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

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

1st

3

(7)

4th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

16:25 Newmarket (July)

Royal Zabeel

9st 12lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Michael Appleby

Down the field in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot (6f, good to firm) but was on the unfavoured far side and prior to that he ran well when fifth of 21 in the Victoria Cup there (7f, good); won over C&D last August; chance.

6/1

20th

10

(3)

20th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

Royal Zabeel

9st 6lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Michael Appleby

A strike-rate of 4-7 on AW includes two Listed wins, at 7f and 6f; not quite so good on grass as yet but he has a 7lb lower turf mark and indicated he could make it pay when an excellent fifth in the big-field Victoria Cup over 7f here (good; has won on good to firm) in May, not ideally positioned there as it turned out; one to consider back at 6f.

18/1

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

1

(9)

18th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 6y

Class 3

18:45 Doncaster

Yorkshire

10st 3lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Edward Bethell

Lightly raced 6yo who hasn't won on turf since May 2024, when dead-heating at Thirsk (7f, good to firm); down the field in two decent handicaps this season but beaten less than 6l on each occasion and takes a significant drop in grade; has to be considered.

5/1

9th

5

(9)

27th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 14y

Class 2

13:40 Newcastle (AW)

Yorkshire

9st 4lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Edward Bethell

Four wins and a second from his seven AW runs; stiff task in the Victoria Cup on his return from 287 days off; hopes pinned on the return to AW sparking a full revival.

7/1

11th

15

(28)

9th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

14:20 Ascot

Yorkshire

9st 4lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Edward Bethell

Effective on turf but still has a better strike-rate on AW and ended his rather truncated 2025 campaign with defeats (admittedly not entirely disgraced) in major handicaps over this C&D, finishing sixth then ninth; needs to raise his game on reappearance.

16/1

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

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

16th

10

(16)

13th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

14:25 York

Gweedore

9st 8lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Katie Scott

9yo who has won 13 times, the latest off today's mark at Musselburgh last November; however, he's failed to shine on his three outings this season.

33/1

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

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

4th

6

(8)

19th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 219y

Class 3

15:25 Redcar

Nikovo

9st 12lb

J: Dylan Hogan

T: Michael Herrington

Rated much lower on turf (2-20) than on the AW (5-22); hasn't run at all badly in his last two starts on grass including when eighth of 28 in the Victoria Cup; each-way claims down another 2lb.

12/1

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

3rd

2

(4)

2nd Jul 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

18:33 Kempton (AW)

Blue Prince

9st 9lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: David Evans

Dropped down the weights last summer and he has rediscovered his spark this time around, following third-placed efforts here and at Goodwood with a comfortable Salisbury success (all over 7f); probably stays this far but he has yet to be placed in his six 1m starts so it will be breaking new ground for him to win today.

3/1

1st

5

(5)

14th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 6f 213y

Class 4

14:44 Salisbury

Blue Prince

9st 8lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: David Evans

Hasn't won since defying a 10lb higher mark at Glorious Goodwood two years ago but his two efforts this term are very encouraging, latest back at Goodwood (7f, soft); attractively treated and firmly in the mix.

5/1

3rd

4

(8)

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:20 Goodwood

Blue Prince

9st 3lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: David Evans

Has some strong C&D form; the second half of 2025 was disappointing but he dropped in the weights and his reappearance third at Kempton was a welcome return to form; big player.

3/1

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

13

(11)

27th Sep 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

17:55 Newmarket

Havanagreattime

8st 12lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Richard Hughes

Has gained his wins over 6f on turf and 7f on AW; inconsistent since last success and has something to prove over this trip in this sphere; change of headgear.

33/1

9th

1

(12)

5th Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

19:47 Kempton (AW)

Havanagreattime

9st 11lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Richard Hughes

C&D winner who hasn't run over this trip since February; below best on last two outings and plenty to prove from widest draw back on AW.

12/1

12th

4

(3)

11th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 12y

Class 2

19:10 Windsor

Havanagreattime

9st 5lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Richard Hughes

Regained the winning thread at Newbury in April; inconsistent results over C&D since; each-way possibilities on penultimate effort (good second) but isn't guaranteed to reproduce it.

16/1

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

3

(7)

18th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:25 Ripon

Farasi Lane

9st 2lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

Three-time turf winner who won two in a row at Wolverhampton (8.6f/7f, AW) in March and is 1lb below his last winning mark; he ran okay on his final few starts for the Newland/Insole yard but this 8yo needs something extra on today's stable debut, following 8,500gns sale.

8/1

5th

6

(2)

2nd Jul 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

19:08 Kempton (AW)

Farasi Lane

9st 3lb

J: Charlie Bell

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Dual course winner who scored twice at Wolverhampton (8.6f/7f) in March; hasn't threatened in his last four runs but he was respectable fifth over C&D on Monday; this is a quick turnaround but his last win was off this mark and he could be dangerous if he gets the breaks; cheekpieces reapplied.

12/1

5th

8

(9)

29th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

19:45 Kempton (AW)

Farasi Lane

9st 10lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Ended his losing run at Wolverhampton (8.6f) in March and he did well to follow up over 7f one week later; not quite so good since but he has the ability to go well off this mark; headgear tried last time is now quickly dispensed with.

12/1

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

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

1st

5

(16)

12th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

13:50 York

Our Havana

9st 12lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

Recorded useful wins on AW and turf last spring; not in the same form later in 2025 but has dipped back to a good mark as a result and he's gone well fresh before; no surprise were he to stage a revival back from wind surgery.

16/1

11

(7)

24th Oct 2025

Heavy

0m 7f 6y

Class 2

15:18 Doncaster

Our Havana

8st 10lb

J: Barry McHugh

T: Richard Fahey

Recorded useful wins on AW and turf in the spring but hasn't been in quite the same form since; doesn't look as if he's about to add to his tally.

25/1

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