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

5th

5

(3)

21st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

20:21 Salisbury

Cabeza De Llave

9st 7lb

J: Kieren Fox

T: Michael Attwater

Placed plenty of times since last success and current mark is attractive; well capable of taking a serious hand but his losing run is mounting up and latest effort wasn't one of his best.

10/1

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

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

5th

5

(3)

1st Sep 2026

Good

0m 5f 60y

Class 5

19:15 Brighton

Pop Dancer

8st 7lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Tony Carroll

Three-time course winner but last season ended on a low note and he was tailed off here on last month's return, albeit on ground faster than ideal.

12/1

6th

1

(4)

5th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 60y

Class 6

17:00 Brighton

Pop Dancer

9st 12lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Tony Carroll

Three-time C&D winner, most recently last May; absent since two disappointing runs here last August, though, and would appeal more on good or slower ground.

13/2

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

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

4th

3

(2)

24th Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 60y

Class 5

14:30 Brighton

Merrimack

9st 9lb

J: Olivia Haines

T: Stuart Williams

In-form front-runner who has two wins, a second and two thirds to his name in five runs here; on career-high mark, though, having been put up 5lb for his Newmarket win early in the month under 7lb claimer Chloe Lyons.

4/1

4th

1

(5)

8th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:50 Newmarket (July)

Merrimack

9st 12lb

J: Chloe Lyons

T: Stuart Williams

Tough and consistent sort who made all over C&D (good to firm) under Chloe Lyons last Saturday; raised 5lb but likely to give it his usual good shot.

9/4

1st

1

(6)

1st Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

17:10 Newmarket (July)

Merrimack

9st 13lb

J: Chloe Lyons

T: Stuart Williams

Tough 5f performer, holding his form well; close third under regular rider Chloe Lyons at Windsor on Monday; should give it his best shot again.

3/1

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