; should be thereabouts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(2)

25th Sep 2024

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Piz Nair

9st 12lb

J: Liam Wright

T: George Scott

Two 6f wins, the second on Polytrack off a 4lb lower mark; some of his placed form since reads well and a lesser effort last time can be excused as the undulations of Epsom looked an issue; should get a good pace to aim at and he holds each-way claims.

10/1

6th

6

(2)

26th Aug 2024

Good

0m 7f 3y

Class 3

14:42 Epsom

Piz Nair

8st 12lb

J: Callum Shepherd

T: George Scott

dwelt start, took keen hold, held up in rear, switched to centre 3f out, headway and challenging when hung left 2f out

4/1

4th

12

(1)

15th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 0f 31y

Class 3

19:00 Windsor

Piz Nair

8st 13lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: George Scott

Consistent 3yo who kept on well for 3l second at Glorious Goodwood (7f, good to firm) recently in first-time cheekpieces (retained); on that latest evidence today's first crack at 1m is well worth a go; he's a possible.

15/2

Form: 35-020

Last run: 67 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
3yo who tried Group/Listed events last year after a winning debut; it's been handicaps this term, easily best of those efforts when second over 7f at Goodwood in June, 11 days before a fruitless second crack at 1m (Royal Ascot); left Jane Chapple-Hyam for 100,000gns in July and has his first start since; not dismissed back at 7f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

14

(6)

27th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 3

20:30 Kempton (AW)

Son Of Man

9st 4lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Jim Boyle

High marks for consistency of late and belatedly doubled his tally at Lingfield last month (1m4f, AW); better form when going down by a nose under same conditions next time and it wasn't much of a drop off when third at Windsor last week; hard to rule out.

10/1

3rd

3

(4)

18th May 2026

Good

1m 3f 99y

Class 4

19:40 Windsor

Son Of Man

9st 9lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Jim Boyle

Just two wins from 25 starts but latest was at Lingfield (1m4f, AW) last month and he had a near-miss on his return visit three weeks ago; up another 3lb but he remains feasibly treated and his first win was on turf; strongly respected.

7/2

2nd

7

(6)

27th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:20 Lingfield (AW)

Son Of Man

9st 6lb

J: Connor Planas

T: Jim Boyle

Gained a first success (since his debut in 2023) when edging out Wonder by 1l in 15-runner handicap over C&D 24 days ago; 2lb worse off here but still not taken lightly.

3/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £15.80
Straight Forecast £17.36
Trifecta £71.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Summer Of Love

TOPSPEED:

Piz Nair

The Times:

Bobby Bennu

NEWMARKET:

Sterling Knight

Telegraph:

Bobby Bennu

RP RATINGS:

Summer Of Love

POSTDATA:

Summer Of Love

Daily Mail:

Summer Of Love

D Express:

Summer Of Love

Daily Mirror:

Summer Of Love

The Sun:

Summer Of Love

The Star:

Summer Of Love

The Guardian:

Piz Nair

Daily Record:

Piz Nair