October 17 / 20.15 Chelmsford (AW)

20.15

Standard

Betfair Exchange Beacons Handicap

  • Prize money: £4710.6
  • 0m 5f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
Betfair Exchange Beacons Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Polytrack

Weather: Cloudy

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £9.00
  • Place: £3.20

Form: 677214 CD

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 61

Form & Verdict
Recent turf form includes a win; dual C&D scorer who ties in with Dark Side Prince on last AW effort (February); possibilities.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

(12)

29th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 21y

Class 6

19:30 Windsor

Cabeza De Llave

9st 8lb

J: Kieren Fox

T: Michael Attwater

C&D winner; no win anywhere since October 2024 but he's been placed this year on both his visits to Windsor (5f, good to firm); drawn wider this time but he's considered each-way.

10/1

3rd

8

(7)

22nd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 21y

Class 6

20:20 Windsor

Cabeza De Llave

9st 5lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Michael Attwater

His losing run goes back to October 2024 and he was only fifth at Lingfield (5f, good) last month, but prior to that he was second over this C&D (good to firm) and the return to Windsor could be a plus for this two-time C&D winner; he's one to consider.

7/1

OUR TIP

4/1

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 131162 CD

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Productive on AW/turf this year, winning five times, including over C&D; creditable second at Wolverhampton most recently; solid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(6)

18th May 2026

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 5

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Smooth Silesie

10st 2lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Lisa Williamson

Won off this mark at Yarmouth (5f, good to soft) last October but hasn't got going in four runs this year, beating only one rival; needs to show more.

16/1

5th

4

(1)

4th May 2026

Firm

0m 5f 10y

Class 5

15:25 Bath

Smooth Silesie

9st 8lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Lisa Williamson

C&D winner; had a good time of things in 2025, winning four times; she has finished last in her three AW runs this year and has only dropped 3lb; may need some more help from the handicapper.

20/1

7th

4

(1)

21st Apr 2026

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 5

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Smooth Silesie

9st 9lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: Lisa Williamson

Won at her beloved Yarmouth (5f, good to soft; from 4lb lower) last October; hasn't been at her best since returning to AW recently; this is a fraction easier and she could strip fitter but others are more appealing.

25/1

9/2

Form: 976423 CD

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Four AW wins, the most recent off 7lb higher last November; ties in closely with Smooth Silesie on Wolverhampton form last time; player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(2)

1st Sep 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 60y

Class 5

14:15 Brighton

Pop Dancer

9st 2lb

J: William Carson

T: Tony Carroll

Two wins this season, the latter from the front over C&D (good to soft) in May; also suited by good to firm ground and last month's down-the-field finish here can be excused (stumbled leaving stalls) but others in this line-up look better handicapped; finished last of 13 in first-time visor here yesterday.

6/1

4

(3)

31st Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 215y

Class 2

15:22 Brighton

Pop Dancer

9st 4lb

J: Tyrese Cameron

T: Tony Carroll

In a good vein of form, including at Brighton, until losing his chance at the start last time; however, raced mainly at about 5f and this belated return to 6f presents a question mark; change of headgear.

10/1

1

(11)

6th Aug 2025

Good

0m 5f 60y

Class 6

14:15 Brighton

Pop Dancer

9st 12lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Tony Carroll

Resurgent 8yo who handles most ground and has form figures of 231212 since the end of March; put in a dominant display (good to soft) in May and was just nabbed last time (also C&D, good to firm) in June; up another 1lb but remains well handicapped on old form and he's a big player back from a two-month break.

3/1

Form: 111356 CD

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Good record over C&D includes five wins, latterly three in 2024; returns to this venue off last winning mark and warrants respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(3)

27th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 6

20:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Dark Side Prince

9st 8lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Jessica Macey

Prolific 5f winner, including over C&D, most recently at Chelmsford in October off 2lb lower; however, he was disappointing back at Chelmsford in February and has a bit to prove this time.

5/1

8th

5

(3)

21st Feb 2026

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

18:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Dark Side Prince

9st 3lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Jessica Macey

Recorded his 11th AW win when narrowly beating Shalaa Asker over C&D in October; been absent since then but he's only 2lb higher than for that last win and he has won after a break in the past; dangerous on return.

4/1

16/1

Form: 081900 D

Last run: 76 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Won on turf in July but far from consistent otherwise for current yard; duck eggs in two AW runs; enough to prove back in this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(9)

11th Sep 2025

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

15:10 Chelmsford (AW)

Kodi Red

9st 8lb

J: Neil Callan

T: Darryll Holland

His C&D win last October came off a 16lb higher mark so his ability for a race of this nature isn't in doubt; he hasn't been firing in recent starts though, including when well supported.

6/1

9

(6)

18th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 12y

Class 6

19:30 Windsor

Kodi Red

9st 7lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Darryll Holland

Two 6f wins in 2024, both off a mark 14lb higher than today's; the odd promising sign this year and Hector Crouch replaces a 7lb claimer tonight.

14/1

4th

1

(4)

6th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 3y

Class 6

20:02 Yarmouth

Kodi Red

9st 9lb

J: Donagh Murphy

T: Darryll Holland

5yo who has a regressive profile but has dropped down the weights and took a step back in the right direction when sixth of 14 at Windsor (6f, good to firm) in June last time; might not be far away.

9/2

11/2

Form: 911735 D

Last run: 55 days

W: 9st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Unplaced on AW as a 2yo; mixed form in last three turf runs but looks quite interesting with visor reapplied, being 2-3 in this headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(5)

15th Jul 2026

Firm

0m 5f 160y

Class 5

14:31 Bath

Merrimack

9st 10lb

J: Chloe Lyons

T: Stuart Williams

He'd been headed when badly hampered at Newbury recently (not recover) but was without his usual visor, in which he was running really well in defeat previously under Chloe Lyons at up to 5.2f; he should be fine at this trip; the visor returns and he could bounce back with a big run.

11/2

8th

1

(8)

2nd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 34y

Class 5

21:00 Newbury

Merrimack

10st 2lb

J: Chloe Lyons

T: Stuart Williams

Three good turf runs to his name this summer, all for today's apprentice Chloe Lyons and including C&D; no obvious reason why he wouldn't go well once again.

6/1

3rd

2

(2)

9th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 60y

Class 5

20:51 Brighton

Merrimack

9st 8lb

J: Chloe Lyons

T: Stuart Williams

Handy sort whose record here reads 131; has run well in both starts under Chloe Lyons since returning to turf last month, going down by just a neck at Newbury (5f, good to firm) eight days ago; respected off the same mark.

5/2

Form: 54-0 BF

Last run: 120 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Disappointing in sole run this term but is open to improvement now handicapping over new trip (looks worth a go at 5f); interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

5

(6)

26th Oct 2024

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

18:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Idle Assembly

9st 9lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Brian Meehan

Fluffed the start when last of seven behind Cabeza De LLave last week; overall profile unconvincing.

12/1

7th

6

(2)

17th Oct 2024

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

20:15 Chelmsford (AW)

Idle Assembly

9st 3lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Brian Meehan

Disappointing in sole run this term but is open to improvement now handicapping over new trip (looks worth a go at 5f); interesting.

5/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £42.40
Straight Forecast £47.41
Trifecta £179.30

Selections

The Times:

Smooth Silesie

RP RATINGS:

Pop Dancer

SPOTLIGHT:

Idle Assembly

D Express:

Merrimack

NEWMARKET:

Kodi Red

The Guardian:

Cabeza De Llave

The Star:

Dark Side Prince

Telegraph:

Smooth Silesie

Daily Mail:

Smooth Silesie

Daily Mirror:

Smooth Silesie

The Sun:

Smooth Silesie

Daily Record:

Smooth Silesie

POSTDATA:

Pop Dancer