October 02 / 16.20 Nottingham

16.20

Soft

Grassroots Series Stayers’ Final Handicap

  • Prize money: £15462
  • 1m 6f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 10 runners
RTV
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Grassroots Series Stayers’ Final Handicap

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Abandoned

Form: 132436

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Serial slow starter, sometimes looking reluctant, but he's run well for most of the summer and won at Newbury in June; won a maiden on soft in 2021, unraced on it this season; clear quirks and his form dipped when he overdid the slow start last time, but in the mix if back to his best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

28th May 2026

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 4

18:00 Market Rasen

Wahraan

11st 4lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Jessica Bedi

Has some useful Flat form and kept on steadily from a long way off the pace to take third on hurdle debut at Wetherby (2m, soft) in November; subsequent Grade 2 defeat is easily overlooked but he has become a very awkward ride, often refusing to settle and/or hanging; comes with risk.

2/1

5th

3

(1)

22nd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 27y

Class 4

19:52 Pontefract

Wahraan

9st 3lb

J: Shay Farmer

T: Jessica Bedi

Quirky and sometimes blows the start; on a reduced mark and retains some ability but he is not the obvious solution to this puzzle.

20/1

10th

15

(6)

8th May 2026

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

16:10 Chester

Wahraan

9st 2lb

J: Shay Farmer

T: Jessica Bedi

Quirky and sometimes blows the start; well handicapped judged on lots of 2024 form over 1m4f-2m, but he's seldom sparked in the same way since.

33/1

OUR TIP

Form: 242311

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Form figures of 311 in cheekpieces, the wins at Ayr (1m5f, good) and Ffos Las (2m, heavy; from Russian Rumour); up another 4lb but major player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

13

(7)

8th May 2026

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

16:10 Chester

Its All About You

9st 4lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Jennie Candlish

His only appearance at Chester was a successful one in eight-runner handicap last August (2m, good to firm) off 3lb lower than today, in a manner that was encouraging for this test; absent since a lesser show in September but scored in 2024 after a 113-day layoff and needs a close look.

16/1

8th

1

(5)

27th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:15 Ripon

Its All About You

10st 2lb

J: William Pyle

T: Jennie Candlish

Game winner of a 2m fast-ground Chester handicap before finishing fourth of five runners back over hurdles; only 3lb higher than for that recent win and goes on any ground.

6/1

3

9th Sep 2025

Soft

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

15:58 Newton Abbot

Its All About You

11st 4lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Had four runs over hurdles, winning in maiden/novice company (good to soft; soft) and close up in one of his two handicaps; returns to this scene after taking a Class 4 Flat handicap over 2m at Chester ten days ago; major player.

5/2

Form: 412712 CD BF

Last run: 54 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
1m6f wins this summer here and at Yarmouth, while last season's two wins were on soft; second at Haydock last time was up with his best form this term; firmly in the picture.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

(3)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

16:18 Newmarket

Expressionless

9st 7lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: Dylan Cunha

Good comeback over 1m2f when third of 15 at Doncaster (good to soft) in March and made it win number six when going in at Leicester (1m4f, good) next time; never threatened over 2m at Ascot last Friday but not ruled out back down in trip.

8/1

10th

7

(11)

8th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 209y

Class 4

17:10 Ascot

Expressionless

9st 7lb

J: Harry Vigors

T: Dylan Cunha

Three wins at 1m6f and it was his sixth win in total when beating four others over 1m4f at Leicester (good) last month; has won off this mark before and 2m looks worth a go; respected.

6/1

1st

1

(1)

13th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 179y

Class 5

14:52 Leicester

Expressionless

9st 9lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Dylan Cunha

Mostly ran with credit last term and did so again when third of 15 at Doncaster (1m2f) on 2025 reappearance; this step back up in trip should suit (1m6f winner last October); strong candidate.

11/4

Form: 60-631

Last run: 38 days

W: 8st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Won on debut at Windsor (1m2f, soft) last April; back to some form with close third to Russian Rumour over C&D (good) in May and he did not have to be at that level when justifying favouritism in Goodwood seller (1m3f, good to soft) over three months later; not dismissed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

27th Feb 2025

Soft

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

14:35 Ludlow

Clever Relation

11st 0lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sheila Lewis

Two Flat wins, the latest in a seller at Goodwood last August, but well beaten at triple-figure odds this winter on both hurdle starts.

66/1

8th

5

9th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

13:20 Chepstow

Clever Relation

11st 2lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sheila Lewis

Won a Flat seller for Hughie Morrison last summer (1m3f, good to soft; RPR 71) but was safely held in Taunton novice hurdle (2m, good) for new stable in December.

33/1

Form: -08173 CD

Last run: 27 days

W: 8st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Two races here in summer 2022 were his only wins until he scored at Salisbury (1m4f; made all) this July on second start for new yard; not disgraced on latest start and he should be okay back up to 1m6f on soft; one of many plausible each-way options.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(3)

29th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 2f 50y

Class 6

16:22 Nottingham

Alpine Stroll

11st 13lb

J: Mr Henry Callan

T: Lemos De Souza

Dual Nottingham winner; acts on soft, unraced on heavy; shot back to some form when storming home in an amateur riders' race at Bath (11.5f, good to soft) last month; well below form next time (1m6f, which he stays) but Henry Callan galvanised him to a 1m4f win at Newbury (soft) on Saturday; sole attempt at 1m2f was in 2021 but he had to hold on at Newbury after going clear and his appearance over this trip with 4lb penalty no longer looks ridiculous.

2/1

1st

1

(3)

29th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 2f 50y

Class 6

16:22 Nottingham

Alpine Stroll

11st 13lb

J: Mr Henry Callan

T: Lemos De Souza

Dual Nottingham winner; acts on soft, unraced on heavy; shot back to some form when storming home in an amateur riders' race at Bath (11.5f, good to soft) last month; well below form next time (1m6f, which he stays) but Henry Callan galvanised him to a 1m4f win at Newbury (soft) on Saturday; sole attempt at 1m2f was in 2021 but he had to hold on at Newbury after going clear and his appearance over this trip with 4lb penalty no longer looks ridiculous.

2/1

12

(7)

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

12:50 Newbury

Alpine Stroll

10st 11lb

J: Mr Henry Callan

T: Lemos De Souza

Acts on soft, unraced on heavy; shot back to some form when storming home in an amateur riders' race at Bath (11.5f, good to soft) last month; well below form off this 7lb higher mark at Haydock (1m6f, which he stays) 13 days later, however.

12/1

Abandoned

Form: 123015

Last run: 11 days

W: 8st 12lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Won at Chester (2m, heavy) last month and ran creditably there (1m6f, good to soft) off this 4lb higher mark eight days later; seemingly not the best handicapped but he is respected given the fluency of that win on heavy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

24th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

14:52 Uttoxeter

Corsican Caper

11st 9lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Kevin Frost

Lots of Flat racing and lowly rated these days; hadn't shown much over hurdles but kept finding to finish a 5.5l third over 2m4f here 22 days ago on his handicap debut, and this longer trip looks the obvious move.

100/30

3rd

11

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

15:50 Uttoxeter

Corsican Caper

10st 2lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Kevin Frost

Lowly rated these days on the Flat and has shown little in three runs over hurdles; makes handicap hurdle debut up in trip and needs to show significant improvement.

14/1

4th

3

9th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

14:32 Taunton

Corsican Caper

11st 2lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Kevin Frost

A fair 1m6f Flat winner; built on his hurdling debut seventh when third of four in 2m Doncaster novice 27 days ago but this demands considerably more.

12/1

Abandoned

Form: P6-298

Last run: 26 days

W: 8st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Won two novice hurdles in May, one on soft; he has not fired in his four starts since, however, two of them on Flat; well treated if back on song.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(6)

18th May 2026

Good

1m 6f 32y

Class 5

15:30 Carlisle

Haarar

9st 2lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Sam England

Generally productive over hurdles but last few efforts leave a doubt over whether he'll be in top form returned to the Flat for first time since winning at Redcar (1m6f, soft) in November 2024.

14/1

4th

6

31st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 3

16:00 Newcastle

Haarar

11st 2lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Has won five of his 17 races over hurdles, including at Haydock (2m3f, good to soft) and off 7lb lower at Carlisle (2m1f, good to soft) this season; not at his best on last two runs but could bounce back.

5/1

10th

2

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 87y

Class 2

15:22 Musselburgh

Haarar

11st 12lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Well beaten at Catterick last month but perhaps that run came too soon, just six days after he completed a double in good style at Carlisle (2m1f, good to soft); third in this last year and he could be involved.

12/1

Form: 146772 CD

Last run: 40 days

W: 8st 9lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
C&D winner in May; not so good through the summer but she then kept It's All About You up to his work at Ffos Las (2m, heavy) on latest outing, which needs respect given today's likely ground conditions.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

(1)

26th May 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:54 Lingfield

Russian Rumour

9st 4lb

J: Donagh Murphy

T: Jonathan Portman

Course winner (2m) who bids a for hat-trick after wins at Ffos Las (2m, heavy) last September (by 12l) and on her Nottingham return under Donagh Murphy (1m6f, good) 17 days ago; only 2lb higher and much respected.

11/8

1st

2

(1)

9th May 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:10 Nottingham

Russian Rumour

9st 12lb

J: Donagh Murphy

T: Jonathan Portman

9yo who won this race (good) on her reappearance in 2024 and she ended last season with a 12l win at Ffos Las (2m, heavy; made all); 7lb higher on her return but she still looks on a workable mark and won't mind what the weather does; key player for in-form yard.

5/4

1st

1

(1)

28th Sep 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:50 Ffos Las

Russian Rumour

10st 2lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Jonathan Portman

Won over 2m1f on heavy ground last year and went in again at the expense of two rivals on good to firm this summer; nothing wrong with her latest effort in a Class 2 over 1m6f at Bath (soft).

5/2

Form: -22811 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 8st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Front-running second in two of three handicaps for Sir Mark Prescott (flopped next time) before sold for £9,000 in July; upped to 1m4f then 1m6f by new trainer when winning at Ffos Las (soft) and Haydock (good to soft); latest 6lb rise looks a bit harsh but he's an improving 3yo.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

(4)

25th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 4

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Knight Templar

9st 8lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Robert Stephens

Took his C&D record to 2-2 with a success in January and posted a solid effort at Southwell in most recent Flat outing; took advantage of a handy hurdles mark since; respected.

2/1

1st

3

9th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

15:10 Taunton

Knight Templar

11st 11lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Robert Stephens

In good form over hurdles without winning this term before scoring on the Flat at Kempton in January; he must enter calculations back in this sphere.

11/1

2nd

4

(12)

20th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 5

17:30 Southwell (AW)

Knight Templar

9st 8lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Robert Stephens

4-13 on the Flat; narrow winner over 2m at Kempton and it wasn't his first below-par effort at Lingfield 20 days ago; handles this surface and better can be expected.

6/1

Form: 518668 CD

Last run: 11 days

W: 8st 7lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Clearcut winner off just 1lb lower over C&D (good to soft) in June but has gone the wrong way in her four races since, including one over C&D; unraced on worse than good to soft.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

(7)

23rd May 2026

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:15 York

Rock N Roll Pinkie

9st 2lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Ivan Furtado

Six wins (all handicaps) from 32 runs; not disgraced after losing ground at the start when fourth of six at Nottingham four weeks ago; faces a significantly stiffer assignment on her first attempt at a Group race.

25/1

4th

1

(3)

26th Apr 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:25 Nottingham

Rock N Roll Pinkie

9st 9lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Ivan Furtado

3-10 at Nottingham, including the first of last year's three wins; effective at 1m6f/2m and ran well on recent return, so shortlisted.

3/1

2nd

1

(3)

9th Apr 2026

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 4

16:25 Southwell (AW)

Rock N Roll Pinkie

9st 12lb

J: David Nolan

T: Ivan Furtado

Enjoyed a good 2025 when a three-time winner (from 1m6f to 2m) but she came in last in 1m6f Nottingham handicap on her final run in October; has gone well off a break, though.

10/1

Verdict

While most of the field have realistic each-way claims, the hat-trick seeking pair IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU and Knight Templar may be the ones to focus on. The latter is the only 3yo in the field and he’s 2-2 for his current stable but it looks as if he needs further improvement, while the selection is probably better than the bare result at Ffos Las last time, having taken over (from Russian Rumour) in smooth style over 3f out in that 2m race on heavy going.[Richard Austen]

Selections

Daily Mail:

Knight Templar

RP RATINGS:

Clever Relation

SPOTLIGHT:

It's All About You

TOPSPEED:

Wahraan

Daily Mirror:

Expressionless

D Express:

Knight Templar

The Sun:

Knight Templar

Daily Record:

Knight Templar

Telegraph:

It's All About You

POSTDATA:

Clever Relation

The Times:

Clever Relation

The Guardian:

Clever Relation

The Star:

Wahraan