April 12 / 17.30 Brighton

17.30

Good To Firm

John Charles Heal Memorial Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

  • Prize money: £5338.68
  • 1m 3f 198y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
John Charles Heal Memorial Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.63
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 4317- D BF

Last run: 198 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Easily justified odds of 1-6 in a five-runner maiden at Lingfield (1m4f, AW) last September and the next three home all won their next starts; disappointed badly on handicap debut at Newmarket (1m4f, soft) later in month and not seen since, but no surprise if he bounced back on this quicker ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

(1)

28th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 3

16:30 Newcastle (AW)

Candyman Stan

9st 8lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Andrew Balding

AW maiden winner and has added two turf handicaps at about 1m4f; less convincing of late and raced keenly when behind Siempre Arturo at Kempton last time.

12/1

7

(4)

6th Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 3

16:50 Kempton (AW)

Candyman Stan

9st 2lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Andrew Balding

Campaigned on turf this term, winning twice in the spring but less convincing since; gained his maiden success (easily) on AW last year and remains unexposed in this sphere.

14/1

5

(8)

9th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

14:45 Ascot

Candyman Stan

9st 8lb

J: Delphine Santiago

T: Andrew Balding

Eight races; made the running for all three of his wins, including in handicaps over about this trip on good to firm on first two starts this season, finding plenty to end well on top; couldn't get to the front at Epsom next time and tailed off, with rain-softened ground apparently to blame; no excuse with the ground at Windsor (led over 6f out) on latest start, however, and cheekpieces are now enlisted.

8/1

8/1

  • Place: £2.70

Form: -34644

Last run: 14 days

W: 8st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Six-time winner under both codes in Ireland; five starts for this yard and he ran well when fourth of 19 in an apprentice handicap at Doncaster (1m2f, good to soft) a fortnight ago, but still to conclusively prove he wants this far on the Flat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(8)

26th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 37y

Class 6

16:30 Bath

Annexation

9st 3lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Tony Carroll

Won twice on turf in the autumn of 2025, including C&D; well handicapped on that form and his last two efforts have been respectable; should go well with Rossa Ryan up for the first time.

4/1

4th

2

(6)

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

19:52 Bath

Annexation

9st 7lb

J: Dougie Costello

T: Tony Carroll

Eight-time winner, with six on the Flat and two over hurdles; had some struggles during the winter but he showed signs of a revival at Wolverhampton (fourth of 12) last month and is now 5lb lower than for his win at Nottingham in the autumn (1m2f); handles most ground and has possibilities if he gets a good pace back at this trip.

7/2

4th

13

(2)

30th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 4

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Annexation

8st 5lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Tony Carroll

Eight-time winner but a 10yo now and opposable on this winter's exploits.

33/1

OUR TIP

11/4

Form: 35112- C BF

Last run: 173 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Improved steadily throughout last year, especially after joining this yard with wins over 1m2f here (soft) and at Sandown (good) in the autumn; one for the shortlist if returning in the same form after six months off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

(1)

28th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 113y

Class 4

16:58 Epsom

Carnival Day

9st 3lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Jim Boyle

Respectable fourth in the Great Metropolitan on last year's card; one win last year but it did come here in July and he was a respectable second at this track (also 1m2f, good to soft; has won on good) in September; below par over 1m on his final start in October and this trip again asks a question; market might help ahead of his comeback.

10/1

1

(4)

28th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 0f 53y

Class 4

15:50 Leicester

Carnival Day

9st 10lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Jim Boyle

Usually gives his running and best of the rest behind an in-form rival at Epsom a month ago (1m2f, good to soft); that is more his trip though.

9/2

1

(4)

28th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 0f 53y

Class 4

15:50 Leicester

Carnival Day

9st 10lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Jim Boyle

Usually gives his running and best of the rest behind an in-form rival at Epsom a month ago (1m2f, good to soft); that is more his trip though.

9/2

Form: 62200-

Last run: 184 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
0-9 for Andre Fabre, though finished runner-up on four occasions over 7f-9.5f; changed hands for 40,000gns in October and makes his debut for his new yard after six months off having been gelded since last seen; unraced on ground faster than good to soft; market informative.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

8

9th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 144y

Class 1

13:15 Haydock

Hamlets Night

11st 3lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: James Owen

0-14 on Flat turf and a beaten favourite at Musselburgh two weeks ago; his hurdles record (2-7) is better but he had no obvious excuse when fifth to Indemnity at Plumpton (33-1) last month; others appeal more.

20/1

3rd

2

(4)

26th Apr 2026

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 4

17:15 Musselburgh

Hamlets Night

9st 4lb

J: Jason Hart

T: James Owen

Won on Kempton AW (1m3f; not proven over this far) in February and latest start was up with his best hurdles form; 0-13 on Flat turf but that includes five seconds.

7/2

5th

5

5th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 2

16:05 Plumpton

Hamlets Night

11st 11lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: James Owen

Won twice early-season and better again when second in classy small-field races at Cheltenham and Wincanton, the latest a Grade 2; returned from a break with a win on the AW so his run in the Morebattle at Kelso goes down as disappointing; the return of a hood is no bad thing; enjoys good ground.

16/1

5th
4 (7)
Macari

7/2

Form: 23221- D

Last run: 168 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Won his first start on the Flat when bolting up from the front in an amateur riders' event at Newbury (1m4f, heavy) last October; now 7lb higher, but he was successful on good ground over hurdles nine days ago; high on the list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(2)

26th May 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:54 Lingfield

Macari

9st 5lb

J: Rose Dawes

T: Sheena West

Four wins last year including one over hurdles and two over this trip on the Flat; just 2lb above his last winning mark, but needs to put a tame effort at Nottingham (1m6f, good) last month behind him.

14/1

6th

3

(1)

26th Apr 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:25 Nottingham

Macari

9st 7lb

J: Rose Dawes

T: Sheena West

An excellent Flat campaign last year yielded three turf wins under Rose Dawes from May to October and he's been in AW/hurdles action this winter; absent 11 weeks but has to be considered seriously.

11/2

4th

6

9th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 4

15:45 Plumpton

Macari

11st 4lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Sheena West

Both hurdle wins have been here, the latest over this trip last April (good; off 3lb lower); three Flat wins since, including on soft ground; should go well.

3/1

Form: 3-6354

Last run: 46 days

W: 9st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
3-33 including wins over 1m2f at Epsom (good) and Chelmsford (AW) last year; running with credit lately and does stay this far, but a bit more is needed in order to defy this mark; blinkers removed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(9)

21st Jul 2025

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

20:10 Windsor

Early Morning Dew

9st 8lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Jim & Suzi Best

Won over 1m2f on turf last August and AW in October; also had AW form in the winter but recent efforts do not look persuasive.

25/1

4

(3)

2nd Jul 2025

Good

1m 2f 17y

Class 5

18:20 Epsom

Early Morning Dew

9st 9lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: Jim & Suzi Best

Well beaten twice in a row over hurdles this spring and only fifth of seven when back on the Flat at Chelmsford (1m2f, AW) a fortnight ago; however, he won over C&D last August on his sole previous course visit and is well treated on AW form as recent as February; not written off.

13/2

1

(2)

19th Jun 2025

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

14:15 Chelmsford (AW)

Early Morning Dew

10st 9lb

J: Miss Megan Jordan

T: Jim & Suzi Best

Dual C&D winner (from four runs), latterly off a 1lb lower mark last autumn; said to have stopped quickly when well beaten at a short price over hurdles last month, which leaves him a bit to prove, but he has one of the more experienced jockeys up.

4/1

Form: 2/1/4

Last run: 39 days

W: 9st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Won in France (1m3f, very soft) as a 4yo and twice runner-up in eight starts over hurdles after joining this yard; fourth of eight back on the Flat in a Southwell novice (1m3f, AW) last month (winner has gone in again since) and worth a market check on Flat handicap debut with a tongue-tie given a go.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

(3)

12th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 198y

Class 4

17:30 Brighton

Pyrotechnic

9st 6lb

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Won in France (1m3f, very soft) as a 4yo and twice runner-up in eight starts over hurdles after joining this yard; fourth of eight back on the Flat in a Southwell novice (1m3f, AW) last month (winner has gone in again since) and worth a market check on Flat handicap debut with a tongue-tie given a go.

11/1

7th

5

(3)

12th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 198y

Class 4

17:30 Brighton

Pyrotechnic

9st 6lb

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Won in France (1m3f, very soft) as a 4yo and twice runner-up in eight starts over hurdles after joining this yard; fourth of eight back on the Flat in a Southwell novice (1m3f, AW) last month (winner has gone in again since) and worth a market check on Flat handicap debut with a tongue-tie given a go.

11/1

4th

1

(8)

4th Mar 2025

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 4

19:30 Southwell (AW)

Pyrotechnic

9st 11lb

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Gary & Josh Moore

slowly into stride, towards rear early

8/1

Non-runners

Lexington Knight

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £12.90
Straight Forecast £11.85
Tricast £33.07
Trifecta £48.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Lexington Knight

Daily Mirror:

Candyman Stan

Telegraph:

Hamlet's Night

The Times:

Carnival Day

D Express:

Macari

The Star:

Candyman Stan

The Guardian:

Hamlet's Night

Daily Record:

Carnival Day

The Sun:

Macari

RP RATINGS:

Lexington Knight

TOPSPEED:

Lexington Knight

POSTDATA:

Lexington Knight

Daily Mail:

Lexington Knight