February 14 / 15.00 Southwell (AW)

15.00

Standard

Win £1M With BetMGM’s Golden Goals Handicap

  • Prize money: £13189.68
  • 0m 7f 14y
  • Class 2
  • 12 runners
SKY
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Win £1M With BetMGM’s Golden Goals Handicap

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Snow showers

Form: 11/0/0 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
4-11 for Charlie Appleby in his younger days, his wins coming over 7f on turf including a Group 3 and two Listed races; absent for two years before failing to beat a rival on stable debut at Newcastle (6f, Tapeta) four weeks ago, which wouldn't be the ideal preparation for a race as warm as this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(1)

23rd Sep 2025

Heavy

1m 0f 0y

16:50 Listowel

Noble Truth

9st 8lb

J: Donagh O’Connor

T: John C McConnell

Won the Jersey Stakes in 2022 for Godolphin but few runs since for various trainers and badly regressive; not easy to fancy despite plummeting mark.

28/1

11

(10)

13th Sep 2025

Soft

0m 7f 0y

14:50 Leopardstown

Noble Truth

8st 13lb

J: James Ryan

T: John C McConnell

Landed the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2022 for Charlie Appleby; nearer last than first in all five starts since, including twice in big Ascot handicaps this summer; much reduced mark but impossible to have faith in.

25/1

12

(18)

26th Jul 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Ascot

Noble Truth

9st 1lb

J: Neil Callan

T: John C McConnell

Landed the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2022; four duck eggs since, latest in the Wokingham on debut for this Irish yard; best watched unless the market suggests a big revival is likely.

33/1

OUR TIP

Form: 1/115- CD

Last run: 342 days

W: 9st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Handy sort who proved highly progressive last winter, completing a four-timer over 7f on Tapeta including a win here; off since a lesser performance in a Wolverhampton Listed contest (7f, Tapeta) last March and will need to be as good as ever to defy this mark on his return; market may be revealing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(4)

5th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 3

18:30 Newcastle (AW)

Doctor Khan Junior

9st 9lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Geoff Oldroyd

C&D scorer who resumed winning ways in 7f Southwell handicap 34 days ago, gamely making all; up 3lb but he remains with relatively few miles on the clock and can go very well again.

5/2

1st

3

(7)

30th Jan 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 3

15:03 Southwell (AW)

Doctor Khan Junior

9st 6lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Geoff Oldroyd

Hugely progressive in 2023/early 2024, winning six times; short of his best in two runs in 2025 but his latest close fourth at Kempton was a step back in the right direction; he will need another step forward to take this but it's not out of the question.

5/1

2

(6)

14th Feb 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 2

15:00 Southwell (AW)

Doctor Khan Junior

9st 4lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Geoff Oldroyd

Handy sort who proved highly progressive last winter, completing a four-timer over 7f on Tapeta including a win here; off since a lesser performance in a Wolverhampton Listed contest (7f, Tapeta) last March and will need to be as good as ever to defy this mark on his return; market may be revealing.

8/1

Form: 0321-1 CD

Last run: 39 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Picked up for 30,000gns last summer and has proved another shrewd purchase by his new owners judged on his wins over C&D in December and at Wolverhampton (7f, Tapeta) last month; won with some authority last time so another 5lb rise may not stop him, while he remains relatively unexposed after eight starts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(5)

15th Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:25 Ripon

Royal Zabeel

9st 7lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Michael Appleby

Listed winner (6f) on AW; showed himself to be smart on turf too with a 7f handicap win at Newmarket last month; wouldn't judge him harshly on his Bunbury Cup defeat five weeks ago, racing away from the main action and still in front 1f out; 4lb lower today and he looks a big player for last year's winning connections.

8/1

10th

1

(4)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

15:25 Newmarket (July)

Royal Zabeel

10st 3lb

J: Conor Whiteley

T: Michael Appleby

Respectable fifth in this year's Victoria Cup; prevailed last Saturday to take C&D record to 2-2 and overall strike-rate to 7-23; incurs 6lb penalty but Conor Whiteley takes off a useful 5lb; major player.

8/1

Form: 00211- C

Last run: 83 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Record on Tapeta reads 12511, his last two wins coming at Wolverhampton (7f) in the autumn; up another 3lb on this return from three months off, but he has a good record fresh so has to be taken seriously.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

14

(2)

20th Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 192y

Class 2

15:00 York

Yorkshire

8st 10lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Edward Bethell

Returned to form when going very close at Doncaster (7f, good to firm) last month and again ran well when third of 13 at Haydock (1m, good) 12 days ago; it's possible he's better over 7f but he might not be far away; has won on good to soft, unraced on softer.

25/1

3rd

3

(7)

8th Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 212y

Class 3

16:40 Haydock

Yorkshire

9st 13lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Edward Bethell

Back to form when beaten a nose at Doncaster three weeks ago; 3lb lower than last winning mark and seems to retain all his ability, so a serious contender if staying the trip (all wins at 6f/7f).

15/2

Form: 34/9-0 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Winner of 12 races on turf and 3lb lower than for the latest of those in the summer of 2023, but has run poorly in two well-spaced-out starts since November of that year; 0-9 on the AW; look elsewhere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

2

(3)

7th Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 15y

Class 4

15:20 Musselburgh

Gweedore

9st 11lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Katie Scott

Now 7lb lower than when making all for narrow C&D (soft) win at end of last season but is yet to strike form after five runs this year; needs a good boost from the first-time blinkers.

10/1

15th

2

(2)

6th Jul 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:30 Ayr

Gweedore

10st 2lb

J: Cian Horgan

T: Katie Scott

Ended last season with a 7f win on soft ground but made a slow start to this campaign; not the percentage call.

50/1

Form: 41-216 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Gained wins at Newcastle (1m, Tapeta) in December and at Chelmsford (1m, Polytrack) last month, but pulled his chance away at the former track (1m) six days later; this shorter trip in a race likely to be truly run ought to help him settle better and he could easily bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

5

(10)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 192y

Class 2

14:39 York

Apiarist

9st 8lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Kevin Ryan

Inconsistent sort who made it 1-20 on turf (that grass win came here in 2yo campaign) when well beaten at Royal Ascot last month; however, two starts ago he was a close sixth in the Thirsk Hunt Cup (1m, good to firm) when he was denied a clear run, and he's not ruled out.

7/1

18th

12

(18)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

Apiarist

9st 5lb

J: Jack Callan

T: Kevin Ryan

Eye-catcher, amid traffic issues, in the Thirsk Hunt Cup last time; form over C&D comprises a respectable eighth (off current mark) in this contest last year and creditable third (did well having been hampered) later in 2025; still has a much better strike-rate on AW than on turf, however.

22/1

6th

4

(15)

2nd May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 218y

Class 2

14:40 Thirsk

Apiarist

9st 7lb

J: Jack Callan

T: Kevin Ryan

Three fine efforts on AW to start the year but his run of good form came to a halt when well behind Blue Rc at Newcastle over Easter; acts on turf but has a much better strike-rate on AW; drawn widest.

20/1

Form: 261-57

Last run: 7 days

W: 8st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Four wins over 1m last year, the latest on his second start for the yard at Newcastle in December; didn't find things panning out for him here (1m) a week ago and that effort can be forgiven, but he has something to prove down to this trip for the first time on his 26th start.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(9)

31st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

19:32 Newmarket (July)

Nikovo

9st 9lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Michael Herrington

In-form 7yo who has reached the frame in his last three runs including when third of 11 in a C&D handicap (good to firm) three weeks ago; finished ahead of Exposure in that race and he has each-way claims again.

4/1

3rd

5

(6)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

17:10 Newmarket (July)

Nikovo

9st 11lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Michael Herrington

Gained last three wins on Newcastle AW; ran respectably back there on latest start; has bits of encouraging turf form this term but it's over two years since his last success in this sphere.

8/1

3rd

4

(10)

27th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 14y

Class 2

13:40 Newcastle (AW)

Nikovo

9st 4lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Michael Herrington

Well suited by conditions and his last-gasp C&D win in March came off just 2lb lower; creditable efforts off his lower turf mark more recently; may find a few of his younger rivals better treated.

10/1

Form: 3045-7 C

Last run: 44 days

W: 8st 11lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Won twice over 6f on the AW last winter including here; just 1lb higher than when beating 17 rivals at Glorious Goodwood (7f, good to firm) last summer, but will need to settle better than when last of seven at Newcastle (1m, Tapeta) last month (Apiarist second).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

12

(5)

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 127y

Class 2

14:05 Chester

Blue Prince

8st 10lb

J: J F Egan

T: David Evans

Normally ridden to be produced late, as when successful at Salisbury (7f, good) in June, but was given a straightforward ride to land a claimer over C&D (good) 20 days ago; this looks tougher however and more is required.

14/1

1st

4

(4)

2nd Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 127y

Class 4

16:22 Chester

Blue Prince

8st 13lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: David Evans

The last run wasn't his best (four ran) but he was bang there in his four previous races, all handicaps at 7f/1m; drops into a claimer on favourable terms and must have every chance; has run well here before.

5/4

3rd

2

(3)

21st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

19:51 Salisbury

Blue Prince

9st 9lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: David Evans

Justified favouritism at Salisbury (7f, good) on penultimate start and consistent otherwise this season; creditable third at Kempton (1m, AW) last time; still well treated on peak form, which includes a win off 4lb higher at Glorious Goodwood two years ago; solid.

15/8

Form: 0714-4 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 8st 10lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Both AW wins have come over 7f on Polytrack, but the trip just appeared to stretch him on Tapeta when beaten 4l into fourth of eight behind Royal Zabeel at Wolverhampton (7f) last month; cheekpieces now given a go but he will do well to reverse those placings on 6lb better terms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

(10)

2nd Sep 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

15:15 Newcastle (AW)

Havanagreattime

10st 0lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Ruth Carr

4-21, with the most recent success coming at Newbury (6f, good) last April off a 12lb higher mark than today's; below his best on his final three starts for Richard Hughes and has failed to beat a rival home in two outings for this stable; others preferred.

66/1

9th

4

(3)

18th Aug 2026

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 4

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Havanagreattime

9st 7lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Dual 7f Polytrack winner in his younger days but does most racing now over 6f; made a poor debut in a claimer for his new yard here last month, having been picked up for 10,000gns from Richard Hughes last autumn; surprise to see him take this.

50/1

11th

4

(10)

30th Jul 2026

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 6

18:57 Wolverhampton (AW)

Havanagreattime

9st 8lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Has gained his wins over 6f on turf and 7f on AW; inconsistent since last success but has a chance on these figures now into a claimer if in form after his break (yard debut); drawn wide.

8/1

14/1

Form: 5980-4 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 8st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Enjoyed the run of the race when fourth of 12 on his return from six months off at Newcastle (1m, Tapeta) four weeks ago with Apiarist and Nikovo behind; now back off his last winning mark and the return to this trip should suit, but a bit more will be needed even so.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(3)

9th Oct 2025

Heavy

0m 7f 50y

Class 5

15:55 Ayr

Liamarty Dreams

9st 12lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: K R Burke

Has won on soft ground and he's now 8lb lower than when runner-up at Leicester (7f, good to firm) in June; however, he's finished no better than seventh across his five outings since.

12/1

6

(9)

30th Sep 2025

Soft

0m 7f 50y

Class 4

15:30 Ayr

Liamarty Dreams

9st 7lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Respectable second at Leicester in June but far from consistent otherwise this year and losing spell goes back to spring 2024; not particularly solid.

16/1

12

(10)

5th Sep 2025

Good

0m 6f 212y

Class 3

16:55 Haydock

Liamarty Dreams

9st 1lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

C&D winner who was beaten just 1l when second at Leicester in June and is now 6lb lower; however, soundly beaten on his three runs since (C&D last time) and the first-time visor needs to prompt a revival.

33/1

Form: 03749- CD

Last run: 64 days

W: 8st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
C&D winner on his only previous visit and 1lb lower than when successful at Kempton (1m, Polytrack) last April; failed to beat a rival on his return from 168 days off at Chelmsford (1m, Polytrack) in December and has something to prove after that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

5

(6)

16th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 5y

Class 3

17:15 Pontefract

Farasi Lane

9st 3lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

8yo who won off this mark on his stable debut at Ripon (1m, good) last month; two reasonable performances have followed (1m/1m2f, good to firm/good) but he needs something extra to come out on top today.

20/1

3rd

1

(9)

2nd Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 4

16:52 Chester

Farasi Lane

10st 2lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

Has been around the block and mostly seen on the AW these days; he did win on debut for this yard at Ripon (1m, good; by a head) but then finished last at Sandown four days ago; unplaced in one previous run here.

11/1

5th

2

(3)

29th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:45 Sandown

Farasi Lane

9st 10lb

J: Oliver Carmichael

T: Micky Hammond

Probably better known for his AW exploits nowadays but he led close home to cause 28-1 surprise on recent stable debut at Ripon (1m, good), his ninth career success; nudged up only 1lb for that and is a rare runner here for his Middleham-based trainer; respected.

4/1

Form: /102-1 CD

Last run: 30 days

W: 8st 4lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Only had eight starts and has done well since switched to Tapeta, going down only narrowly at Newcastle (7f, Tapeta) despite pulling hard before comfortably beating a subsequent winner over C&D last month; 7lb higher but still open to further progress and much respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

7

(5)

1st Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

15:47 Thirsk

Our Havana

9st 5lb

J: Oisin McSweeney

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

Reappeared at York (7f, good) in June following a wind op and he beat 19 rivals to win; very much of interest based on that performance but he was well beaten back at York (7f, good to firm) last time; cheekpieces go on.

25/1

16th

11

(19)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

14:10 York

Our Havana

9st 0lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

Ended 2025 quietly but that resulted in a drop in the weights and he bounced back to form when pipping Lir Speciale over C&D four weeks ago; that was his first run after a wind operation and he retains handicapping scope despite a 3lb rise; drawn widest.

8/1

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Royal Zabeel

RP RATINGS:

Yorkshire

Daily Mail:

Our Havana

POSTDATA:

Royal Zabeel

The Times:

Royal Zabeel

The Guardian:

Royal Zabeel

D Express:

Royal Zabeel

Daily Mirror:

Royal Zabeel

The Sun:

Royal Zabeel

The Star:

Royal Zabeel

Daily Record:

Royal Zabeel

TOPSPEED:

Yorkshire

Telegraph:

Yorkshire