July 05 / 19.23 Nottingham

19.23

Good To Firm

N & L Franklin Developments Ltd Handicap

  • Prize money: £5495.7
  • 0m 5f 8y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
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N & L Franklin Developments Ltd Handicap

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £6.00
  • Place: £2.30

Form: -24274 CD

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Three wins last summer, including over C&D, all came off lower marks and he arrives off the back of two below-par efforts; suspicion remains that a stiffer 5f is optimal and he needs to bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

(10)

24th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

14:40 Beverley

Frank The Spark

9st 10lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Paul Midgley

Handicapper had his say after an easy Nottingham win (2-2 there) early last month and this 5yo has been held since; often dropped in (may well be again from a wide stall) and would then be reliant on the race setting up for him, as well as some luck.

12/1

4th

9

(4)

9th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 3

15:47 Redcar

Frank The Spark

8st 10lb

J: Barry McHugh

T: Paul Midgley

Won at Nottingham (5f, good to firm) in July but that wasn't much of a race and he has not repeated the form; now wears cheekpieces; others preferred.

14/1

4

(2)

2nd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:25 Thirsk

Frank The Spark

9st 10lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Paul Midgley

Gained his fourth career success at Nottingham (5f, good to firm) in July and 6f will have been too far for him at York next time; however, he's still 7lb higher than for the win and others make more obvious appeal.

8/1

2/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 115-53

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Dual 6f winner last year who's shown enough in two runs back from a second round of wind surgery, including on his first crack at this trip last time, to suggest this mark is within range; not yet fully exposed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(6)

1st Sep 2026

Good

0m 5f 60y

Class 5

19:15 Brighton

Bona Fortuna

9st 9lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Michael Appleby

Won in maiden and handicap company over 6f when a 3yo; expensive to follow last year in handicaps but ran some good races, and again from the front in a 6f Class 4 here last month on return from an absence; might take a step forward from that and he'll be fine back in trip.

7/2

6th

5

(1)

7th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 215y

Class 4

16:00 Brighton

Bona Fortuna

9st 11lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Michael Appleby

Won his maiden over C&D as a 3yo, returning from eight months off, which is a positive after a break of ten months; expensive to follow in handicaps last season, following a second wind op, and it will be interesting to see how he goes in the market.

8/1

6th

5

(8)

2nd Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 6f 18y

Class 2

15:35 Nottingham

Bona Fortuna

9st 3lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Michael Appleby

Won two in a row (6f/7f, good to firm) last summer and performing well in defeat this year, including second to Air Force One in a big-field at York (5f) in July and to subsequent Ayr Bronze Cup winner Winged Messenger at Epsom (6f; third and fourth also won since) when last seen seven weeks ago; raced mainly on good or firmer but showed promise on soft at the start of his career; has first-time cheekpieces added to his tongue-tie; high on the shortlist with Warren Fentiman taking 5lb off.

11/2

OUR TIP

Form: 623903 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Went close off a 3lb higher mark over C&D in May and returned to that sort of level last time; often dropped in but is adaptable regarding tactics and knows how to win.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

10

(2)

1st Sep 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:40 Ripon

Spirit Of Applause

9st 3lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Tim Easterby

C&D winner (September 2022); reliable in 2026, inching ever closer; beaten a nose by the in-form Mr Cool at Redcar (6f, good; 12-1) ten days ago; small 2lb rise, coupled with less favourable low draw, enough to further frustrate?

3/1

2nd

7

(2)

22nd Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 217y

Class 5

19:00 Redcar

Spirit Of Applause

9st 6lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

Reliable sort who comes here on the back of a good second of nine in 5f Pontefract handicap 17 days ago; can make his presence felt off the same mark.

5/1

2nd

3

(4)

5th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

16:15 Pontefract

Spirit Of Applause

9st 11lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Posted two good thirds at the start of last month (5f/5.6f, good to firm) before midfield finish in big-field Class 4 at York (6f, good to firm); the drop back in trip/grade can help and he could be in the mix.

11/2

16/1

Form: 340-67 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Decent 2yo for Ed Dunlop; proved hard to place last year; no signs of a revival in two runs back this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

(3)

9th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 5

17:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Mini Magna

8st 9lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Antony Brittain

Down to a career-low mark but he's been well held on Tapeta in last three starts and his last win was at Bath in August 2023; opposable.

25/1

6th

2

(8)

27th Jan 2026

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 6

20:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Mini Magna

9st 9lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Antony Brittain

Down to a career-low mark and wasn't beaten far at Newcastle three runs back when 4lb higher; however, lesser performances have followed at Southwell, where he's run well in the past.

10/1

14th

8

(14)

25th Aug 2025

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 5

17:08 Southwell (AW)

Mini Magna

9st 5lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Antony Brittain

Won twice as a 2yo for Ed Dunlop; 0-11 for current stable and he's been well short of his best so far this year; drawn widest on a rare 6f run.

25/1

Form: 124527

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
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.
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

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £13.90
Straight Forecast £12.95
Trifecta £25.80

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Spirit Of Applause

SPOTLIGHT:

Bona Fortuna

Daily Mail:

Frank The Spark

NEWMARKET:

Jungle Land

Telegraph:

Bona Fortuna

The Guardian:

Bona Fortuna

Daily Record:

Bona Fortuna

The Star:

Frank The Spark

Daily Mirror:

Spirit Of Applause