January 04 / 18.20 Wolverhampton (AW)

18.20

Standard

Weekly £5 Free Bet With BetUK Handicap

  • Prize money: £4972.3
  • 1m 5f 219y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Weekly £5 Free Bet With BetUK Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Cloudy

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.00
  • Place: £2.60

Form: 12821/

Last run: 471 days

W: 10st 0lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Dual turf winner for James Ferguson in 2023 and scored twice over hurdles for Olly Murphy last year; placed in all three starts at about 1m on the AW at the start of his career, but attempts this far for the first time on the Flat; market may indicate what is expected on stable debut (same owner).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(4)

4th Apr 2026

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 1

14:30 Musselburgh

Roaring Legend

9st 2lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Olly Murphy

A poor show last May prompted a second wind operation and it was a solid campaign otherwise; never better than when second this February in 2m AW handicaps at Wolverhampton and Lingfield, but peak turf form isn't far behind it and he'll probably be on the premises.

7/1

2nd

1

(2)

27th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 2

15:45 Lingfield (AW)

Roaring Legend

9st 12lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Olly Murphy

Developed into a useful handicapper on the Flat for Hugo Palmer last year; having rejoined Olly Murphy, he continued the good work when second on 2m Wolverhampton reappearance three weeks ago, with reopposing pair Enemy and Brasil Power narrowly behind in third/fourth; likely to go well again.

11/4

2nd

1

(6)

6th Feb 2026

Standard

2m 0f 120y

Class 2

16:22 Wolverhampton (AW)

Roaring Legend

10st 0lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Olly Murphy

Developed into a useful handicapper, including on AW, last year for Hugo Palmer; close third in the Mallard at Doncaster on final outing; however, needs a career-best performance to defy current mark on first run since rejoining Olly Murphy.

11/2

3/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 2P/14- C

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Made a successful return from 401 days off in a maiden here (9.5f) in November, and met trouble when beaten 2l into fourth of eight on handicap debut at Newcastle (1m2f, Tapeta) last month; up another 4f, but there is stamina in his pedigree and he remains unexposed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

(5)

27th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:20 Lingfield (AW)

Wonder

9st 6lb

J: Taryn Langley

T: James Fanshawe

Thriving since the cheekpieces went on, scoring at Southwell (1m4f) in February and bettering that form when beaten 1l by Son Of Man over C&D 24 days ago; enjoys a 2lb weights pull now so he's a likely player.

3/1

2nd

1

(2)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Lingfield (AW)

Wonder

9st 12lb

J: Taryn Langley

T: James Fanshawe

Running well this year, winning at Southwell (1m4f, Tapeta; first-time cheekpieces) in February and going down by a neck in two starts over this C&D either side; up another 1lb, but another big effort is expected.

9/2

2nd

1

(1)

28th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

13:00 Lingfield (AW)

Wonder

10st 4lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: James Fanshawe

Had a bit so spare when seeing off ten rivals in a 1m4f Southwell handicap last week; has a bit of class for this level and he's likely to make another bold bid.

2/1

6/4

Form: 75621- CD

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
5-9 around here, his latest win coming over this trip 15 days ago with Parramount just under 3l back in third; 3lb worse off, but that was only his second attempt at the 1m6f and he won in good style, suggesting there may be even more to come under a similar test.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

8

(12)

31st May 2026

Good

1m 4f 8y

Class 4

17:15 Thirsk

Optician

8st 12lb

J: David Probert

T: Michael Herrington

0-14 on turf (5-19 on AW) but he ran well when he last tackled grass in summer 2024; returned from some time off with promising fourth at Southwell (1m3f, AW) last month and can be in the mix if building on that effort.

12/1

4th

1

(5)

11th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 5

17:15 Southwell (AW)

Optician

9st 9lb

J: Dylan Hogan

T: Michael Herrington

Five-time Wolverhampton winner for Shaun Lycett, all off lower marks; pulled up here last September, having clipped heels on his first run in five months and for this yard, and has been absent since; this trip a bare minimum now.

16/1

10

(6)

23rd Sep 2025

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 4

20:00 Southwell (AW)

Optician

8st 13lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Michael Herrington

Five Wolverhampton wins to his name for Shaun Lycett, all during the winter months, and never off a mark this high; has gone well here too but possible he'll need this for his new yard after five months off.

12/1

Form: 33013- CD BF

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Relished the conditions when beating Optician by just over 3l over C&D in November, but finished just under 3l behind that rival when third of seven back here 15 days ago; 3lb better off and likely to be right there once again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 3

18:37 Chepstow

Parramount

11st 5lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

Chance on November's Doncaster hurdles second, less so on all which has followed; unexposed in this sphere, with one start over fences compared to the other trio's 41 combined, but none too convincing on that belated chase debut at Wetherby latest (1m7f, good), jumping left and weakening.

5/1

3rd

1

27th Mar 2026

Good

1m 7f 36y

Class 4

15:50 Wetherby

Parramount

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Charlie Longsdon

Bumper/Flat/hurdles winner; on a handy mark but his form has dipped in 2026, so this switch to fences needs to have a reviving effect; latecomer to this game, being a 10yo.

13/2

6th

1

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 4

15:22 Doncaster

Parramount

12st 1lb

J: Daire McConville

T: Charlie Longsdon

Unable to beat a rival on AW on last two starts but could be a different proposition now back hurdling and back here, as two visits to Doncaster (both C&D) have yielded an easy novice win (good) and a good second in a handicap (soft; in November); very much of interest given record at the track.

10/1

Form: 27797-

Last run: 22 days

W: 8st 12lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Beaten less than 2l into second of 14 at Dundalk (1m4f, Polytrack; 80-1) in October, but hasn't built on it and is now 0-16; stable 4-25 (16%) here last year, but probably best watched unless the market suggests otherwise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

(9)

25th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

16:22 Lingfield (AW)

Warrior Lion

9st 9lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Jennie Candlish

29-race maiden who has struggled back over hurdles in his last two runs; finished second in a classified event at Wolverhampton (1m4f) in January but was beaten 6l and that took his AW record to 0-12; down the list.

7/1

8th

6

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

13:38 Sedgefield

Warrior Lion

10st 8lb

J: William Shanahan

T: Jennie Candlish

Runner-up in basement-grade AW race in January but pulled up over C&D (good to soft) when back over hurdles last month and now 0-28 overall; stable has much more obvious chance with Captain Cool.

25/1

8

4th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

14:42 Sedgefield

Warrior Lion

11st 0lb

J: William Shanahan

T: Jennie Candlish

Runner-up on AW last month and now has first hurdle start for current yard; however, that recent Flat form is very modest, he's achieved little in this code, and he's yet to win after 27 attempts (seven over hurdles).

15/2

25/1

Form: /6208-

Last run: 119 days

W: 9st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Fair dual-purpose performer with three wins over hurdles and two on turf, but well beaten in two goes on Polytrack; has run well over this far on grass, but this looks a tough ask on stable debut (same owners) after 75 days off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

31st Jan 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 2

13:43 Musselburgh

Saligo Bay

10st 7lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Won three in a row (1m7f/2m, good-soft) prior to heavy defeat at Windsor a fortnight ago; however, the ground was soft, heavy in places last time which may have been too demanding, and he's not written off today.

16/1

11th

12

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Windsor

Saligo Bay

10st 11lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Sam England

Won on the Flat in September and also successful on four of his five hurdle starts since, including on soft ground and in good style at Haydock (1m7f, good to soft) last time; he's 7lb higher than last time and in a hotter race today, but he's clearly thriving and could go well once more.

11/1

10

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:30 Wetherby

Saligo Bay

10st 6lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Beaten favourite when third to Max Of Stars over C&D 17 days ago but still ran creditably and that followed Flat and hurdles wins in September; tough, reliable and unlikely to be far away.

11/4

OUR TIP

Form: 65775- C

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Three-time winner over 1m4f here and is back off the same mark as when successful at Brighton (1m4f, good to firm) in August; this sort of trip has stretched him in the past, though, and others are preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(2)

7th Aug 2025

Good

1m 3f 198y

Class 4

15:40 Brighton

Lexington Knight

10st 3lb

J: Thomas Greatrex

T: Richard Hannon

Won this 12 months ago and returns on a hat-trick after another course win (made all) and a success at Salisbury that looked unlikely until he picked up late on; might travel sweeter back at this track and can cope with this mark.

3/1

1st

3

(2)

12th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

1m 4f 5y

Class 4

19:50 Salisbury

Lexington Knight

9st 7lb

J: Thomas Greatrex

T: Richard Hannon

Returned from three-month break with front-running win at Brighton (1m4f, good) in May and will be fine on the faster surface here but he's probably not quite as good as he was; younger rivals appeal more.

11/4

1

(3)

30th May 2025

Good To Soft

1m 3f 198y

Class 5

16:05 Brighton

Lexington Knight

9st 9lb

J: Thomas Greatrex

T: Richard Hannon

Ordinary form on the AW during the winter but he is 5lb lower than when winning over C&D (good to firm) last August; off since February but he's respected back here on this return.

13/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £15.20
Straight Forecast £14.48
Trifecta £55.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Optician

RP RATINGS:

Wonder

TOPSPEED:

Lexington Knight

NEWMARKET:

Wonder

The Times:

Wonder

Telegraph:

Wonder

The Star:

Wonder

POSTDATA:

Optician

The Guardian:

Optician

Daily Mail:

Optician

D Express:

Optician

Daily Mirror:

Optician

The Sun:

Optician

Daily Record:

Optician