July 04 / 15.25 Doncaster

15.25

Good To Firm

Instarmac Group Handicap

  • Prize money: £5652.72
  • 1m 2f 43y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Instarmac Group Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 1/65-

Last run: 431 days

W: 10st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
1-3 for Andre Fabre, the win coming in a contest for unraced 2yos at Deauville (9.5f, AW) at the end of 2023; gelded since last seen and makes his stable/handicap debut after 431 days off having been picked up for 8,000gns last October; interesting to see how he fares in the market alongside stablemate Hornsea Bay (in the same ownership).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

(1)

6th Feb 2026

Standard

2m 0f 120y

Class 2

16:22 Wolverhampton (AW)

Ribble Vibe

8st 13lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: David O’Meara

Sometimes hangs left but is moving in the right direction and comfortably justified favouritism over C&D in December, recording a first win since joining shrewd current connections; good second on trials day at Newcastle (kept to 2m) since; may improve further at this trip; respected.

2/1

2nd

7

(6)

16th Jan 2026

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

14:15 Newcastle (AW)

Ribble Vibe

8st 13lb

J: Jason Watson

T: David O’Meara

Had been running well in defeat before outclassing his five rivals in a Class 4 at Wolverhampton (2m); 5lb higher this time in a stronger contest but looks a good bet to give his running.

6/1

Form: 048-79 D

Last run: 51 days

W: 10st 1lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Quite lightly raced since his last win off 7lb higher at York in August 2023 and has mainly been disappointing; this is a big drop in class, but he needs to show a bit more spark before he can be supported; cheekpieces removed after one use.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

23rd Jun 2026

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

19:15 Newton Abbot

Marhaba The Champ

11st 12lb

J: Roisin Leech

T: Sophie Leech

Refused to race on the Flat last month and again looked unenthusiastic on recent handicap hurdle debut here (2m1f, good), albeit he eventually made headway into sixth (behind Warfleet); remains a risky option.

16/1

6th

1

3rd Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

17:00 Newton Abbot

Marhaba The Champ

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Sophie Leech

Largely disappointing for this stable under both codes and, after a brief respite on the Flat at Newbury in April, he refused to come out of the stalls at York last month, both times in this headgear; best hurdle effort when runner-up at Newcastle (2m1f, good) in October offers some hope on handicap switch, but current form is a clear concern.

11/2

7

(14)

13th May 2026

Good

1m 3f 188y

Class 4

17:15 York

Marhaba The Champ

9st 4lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Sophie Leech

Formerly useful for Kevin Ryan but was sold last July and has been comfortably held since on the Flat and over hurdles; this tongue-tie (tried once in 2023) returned on latest outing, along with first-time hood; 17lb below his peak mark, but no win since he scored twice at York in 2023.

33/1

Form: -44010 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Bit of a mixed bag since returning in April, his Ripon success (1m2f, good to soft) in May flanked by a couple of heavy defeats; still 5lb higher than for the win and others make greater appeal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15

(12)

11th Oct 2025

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 2

14:05 York

Ey Up Its The Boss

8st 4lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Tony Coyle & Kaine Wood

Two 1m2f wins at Ripon (good to soft/soft) this season and he's also effective here and on good ground; however, he's been below par on his last two outings and needs a much bigger performance today.

25/1

7

(10)

13th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 43y

Class 2

16:50 Doncaster

Ey Up Its The Boss

8st 9lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: Tony Coyle & Kaine Wood

Gained fourth Ripon success when making all over 1m2f (soft) in July; 4l second at Chester (1m2f, good) next time and perhaps a drop back to 1m didn't suit when only sixth of seven back at Ripon 19 days ago.

14/1

6th

3

(6)

25th Aug 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:50 Ripon

Ey Up Its The Boss

9st 12lb

J: David Nolan

T: Tony Coyle & Kaine Wood

Comes into this as good as ever, gaining his fourth course success here (1m2f, soft) last month and finishing second of nine off this mark at Chester (1m2f, good) a week later; he is another for whom dropping in trip poses a question, though.

9/1

Form: 14-0 BF

Last run: 91 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced since narrowly making a winning debut at Newcastle (1m, AW) in February last year and, having been gelded and undergone wind surgery, he failed to beat a rival on handicap debut at Southwell (1m, AW) in April; off another three months since and has enough to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(1)

4th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

1m 2f 43y

Class 4

15:25 Doncaster

Las Ramblas

9st 12lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Lightly raced since narrowly making a winning debut at Newcastle (1m, AW) in February last year and, having been gelded and undergone wind surgery, he failed to beat a rival on handicap debut at Southwell (1m, AW) in April; off another three months since and has enough to prove.

8/1

12th

1

(6)

4th Apr 2025

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 4

18:55 Southwell (AW)

Las Ramblas

9st 10lb

J: David Egan

T: Roger Varian

Promise in novice events last year, winning at Newcastle (1m, AW) in February then fourth at Nottingham (1m2f) in May; had gelding/wind operations since; still open to progress and is interesting on reappearance.

11/2

12th

1

(6)

4th Apr 2025

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 4

18:55 Southwell (AW)

Las Ramblas

9st 10lb

J: David Egan

T: Roger Varian

Promise in novice events last year, winning at Newcastle (1m, AW) in February then fourth at Nottingham (1m2f) in May; had gelding/wind operations since; still open to progress and is interesting on reappearance.

11/2

Form: 12-474 BF

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
0-4 since his winning debut at Ayr (1m, good) last September, but his fourth of nine in a 0-100 handicap at Epsom (1m2f, good to soft; first start since being gelded) last month was a creditable effort; something to prove on ground faster than good but still shortlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(5)

10th Oct 2025

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 2

14:40 York

Hornsea Bay

9st 2lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Debut at Ayr last September remains his only win but three of his last four starts (two over 1m2f at Ayr, one C&D) suggest he is capable of getting seriously involved.

7/2

8

(2)

18th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 2

14:45 Ayr

Hornsea Bay

9st 3lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Won 2yo debut here (1m, good) last September and clear second behind well-handicapped winner in handicap over this C&D (good) in July; has shown promise on good to soft (unraced on softer); close fifth at York 11 days ago and he could play a leading role now back here.

5/1

10

(10)

7th Sep 2025

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 3

16:00 York

Hornsea Bay

9st 3lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: David O’Meara

Second to an unexposed Haggas horse at Ayr before racing too freely for his own good when favourite for a Racing League handicap at Chepstow (1m2f, good to soft); if giving himself a better chance here he might not be far away.

15/2

Form: 7-522

Last run: 7 days

W: 8st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Four-race maiden who is gradually getting closer to the target, finishing well clear of the third when going down by a neck on handicap debut over C&D (good to firm) a week ago; 2lb well in and a major player with further progress likely.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

(2)

18th Jul 2026

Good

1m 4f 10y

Class 3

15:15 Ripon

Elsass

9st 9lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Charlie Johnston

Disappointing at Newmarket (1m4f, good to firm) a fortnight ago but prior to that he was 2-2 since being gelded, with convincing wins at Southwell (1m3f, AW) and Hamilton (1m3f, good); could bounce back.

9/2

10th

11

(12)

4th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Newmarket (July)

Elsass

8st 11lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Charlie Johnston

Second on good to firm last June (much better form since); well held when upped to 1m4f for a hot handicap on final start last season; gelded subsequently and won over 1m3f at Southwell (AW) and Hamilton (good; by 5l in good style) in his two races this term; up 8lb and into a much tougher contest, back at 1m4f, but maybe he's putting it all together now.

7/1

Form: 321462 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 8st 7lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Off the mark in emphatic style at the sixth attempt in a Ripon maiden (1m2f, good) in April; beaten over 4l when second of six behind an improver from the Prescott yard at the same track (1m4f, good) last month, though that rival bolted up again here last Friday; in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(12)

18th Oct 2025

Good

1m 4f 13y

Class 4

11:56 Catterick

Arkinthestars

9st 6lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: K R Burke

Sometimes front-runs; won a Doncaster handicap (1m2f, good to firm) in July and Hamilton seller (1m3f, soft) in September; the solid sequence continued when she was beaten a neck in three-runner race at Newcastle (1m4f, AW) 16 days ago but this race may be a bit too competitive.

10/1

3

(1)

2nd Oct 2025

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 4

16:55 Newcastle (AW)

Arkinthestars

9st 11lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Has won two of her last four, a Doncaster handicap (1m2f, good to firm) in July and Hamilton seller (1m3f, soft; Ancient Myth last) 11 days ago; latter win was convincing, arguably a career best, and she has form here too; likely stays this trip; player.

11/4

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Elsass

Daily Mail:

Hornsea Bay

NEWMARKET:

Las Ramblas

RP RATINGS:

Marhaba The Champ

TOPSPEED:

Elsass

POSTDATA:

Elsass

THE NORTH:

Elsass

The Times:

Elsass

Telegraph:

Elsass

The Guardian:

Elsass

D Express:

Elsass

Daily Mirror:

Elsass

The Sun:

Elsass

The Star:

Elsass

Daily Record:

Elsass