July 02 / 18.20 Epsom

18.20

Good

Betfred ‘Bet Builder’ Apprentice Handicap (Jockey Club Grassroots Middle Distance Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £4448.9
  • 1m 2f 17y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Betfred ‘Bet Builder’ Apprentice Handicap (Jockey Club Grassroots Middle Distance Series Qualifier)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

7/2

Form: 642-44

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Very close fourth on handicap/seasonal debut at Kempton (1m, AW) in May and again ran well when filling the same position at Newbury (1m2f, good to firm) three weeks ago; this lightly raced 4yo can give another good account and perhaps the first-time cheekpieces will eke out something extra.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

(6)

5th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 216y

Class 4

15:30 Brighton

Tex

9st 7lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: George Baker

Belatedly came good with clearcut Ascot win (7f, good to firm) last month, his 12th start, and was not discredited when ninth in big-field sprint at Glorious Goodwood a week ago; will be suited by this return to 1m and may still have a bit more to offer.

7/2

9th

19

(10)

29th Jul 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Goodwood

Tex

9st 4lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: George Baker

Placed six times (7f-1m2f) before making it 12th time lucky in 7f Ascot handicap (good to firm) last Friday; has a 5lb penalty and a new trip to contend with now.

16/1

OUR TIP

Form: -52461 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Has run some good races this year and he made all under Mason Paetel when back up in trip at Leicester (1m2f, good to firm) last month; the third and fourth have both won since and he's firmly in calculations up just 3lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

(4)

24th Aug 2026

Good

1m 1f 207y

Class 6

16:00 Brighton

Bobacious

9st 9lb

J: Liam Wright

T: Mark Hoad

Keen-going front-runner who landed a second Epsom victory (also a C&D winner) when showing the right attitude to get back up late last month; won back-to-back races last summer and no surprise to see history repeat itself upped a fair 2lb.

5/1

1st

6

(5)

30th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 17y

Class 5

17:30 Epsom

Bobacious

9st 0lb

J: Liam Wright

T: Mark Hoad

Placed off 3lb higher at Lingfield (1m2f, good) on seasonal/stable debut in May but not quite in same form on any of three subsequent outings, the last twice here (1m2f/8.5f); needs to up his game.

11/2

5th

4

(9)

16th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 113y

Class 5

18:20 Epsom

Bobacious

9st 12lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: Mark Hoad

Front-runner; latest win was under Mason Paetel here (1m2f) early last July for Ed Dunlop; 4lb lower today but that's after he went off the boil and there's been only a partial revival for new yard this year, finishing sixth of nine here last time in the race he won last year; the last time he raced over a trip this short was May 2025.

8/1

Form: 442652

Last run: 5 days

W: 9st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
His losing sequence goes back 16 races to April 2024 and he was soundly beaten behind Bobacious at Leicester last month, but he left that behind to go close at Doncaster (1m2f, good to firm) last Friday; one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

(3)

9th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

17:01 Chepstow

Annexation

8st 11lb

J: Molly Gunn

T: Tony Carroll

Veteran who completed a quickfire double last autumn but is 0-13 since and his second-place finish in June has not been backed up, kept to Brighton since; opposed.

5/1

5th

1

(4)

5th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 207y

Class 6

16:00 Brighton

Annexation

9st 10lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Tony Carroll

Long in the tooth now and not firing on all cylinders this season but, from a reduced mark, ran well in defeat over C&D (good to firm) in June; had excuse (lame) when below form here last month; big player if all goes to plan this time.

7/1

7th

6

(2)

7th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 207y

Class 6

19:50 Brighton

Annexation

9st 2lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Tony Carroll

Has yet to score this year but is getting close, finishing second of eight over C&D (good to firm) last Tuesday; 8lb lower than for his two wins last autumn.

100/30

Form: 635465 CD

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 9lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
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.
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

11/1

Form: -33285

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
In fair form on AW early this year and he's also effective on turf; however, he's failed to threaten on his two outings for this stable and needs to raise his game if he's to record a first win at the 18th attempt.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(1)

18th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 5

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Fihrayn

9st 6lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Jim Boyle

Belatedly opened his account in Chelmsford contest (1m2f) in August; couple of subsequent defeats confirm his limitations and take strike-rate to just 1-23; not the percentage call.

14/1

7th

2

(7)

18th Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 5

19:45 Kempton (AW)

Fihrayn

10st 1lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Jim Boyle

Off the mark at the 21st attempt in an amateur riders' race at Chelmsford (1m2f, Polytrack) last month, but only fifth of nine behind Royal Pleasure at Lingfield (1m2f, Polytrack) 15 days ago; these conditions may suit him better having been placed in one go over this C&D.

7/1

5

(9)

3rd Sep 2025

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

14:35 Lingfield (AW)

Fihrayn

9st 5lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Jim Boyle

Off the mark at the 21st attempt when readily seeing off six rivals in an amateurs' race at Chelmsford 13 days ago; up 3lb but comes here at the top of his game.

2/1

Form: 83-764 CD

Last run: 36 days

W: 9st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 61

Form & Verdict
Won off this mark over C&D last September and he's worth a second look now back here; however, he's failed to shine on his three starts this year so has something to prove; unproven on fast ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

(2)

30th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 6y

Class 5

18:40 Epsom

Imperial Cult

9st 2lb

J: Neil Callan

T: George Baker

Battled well to win apprentice jockeys' race from the front at Sandown (1m2f, good to firm) on Friday and is now 3-4 for George Baker; escapes a penalty here and will be fine over the longer trip; makes obvious appeal.

8/13

1st

3

(6)

24th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 209y

Class 5

17:15 Sandown

Imperial Cult

9st 9lb

J: Jack Callan

T: George Baker

Hit the ground running for George Baker with 1m4f/1m3f wins on the AW and was close up at Epsom despite stumbling at the start; that was no backward step and he should be thereabouts.

5/2

4th

2

(2)

1st Jul 2026

Good

1m 2f 17y

Class 5

17:20 Epsom

Imperial Cult

9st 9lb

J: Jack Callan

T: George Baker

Strong in the market when he made a winning stable debut at Lingfield (1m4f) and he followed up off 3lb higher at Kempton (1m3f, also AW) three weeks ago; handicapper reacted by dishing out a career-high mark but this locally trained gelding is a C&D winner who needs considering in current mood.

9/4

20/1

Form: 889-77 CD

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 58

Form & Verdict
C&D winner who continues to drop down the weights; however, he's struggled on his five outings since last July and a major turnaround is needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(2)

2nd Jul 2025

Good

1m 2f 17y

Class 5

18:20 Epsom

Ectocross

9st 2lb

J: Jack Dace

T: Simon Dow

C&D winner who continues to drop down the weights; however, he's struggled on his five outings since last July and a major turnaround is needed.

20/1

7

(5)

3rd Jun 2025

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

18:15 Lingfield (AW)

Ectocross

9st 1lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Simon Dow

Won three times in 2023, including here over 1m2f, but he's not been in the same form in four starts since being gelded; possibly needed the outing over 1m at Kempton last time and now steps back up to 1m4f, which should suit, with better needed.

20/1

7

(5)

3rd Jun 2025

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

18:15 Lingfield (AW)

Ectocross

9st 1lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Simon Dow

Won three times in 2023, including here over 1m2f, but he's not been in the same form in four starts since being gelded; possibly needed the outing over 1m at Kempton last time and now steps back up to 1m4f, which should suit, with better needed.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.10
Straight Forecast £4.04
Trifecta £15.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Bobacious

The Times:

Tex

D Express:

Annexation

Daily Mail:

Imperial Cult

RP RATINGS:

Early Morning Dew

The Guardian:

Tex

POSTDATA:

Bobacious

NEWMARKET:

Bobacious

Telegraph:

Bobacious

The Sun:

Bobacious

The Star:

Bobacious

Daily Record:

Bobacious

Daily Mirror:

Annexation