June 03 / 16.47 Leicester

16.47

Good

Voluntary Action Leicestershire (VAL) Celebrating 60 Years Handicap

  • Prize money: £5234
  • 0m 7f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Voluntary Action Leicestershire (VAL) Celebrating 60 Years Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Scattered showers

OUR TIP

Form: 21132 D BF

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Dual novice winner, at 1m then 7f; close up in two 1m handicaps, looking likely to win in the new cheekpieces at Ayr (good to firm) until collared late on; drops to 7f with blinkers now tried and hard to rule out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

(9)

3rd Jul 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:48 Kempton (AW)

Commanding Prince

9st 5lb

J: William Cox

T: Archie Watson

Won twice at Newcastle in March (1m and 7f); beaten favourite in all three handicap runs on turf but he has shown a useful level of ability in defeat; needs a bit more to defy this mark but getting back on AW may be beneficial.

10/1

1

(2)

3rd Jun 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

16:47 Leicester

Commanding Prince

9st 9lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Archie Watson

Dual novice winner, at 1m then 7f; close up in two 1m handicaps, looking likely to win in the new cheekpieces at Ayr (good to firm) until collared late on; drops to 7f with blinkers now tried and hard to rule out.

3/1

1

(2)

3rd Jun 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

16:47 Leicester

Commanding Prince

9st 9lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Archie Watson

Dual novice winner, at 1m then 7f; close up in two 1m handicaps, looking likely to win in the new cheekpieces at Ayr (good to firm) until collared late on; drops to 7f with blinkers now tried and hard to rule out.

3/1

Form: 2621-0

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Signed off for the Gosdens with a 1m2f novice win at Newcastle (AW); bought for 55,000gns and never gave himself a chance at York (7f) by racing too freely; the hood is an interesting addition but it remains to be seen if this is his trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

(2)

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

14:09 Newmarket (July)

Sword

9st 12lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Stuart Williams

Dual winner; 0-5 for Stuart Williams but had been holding his own in 7f handicaps until a lesser show last time; whether he's quick enough for 6f is the glaring concern (all 23 runs from 7f to 1m2f).

8/1

8th

8

(4)

8th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

15:40 Newmarket (July)

Sword

8st 13lb

J: Olivia Haines

T: Stuart Williams

One win apiece for his previous two yards; 0-4 this season for new stable but is in form, close fifth at Ascot most recently; getting no respite from the assessor, so the 7lb claimed by Olivia Haines looks a help.

8/1

5th

14

(6)

25th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

14:55 Ascot

Sword

8st 9lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Stuart Williams

Inconsistent sort who is opposable on the majority of his form over the last 12 months and was only sixth at Newmarket last time; however, he's popped up with the odd big run, finishing third in this last year and filling the same position in a big field at York last month; not a forlorn hope each-way.

66/1

Form: -40048 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Over a year since the last of his six career wins; shaped as though his turn might be near when fourth in first-time cheekpieces at Chester (7f, good) but that looks a false dawn having failed to build on that at Thirsk; downgraded here but comes with risks.
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: 6278-3 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Completed a hat-trick in 7f AW handicaps last autumn and was bang there after a break at Kempton last month; the nagging concern is that all five wins and best form has been on the AW.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

(5)

27th Aug 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 4

19:00 Southwell (AW)

Chalk Mountain

9st 9lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Zoe Hawkins

Last three wins have come at Kempton (7f, Polytrack), but has also won four times on Tapeta including here; latest effort back at Kempton can be excused and he is respected from just 1lb above his last winning mark.

10/1

7th

4

(4)

12th Aug 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

19:00 Kempton (AW)

Chalk Mountain

9st 6lb

J: Alfie Redman

T: Zoe Hawkins

Seven-time AW winner and the latest three have been over C&D; has mixed record for new trainer this season but he was runner-up at Southwell last time and remains feasibly treated off only 1lb higher than for his win here in May; key player.

7/2

2nd

3

(2)

27th Jul 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 4

17:00 Southwell (AW)

Chalk Mountain

9st 12lb

J: Alfie Redman

T: Zoe Hawkins

Seven-time AW winner who has four wins and a second to his name in five starts in 7f Tapeta handicaps; the drop back from 1m and switch from turf both look in his favour off his last winning mark.

7/1

Form: 27-124 BF

Last run: 54 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Unraced at two; won a 6f maiden last year and doubled his tally in an AW handicap over that trip in March; not far away in either run since but has stamina to prove over 7f (went off too fast when he tried it once before).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

(9)

9th Oct 2025

Standard

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

19:15 Chelmsford (AW)

Jungle Land

9st 9lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: Hilal Kobeissi

Ran respectably over 6f at Yarmouth (stable debut) last time; gained his sole handicap success off current mark; possibilities if proving as effective back at 7f.

10/1

2

(3)

17th Sep 2025

Soft

0m 6f 3y

Class 4

14:25 Yarmouth

Jungle Land

9st 9lb

J: Jefferson Smith

T: Hilal Kobeissi

Dual winner who won a maiden on soft ground at Redcar for Karl Burke last May; patchy form since winning a Wolverhampton handicap (also 6f, AW) in March and he left George Boughey for 17,000gns after trailing in last of five at Nottingham (5f, good to firm; first-time tongue-tie/blinkers) in July; headgear removed for this stable debut.

16/1

5th

1

(1)

5th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 8y

Class 4

19:23 Nottingham

Jungle Land

9st 9lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: George Boughey

Run over various distances of late and the experimenting continues, with cheekpieces replaced by a first-time tongue-tie and first-time blinkers; achieved little in three runs on fast turf, so comes with risks attached.

6/1

Form: 27523-

Last run: 228 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in three of his seven races in the Amo Racing silks and sold on for 26,000gns; this is his first handicap but he's dropped to a realistic mark and new trainer fits a hood; not discounted with Rossa Ryan booked.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(6)

4th Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 80y

Class 6

16:00 Ffos Las

Manhattan Mirage

9st 13lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Adrian Wintle

13-race maiden who was below form in five runs last year and showed little on his return at Bath in June; his mark continues to drop but is best watched until showing positive signs.

12/1

7th

9

(3)

5th Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 160y

Class 5

18:40 Bath

Manhattan Mirage

9st 0lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Adrian Wintle

12-race maiden who was below form in five runs last year; his mark continues to drop but is best watched until showing positive signs.

16/1

4

(4)

15th Sep 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

17:20 Thirsk

Manhattan Mirage

9st 5lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Adrian Wintle

11-race maiden; yet to strike form after four runs for new stable this season but will cope if the ground softens and is quite well drawn; Billy Loughnane rides; well worth a second look.

14/1

Form: 7472-3

Last run: 32 days

W: 9st 1lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Pulled up in his one hurdle run for David Pipe and swiftly returned to former yard; ran well when a rallying third at Musselburgh (7f, good) a month ago and this stiffer track should be in his favour.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

10

(8)

13th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

15:45 Beverley

Infinity Blue

8st 13lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Julie Camacho

Sole win from 21 starts came at Newmarket (6f, good) in August 2024; also posted a couple of decent placed efforts last August but ended 2025 on a low note and off for ten months ahead of this reappearance; a watching brief is the percentage call.

25/1

3

(7)

13th Oct 2025

Good

0m 6f 3y

Class 5

16:00 Yarmouth

Infinity Blue

9st 10lb

J: Dougie Costello

T: Julie Camacho

Sole win from 20 starts came at Newmarket last summer; good second off reduced mark at Doncaster (6f, good to firm) in August but he's taken two backward steps since and has something to prove again; first-time cheekpieces replace visor.

8/1

11

(3)

16th Sep 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 217y

Class 4

16:03 Redcar

Infinity Blue

9st 4lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Julie Camacho

Only win in 15 attempts came off 1lb higher at Newmarket in August last year (6f, good); fair efforts in a visor (on again) when in the frame on last two starts; has each-way claims.

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £27.88

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Commanding Prince

TOPSPEED:

Sword

POSTDATA:

Jungle Land

Telegraph:

Chalk Mountain

D Express:

Infinity Blue

RP RATINGS:

Commanding Prince

LAMBOURN:

Commanding Prince

The Times:

Commanding Prince

Daily Record:

Commanding Prince

Daily Mirror:

Sword

The Star:

Sword

NEWMARKET:

Jungle Land

Daily Mail:

Jungle Land

The Guardian:

Chalk Mountain