August 26 / 16.30 Southwell (AW)

16.30

Standard

N & L Franklin Ltd Handicap (Div II)

  • Prize money: £3873.16
  • 0m 6f 16y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
SKY
View Course
N & L Franklin Ltd Handicap (Div II)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Partly cloudy

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 477150 CD

Last run: 32 days

W: 9st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Made all in a 7f handicap at Carlisle in June; no issue with the return to either 6f or AW but not sure there's much juice in his current mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

(6)

3rd Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

19:42 Ripon

Blazing Son

9st 6lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Bryan Smart

More productive on AW (5-17) than on turf (2-28) and was only run out of it inside the final furlong at Newcastle (7f Class 5; 9-1) in March; less effective since (0-2) but is slowly easing in the weights, and is perhaps best suited by 6f.

11/1

9th

4

(3)

20th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

Blazing Son

9st 7lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Bryan Smart

Seven-time winner who scored off 1lb higher over C&D in September; has been hit and miss since but he finished second here (7f) on his penultimate run and wasn't disgraced after an awkward start at Southwell last time; usually races prominently and he's not ruled out back at this track.

10/1

5/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: -35743 CD

Last run: 36 days

W: 8st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 60

Form & Verdict
Three course wins in 2022; best effort this year when a close third of 14 at Redcar five weeks ago; won't be far away with a repeat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

6

(6)

27th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

17:20 Beverley

So Grateful

9st 2lb

J: Lewis Chalkley

T: Michael & David Easterby

Usually leads or races prominently; two sprint wins in 2025, the latest over 6f at Thirsk (good to firm; when 3lb higher) last May, but he was quiet towards the end of the campaign and has been off since August; perhaps other days.

14/1

1

(5)

17th Aug 2025

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 6

13:22 Southwell (AW)

So Grateful

10st 2lb

J: Lewis Chalkley

T: Michael & David Easterby

Two wins this year, the latest when making all over 6f at Thirsk in May; there have been some excuses since then and his record at this track means he can't be ignored.

7/1

9th

2

(5)

23rd Jul 2025

Soft

0m 5f 212y

Class 6

17:00 Catterick

So Grateful

9st 10lb

J: Sam James

T: Michael & David Easterby

Still below a winning mark despite two successes since March (5f on Tapeta and 6f on fast turf), but yet to oblige on genuinely slow turf and a record of 85577 around here doesn't set the pulse racing.

10/1

5/1

  • Place: £2.40

Form: 560070 CD

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Yet to win this year but he's run the odd good race and he's now 10lb lower than when returning to action in April; needs serious consideration now dropping into a 0-70; goes without any accessories for the first time since last June.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(2)

4th Jun 2026

Standard

0m 5f 6y

Class 6

17:40 Lingfield (AW)

Shalaa Asker

9st 7lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Charlie Wallis

Busy since the autumn; some narrow defeats to go with three 5f wins, on Polytrack elsewhere and Tapeta; ran flat at Southwell recently but he's realistically weighted if that wasn't a sign that he's going off the boil.

9/2

6th

5

(2)

21st May 2026

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 5

17:57 Southwell (AW)

Shalaa Asker

9st 4lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Charlie Wallis

Three wins in the winter, including over C&D, and he has continued to run well off his revised mark; drawn wide on turf last time and usually gives his running round here, so holds each-way claims.

12/1

6th

3

(1)

9th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 4f 217y

Class 5

16:25 Lingfield

Shalaa Asker

9st 6lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Charlie Wallis

Nine wins on the AW but just 1-28 on turf; fit from a productive winter campaign but he's drawn on the outside and others are more appealing.

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: 550528 C

Last run: 46 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
2lb lower than for his Kempton win last October; latest start at Epsom was poor but he'd run well at Kempton beforehand and returning to the AW probably no bad thing; change of headgear today; more appealing than many.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(14)

8th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

19:40 Kempton (AW)

Al Ameen

9st 5lb

J: George Wood

T: James Fanshawe

Three wins over C&D in the spring, but last two efforts (albeit in warmer company) leave something to be desired; widest stall to contend with.

14/1

10

(2)

6th Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

14:05 Kempton (AW)

Al Ameen

8st 11lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: James Fanshawe

Campaigned mostly at shorter; scored three times over 7f at Kempton in the spring; below par over C&D on penultimate outing and has something to prove back at 1m.

50/1

Form: 540653 C

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
More encouraging signs on turf the last twice, latterly finishing third of seven at Nottingham 13 days ago (5f, good to firm); better on AW and although he's handicapped accordingly, he needs consideration at this level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

9

(7)

24th Oct 2024

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 5

18:15 Wolverhampton (AW)

High Velocity

9st 6lb

J: Brandon Wilkie

T: David Loughnane

All four wins on the AW (rated 4lb higher than on turf) including one over C&D; went close at Redcar (5f, good to firm) on his penultimate start, but is without a success since August 2022; others make greater appeal.

10/1

7

(4)

30th Sep 2024

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 5

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

High Velocity

9st 6lb

J: Laura Pearson

T: David Loughnane

Did well to go close at Redcar (5f) two weeks ago considering he probably didn't have the ideal track position; now 0-9 for current yard and 7lb higher back on AW but still looks well treated on historical data.

7/1

2nd

7

(9)

17th Sep 2024

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

15:43 Redcar

High Velocity

9st 8lb

J: Brandon Wilkie

T: David Loughnane

Four AW wins for previous yard; 0-8 for current stable and has the same record on turf but he ran encouragingly on his most recent start in this sphere; attractively weighted.

7/1

12/1

Form: 200706 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
On a good mark now and latest effort here (7f) hinted that something bigger was brewing; he'll need them to go hard back at 6f but he's one to keep an eye on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(1)

17th Oct 2024

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

19:30 Southwell (AW)

Bicep

9st 10lb

J: Harrison Shaw

T: Grant Tuer

prominent

7/1

5th

2

(5)

4th Oct 2024

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

19:30 Newcastle (AW)

Bicep

9st 10lb

J: Harrison Shaw

T: Grant Tuer

pressed leader

3/1

10

29th Sep 2024

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 5

13:55 Southwell (AW)

Bicep

9st 10lb

J: Harrison Shaw

T: Grant Tuer

20/1

Form: 691866

Last run: 105 days

W: 8st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Ended a losing run with a front-running 5f win at Doncaster in March (soft); not beaten far at Catterick when last seen in May but others may have his measure today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

(6)

14th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

0m 5f 10y

Class 4

17:05 Bath

Zargun

8st 10lb

J: Mikkel Mortensen

T: Scott Dixon

Ended a losing run with a front-running 5f win at Doncaster in March (soft); in and out since and there are other pace influences in this field.

16/1

7th

9

(5)

26th Aug 2024

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 5

16:30 Southwell (AW)

Zargun

8st 12lb

J: Mikkel Mortensen

T: Scott Dixon

Ended a losing run with a front-running 5f win at Doncaster in March (soft); not beaten far at Catterick when last seen in May but others may have his measure today.

20/1

Form: -45777 CD

Last run: 74 days

W: 9st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Three 6f Tapeta wins for this yard, including C&D; down the field off his lower turf mark at Nottingham in June; capable at this level but there are risks attached.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

7

(7)

1st May 2026

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

20:10 Newcastle (AW)

Bellagio Man

9st 4lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Antony Brittain

Recorded back-to-back C&D wins last October (the second off 3lb lower) but the wheels came off in his hat-trick bid in November; back from 161 days off with a point to prove.

16/1

8

(6)

1st Nov 2025

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

18:45 Newcastle (AW)

Bellagio Man

9st 4lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Antony Brittain

Comes here chasing a C&D hat-trick after two narrow wins last month; still feasibly weighted up 3lb and should be in the thick of the action.

9/2

8

(6)

1st Nov 2025

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

18:45 Newcastle (AW)

Bellagio Man

9st 4lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Antony Brittain

Comes here chasing a C&D hat-trick after two narrow wins last month; still feasibly weighted up 3lb and should be in the thick of the action.

9/2

Form: -71740 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
Below par on turf on his last three starts but his latest AW run saw him saunter to success in a 6f handicap at Lingfield in April; well handicapped on that form; contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

11

(11)

1st Jun 2026

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 5

21:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Watermelon Sugar

9st 1lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Chelsea Banham

Took advantage of a sliding mark round Lingfield in the winter (last four wins come there but is fine on Tapeta); off the boil since and this is a bit tougher; would want to see some support tonight.

20/1

11th

3

(1)

21st May 2026

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 6

21:00 Southwell (AW)

Watermelon Sugar

9st 8lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Chelsea Banham

In good form at Lingfield during the winter and is a bit of specialist over 6f there (112121), but he has won over this C&D; latest Kempton effort not hard to forgive given his record at that track and could easily bounce back; shortlisted.

10/1

10th

4

(8)

8th Apr 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Watermelon Sugar

9st 8lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Chelsea Banham

In good form at Lingfield lately and has become a bit of a specialist over 6f there (112121); it's a different story here (8770) and that would be the concern.

11/4

Non-runners

Enderman

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £18.90
Straight Forecast £16.82
Tricast £79.47
Trifecta £111.70

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Al Ameen

The Times:

High Velocity

THE NORTH:

So Grateful

POSTDATA:

Enderman

TOPSPEED:

Bicep

SPOTLIGHT:

Watermelon Sugar

Daily Mail:

Blazing Son

NEWMARKET:

Al Ameen

Telegraph:

Al Ameen

The Sun:

Al Ameen

Daily Mirror:

High Velocity

The Star:

High Velocity

Daily Record:

High Velocity

D Express:

So Grateful

The Guardian:

Enderman