June 14 / 14.05 Sandown

14.05

Good

Read Meg Nicholls’ Blog At betmgm.co.uk Handicap

  • Prize money: £20616
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 5 runners
ITV
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Read Meg Nicholls’ Blog At betmgm.co.uk Handicap

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 3220-0

Last run: 77 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Best to forgive sole run this year (AW debut); largely progressive on turf and twice finished a good second at Sandown (1m2f) last summer; this first attempt over 1m is worth exploring; interesting back here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

5

(16)

4th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

14:25 Sandown

Balmacara

9st 5lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Useful but he is 0-12 since a Doncaster novice double in spring 2024 and not particularly solid on 2026 form; on a difficult mark returned to handicap level and isn't sure to uphold a consistent Sandown record.

33/1

6th

1

(4)

27th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

14:58 York

Balmacara

9st 8lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Useful but is 0-12 since completing a Doncaster novice double in spring 2024, essentially proving quite difficult to place; hasn't strictly improved for a switch to hold-up tactics this term (seemingly being taught to settle better); unlikely to regain the winning thread on these terms.

40/1

7th

2

(4)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 3y

Class 1

13:30 Epsom

Balmacara

9st 2lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Listed runner-up at Sandown (1m, soft) last September and third in the same grade at Haydock (7f, good) four weeks ago on reappearance; however, he was comfortably beaten in that latest start and is 0-11 since winning novice contests at Doncaster in spring 2024 on second and third starts; up against it.

28/1

OUR TIP

Form: /239-0

Last run: 8 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 4yo; Group-placed for Aidan O'Brien; has failed to beat a rival in both starts for new yard and is best watched unless the market suggests otherwise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(5)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 4

15:45 Ascot

Samuel Colt

9st 9lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Amanda Perrett

0-8 since his winning debut as 2yo for Aidan O'Brien; six starts for this yard and four were Class 2 handicaps but he didn't fare any better in a 1m2f Class 3 at Sandown (40-1) and whether he can take advantage of a small-field Class 4 today has to be in doubt; hooded this season except today.

14/1

10th

10

(10)

12th Jun 2026

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 3

15:23 Sandown

Samuel Colt

9st 4lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Amanda Perrett

0-7 since his winning debut at two for Aidan O'Brien; has contested strong Class 2 handicaps since being gelded last summer (hooded) but was beaten about 10l on both occasions; others appeal more.

50/1

4th

10

(8)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 1f 197y

Class 2

16:00 Goodwood

Samuel Colt

8st 11lb

J: David Probert

T: Amanda Perrett

Useful ex-Irish winner but he's offered little in a handful of runs for his current yard, beating just two in 1m Newbury handicap on his recent return; others are much preferred.

66/1

Form: 454-12 D

Last run: 63 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Low-mileage 4yo who has produced good performances (over 1m) this year, winning at Chelmsford (AW) in February then close second at Newbury (good) in April; respected with further improvement plausible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

26th

12

(20)

17th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

Urban Lion

9st 4lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Jack Channon

Good fifth in this race last year but was in a progressive vein of form at the time; some inconsistency has crept in and he finished last (admittedly lost a shoe) in the Spring Cup at Newbury most recently, failing to back up the form of his narrow success in the Lincoln on reappearance.

33/1

24th

5

(26)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:10 Newbury

Urban Lion

9st 9lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Jack Channon

Goes well in a big field over a straight 1m; beaten a neck in this race last year (good ground) and made a winning return in the Lincoln at Doncaster (good to soft; beat Rogue Diplomat a nose) three weeks ago; should be in the thick of things again off a 4lb higher mark.

9/1

1st

7

(2)

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:32 Doncaster

Urban Lion

9st 6lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Jack Channon

Close fifth in the Royal Hunt Cup (1m, good to firm) last June and close third next time, again at Ascot (1m, good to firm); has shown promise on soft ground; not at the top of his game on his final two outings last term but has an each-way shout if back to his best on this reappearance.

20/1

Form: 656-34 C

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Gelded prior to his encouraging efforts at Newbury (1m) this season; has two useful pieces of Sandown form, namely a win in July 2023 and neck second (off 5lb higher; shade unlucky) in this race last year; big player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

(5)

4th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

14:25 Sandown

Classic

9st 1lb

J: Pat Dobbs

T: Richard Hannon

Prevailed by a neck from Indalo at Newbury in May; unable to confirm the placings in the Royal Hunt Cup but wasn't disgraced; successful on this card in 2023 (7f handicap) and 2025 (this race); solid claims back here.

10/1

9th

25

(19)

17th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

Classic

9st 1lb

J: Pat Dobbs

T: Richard Hannon

Has less hidden up his sleeve than others, being a 6yo whose record is 4-24, but he arrives having been better than ever in useful handicaps at Newbury (1m, good) this term; finished second to Linwood on reappearance and weaved his way through to beat Indalo by a neck last time.

11/1

1st

8

(7)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:00 Newbury

Classic

9st 2lb

J: Pat Dobbs

T: Richard Hannon

Third in last year's Spring Cup over C&D and fourth in this race; next three starts were good as well and he was better than ever for reappearance second of 24 in the Spring Cup four weeks ago; up just 1lb, a leading player.

6/1

Form: 464410 C

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Tough sort who is capable of going well in this grade; however, has gained his 2025 wins in Class 4, both at Lingfield (AW/turf); below par last time and likely set for a supporting role.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(5)

8th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 0f 75y

Class 4

15:58 Nottingham

Urban Sprawl

9st 10lb

J: Archie Young

T: Charlie Johnston

Already a three-time scorer (around 1m) in 2025 and he comes here on the back of a very good second of 13 in 1m Newcastle handicap; must enter calculations off an unchanged mark.

9/2

2nd

5

(12)

28th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 4

18:15 Newcastle (AW)

Urban Sprawl

9st 12lb

J: Archie Young

T: Charlie Johnston

Career win number eight when prevailing narrowly in a Class 4 at Beverley (extended 1m) and tends to find Class 2s too tough these days, so excused his Doncaster run; only 1-17 on the AW but could be a factor.

14/1

10th

12

(1)

13th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

13:15 Doncaster

Urban Sprawl

8st 9lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Charlie Johnston

Tough sort but has done his winning this year in Class 4, including at Beverley (8.5f, good to firm) last time when taking record to 8-55; faces a tougher task back up two grades.

14/1

Non-runners

Lattam, Theoryofeverything, Mr Professor, Tribal Chief, Asteverdi, Atlantic Gamble

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.40
Straight Forecast £5.76
Trifecta £12.30

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Classic

SPOTLIGHT:

Urban Lion

LAMBOURN:

Urban Lion

Telegraph:

Urban Lion

The Sun:

Urban Lion

The Star:

Urban Lion

Daily Record:

Urban Lion

TOPSPEED:

Classic

POSTDATA:

Classic

The Times:

Classic

The Guardian:

Classic

Daily Mail:

Classic

D Express:

Classic

Daily Mirror:

Classic