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

3rd

2

(8)

9th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 212y

Class 1

15:40 Haydock

Balmacara

9st 10lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

None too consistent in 2025, running well when second in 1m Listed event at Sandown (soft) in September but poorly twice afterwards; returns from a layoff and may find that conditions place the emphasis too much on speed.

25/1

1

(6)

24th Oct 2025

Heavy

0m 7f 6y

Class 2

15:18 Doncaster

Balmacara

10st 0lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Form this term features a good effort, behind the subsequent QEII winner, at Sandown (Listed) on penultimate run; did too much up front latest; 2-2 over C&D (soft-ground novice wins) and looks interesting back here.

9/1

8

(1)

4th Oct 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Ascot

Balmacara

8st 13lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Lacks consistency but produced a solid run in defeat at Listed level last time (1m, soft) and this drop back to 7f will be no hardship; Charles Bishop gets off to partner Great Acclaim but this 4yo is respected off a competitive mark.

11/1

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

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

22th

21

(1)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:10 Newbury

Samuel Colt

8st 13lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Amanda Perrett

Very lightly raced 5yo; Group-placed in 2024 for Aidan O'Brien; has failed to beat a rival in three runs for current stable, always behind after stumbling early on at Sandown (behind Urban Lion) last June; hard to recommend on recent form but he has been dropped a chunk in the weights and gelded, and he now reappears in a hood.

50/1

2

(6)

14th Jun 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

14:05 Sandown

Samuel Colt

10st 0lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: Amanda Perrett

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.

25/1

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

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

9th

7

(19)

27th Sep 2025

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 2

15:40 Newmarket

Urban Lion

9st 2lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Jack Channon

Below par at York latest but a wide draw made things tough for this prominent-racer; progressive otherwise, rallying when close fifth of 30 in the Royal Hunt Cup (1m, good to firm) and when close third to Ebt's Guard at Ascot (1m, good to firm) two starts ago; of interest over today's extra 1f.

25/1

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

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

2nd

15

(9)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:10 Newbury

Classic

9st 1lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

Chased home Ebt's Guard and Urban Lion in this race last year and he's better off at the weights with both; ran a cracker when dropped to 7f for valuable event at Ascot last summer; hasn't been seen for eight months but he'll be dangerous if cherry ripe.

12/1

23

(12)

18th Oct 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

16:40 Ascot

Classic

8st 10lb

J: Reserve

T: Richard Hannon

Reserve; made all at Sandown (1m, good to firm) in July and close second of 21 to subsequent Stewards' Cup winner Two Tribes here (7f, good) next time; soundly beaten at Newbury (7f, good to firm) two months ago and needs to bounce back but he's better than that and is not discounted.

33/1

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