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

9th

2

(7)

18th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 6y

Class 3

18:45 Doncaster

Kodi Lion

10st 2lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Michael Appleby

Won over 6f at Haydock in May 2025 (good) and a couple of fair runs over 7f after that; acts on fast ground but he lacks a recent run (has been off since October).

8/1

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

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

26th

12

(20)

17th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

Urban Lion

9st 4lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Jack Channon

Good fifth in this race last year but was in a progressive vein of form at the time; some inconsistency has crept in and he finished last (admittedly lost a shoe) in the Spring Cup at Newbury most recently, failing to back up the form of his narrow success in the Lincoln on reappearance.

33/1

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

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

6th

5

(3)

17th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

20:43 Newmarket (July)

Sedgemoor

8st 10lb

J: Finlay Bassett

T: John Ryan

Sole win on turf came over two years ago and his last two efforts have been moderate; this mark is fine if first-time cheekpieces spark him back to life, however.

16/1

9th

15

(16)

23rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

19:00 Newbury

Sedgemoor

8st 11lb

J: Connor Planas

T: John Ryan

Two wins at Newcastle (6f, AW) this year, but not very consistent and was well beaten at Doncaster (7f, good to soft) last month; 2lb out of the weights; stable also runs White Ladder.

25/1

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