September 21 / 17.35 Newbury

17.35

Good To Soft

Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Handicap

  • Prize money: £13085
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Thunderstorms

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 111131 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Generally progressive and has a record of 5-7 in handicaps, gaining most wins on AW but he's still unexposed on turf; won on soft going in June and ran creditably over C&D in July; enters calculations back on grass.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

12

26th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 13y

19:30 Ballinrobe

Atlantic Gamble

10st 13lb

J: Jack G Gilligan

T: Paul John Gilligan

Flat winner is 0-5 over hurdles and was well beaten in sole previous handicap off 3lb higher at Limerick on penultimate; best form has come on heavy ground; others preferred.

25/1

6th

1

12th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 166y

17:27 Sligo

Atlantic Gamble

11st 12lb

J: Jack G Gilligan

T: Paul John Gilligan

Six-time Flat winner in Britain; not shown much yet hurdling and has to concede weight.

12/1

9/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 311115 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Similar type to Atlantic Gamble, being a productive gelding who has a high strike-rate (5-8) in handicaps; close fifth off this mark last time (1m, AW) and remains in form; versatile ground-wise on turf.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

(5)

13th Oct 2024

Heavy

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:20 Goodwood

Phoenix Passion

9st 13lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Ed Walker

Had an excellent run in 1m turf handicaps this year, winning the first three, including over C&D, and losing nothing in defeat against a fellow improver at Newbury (heavy) 22 days ago; edged up 1lb but has much better claims than most.

4/1

2nd

8

(12)

21st Sep 2024

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:35 Newbury

Phoenix Passion

9st 5lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Ed Walker

Similar type to Atlantic Gamble, being a productive gelding who has a high strike-rate (5-8) in handicaps; close fifth off this mark last time (1m, AW) and remains in form; versatile ground-wise on turf.

9/1

14/1

  • Place: £4.70

Form: 3-4156 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Prevailed only narrowly in Goodwood novice contest (1m, good) in June and has failed to build on that success in handicaps since; however, may benefit from the first-time hood, having often failed to settle.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(1)

2nd Sep 2025

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 5

16:43 Goodwood

Dramatic Effect

9st 12lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Sole success in 15 came in a 1m good-ground novice here last season; below par this year with and without the hood; others preferred.

25/1

6th

5

(6)

8th Aug 2025

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

20:14 Newmarket (July)

Dramatic Effect

9st 10lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Did not progress much after her 1m Goodwood novice win last spring and reappearance (1m, AW) was clearly the best of her three results this term; the hood (absent last time) returns and peak 2024 form reads well but other runners are more persuasive.

25/1

5

(4)

30th Jun 2025

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:15 Ffos Las

Dramatic Effect

9st 11lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Did not progress much after last spring's 1m Goodwood novice win and failed to build upon her encouraging seasonal reappearance when soundly beaten over that C&D this month; others preferred.

14/1

3/1

Form: 612132 BF

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Has largely consistent 6f/7f form, including a record of 121 on turf; placed in Racing League events on AW the last twice; likely player returned to grass, provided he stays this new trip (no certainty on breeding).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(6)

24th Oct 2025

Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:35 Newbury

Kodi Lion

9st 10lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Michael Appleby

Second in the corresponding race 12 months ago when rated 6lb lower (only seven ran); he has progressed for his new stable this year, winning at Haydock in May and finishing second off this mark back at Haydock in August; not so good on soft ground on his last two starts; type to bounce back.

10/1

25

(17)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Ayr

Kodi Lion

8st 13lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Michael Appleby

Flits between 6f and 7f with aplomb; 5lb higher than for his Haydock win in May (6f, good) though and not sure where the requisite improvement is coming from.

25/1

9th

3

(4)

30th Aug 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

13:50 Sandown

Kodi Lion

9st 11lb

J: William Buick

T: Michael Appleby

Acts on any ground; largely consistent throughout his career; 6f winner for current yard; sound efforts at Ascot (fifth in major handicap) and Haydock (close second despite traffic issues) since returned to 7f; solid.

7/2

Form: 814 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Ran well under a penalty in Goodwood novice event (1m2f) on the same day that The Ice Phoenix scored at Southwell; won over 1m on AW the time before; raced only three times and may do better still; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

24th

5

(26)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:10 Newbury

Urban Lion

9st 9lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Jack Channon

Goes well in a big field over a straight 1m; beaten a neck in this race last year (good ground) and made a winning return in the Lincoln at Doncaster (good to soft; beat Rogue Diplomat a nose) three weeks ago; should be in the thick of things again off a 4lb higher mark.

9/1

1st

7

(2)

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:32 Doncaster

Urban Lion

9st 6lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Jack Channon

Close fifth in the Royal Hunt Cup (1m, good to firm) last June and close third next time, again at Ascot (1m, good to firm); has shown promise on soft ground; not at the top of his game on his final two outings last term but has an each-way shout if back to his best on this reappearance.

20/1

9th

7

(19)

27th Sep 2025

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 2

15:40 Newmarket

Urban Lion

9st 2lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Jack Channon

Below par at York latest but a wide draw made things tough for this prominent-racer; progressive otherwise, rallying when close fifth of 30 in the Royal Hunt Cup (1m, good to firm) and when close third to Ebt's Guard at Ascot (1m, good to firm) two starts ago; of interest over today's extra 1f.

25/1

Form: 2-041

Last run: 107 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Absent since his Haydock win (7f, good) in June when making handicap debut; now 8lb higher but Alec Voikhansky takes off a handy 3lb; the market signals may prove best guide, given his lack of recent match practice.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

2

(13)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 6y

Class 6

20:45 Doncaster

Sedgemoor

9st 9lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: John Ryan

Has a patchy profile but he's won twice at Newcastle (6f, AW) this year and bounced back with a creditable third at Haydock (6f, good to firm) three weeks ago; that was an eye-catching effort from off the pace and he's respected back up in trip.

7/1

3rd

11

(4)

25th Apr 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

16:55 Haydock

Sedgemoor

8st 8lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: John Ryan

It took a drop into classified company for him to return to winning ways in February (6f, AW; blinkered first time; final run for John Butler); gained a second Newcastle win of the year last month but he raced far too freely back there on Monday; up in class today and likely vulnerable.

14/1

10th

1

(8)

20th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

17:30 Newcastle (AW)

Sedgemoor

9st 9lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: John Ryan

First-time blinkers saw him return to winning ways in a C&D classified event in February; won C&D handicap on second start for new yard last month; holds strong claims again.

7/4

7th
14 (10)
Aljezur

66/1

Form: 970836

Last run: 17 days

W: 8st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Ties in with Thorntonledale Max on Kempton running (penultimate start) but isn't guaranteed to repeat that form, having proved far from consistent otherwise this year; still a maiden to boot.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

(12)

27th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 1y

Class 6

14:35 Redcar

Aljezur

9st 1lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Jennie Candlish

Longstanding maiden who didn't appear to get home when fourth in a classified at Ffos Las (1m2f, good) in August back in cheekpieces (retained); on a career-low mark and Hector Crouch booked (1-2 for the stable this year) but has become disappointing.

10/1

9

(12)

27th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 1y

Class 6

14:35 Redcar

Aljezur

9st 1lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Jennie Candlish

Longstanding maiden who didn't appear to get home when fourth in a classified at Ffos Las (1m2f, good) in August back in cheekpieces (retained); on a career-low mark and Hector Crouch booked (1-2 for the stable this year) but has become disappointing.

10/1

Form: 35251

Last run: 31 days

W: 8st 11lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Campaigned only on AW, dead-heating at Kempton (7f) on handicap debut most recently; may well progress further and looks interesting in this scenario on turf debut, being a brother to City Of York who won this race last year (for same connections; on heavy ground).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(4)

4th Sep 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

16:25 Southwell (AW)

Thorntonledale Max

9st 6lb

J: Callum Shepherd

T: David Simcock

Dead-heated at Kempton (7f, AW) last August; fourth in his first two starts this year and bounced back from a lesser effort when runner-up at Lingfield (7f, AW) nine days ago; 2lb well in and looks a contender.

7/2

2nd

7

(1)

26th Aug 2025

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 5

19:10 Lingfield (AW)

Thorntonledale Max

9st 9lb

J: Luke Morris

T: David Simcock

Has raced 13 times, mostly on AW; hooded when creditable fourth over 7f on AW here and at Chelmsford this summer; form took a dip at Southwell last time but he's another that can't be totally ruled out.

9/1

5

(9)

1st Aug 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

16:05 Southwell (AW)

Thorntonledale Max

9st 5lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: David Simcock

Has raced 12 times, mostly on AW; creditable fourth over 7f on AW at Lingfield and Chelmsford this summer and being eased another 2lb can only help.

9/1

Non-runners

The Ice Phoenix, Great Chieftain, Mirador, Retracement, Flag Of Love, Tribal Chief

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £23.00
Straight Forecast £22.92
Tricast £364.46
Trifecta £258.70

Selections

The Times:

Tribal Chief

Telegraph:

Great Chieftain

SPOTLIGHT:

Thorntonledale Max

RP RATINGS:

Kodi Lion

TOPSPEED:

Sedgemoor

POSTDATA:

Atlantic Gamble

NEWMARKET:

Thorntonledale Max

The Sun:

Great Chieftain

The Star:

Great Chieftain

Daily Mirror:

Kodi Lion

Daily Mail:

Tribal Chief

D Express:

Tribal Chief

Daily Record:

Tribal Chief

The Guardian:

Sedgemoor