July 12 / 16.20 Chester

16.20

Good

Matthew Clark Handicap

  • Prize money: £7756.76
  • 1m 4f 63y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Matthew Clark Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sunny

Form: 2-3251 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Expensive to follow in handicaps but showed the right attitude when coming away with Damascus Steel on Tapeta a fortnight ago; 6lb rise will make life tougher from the outside stall but having the vastly experienced Archie Young take off 5lb won't hurt.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(3)

29th Aug 2026

Good

1m 4f 23y

Class 5

14:20 Beverley

LEagle Aid

9st 13lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Charlie Johnston

Went back-to-back last summer (about 1m4f, AW/good) and he's been beaten 3l or less on his last four starts, including in first-time cheekpieces (retained) four weeks ago; soft ground would be an unknown but he's below his last winning mark and drops back down in grade.

6/1

3rd

6

(6)

2nd Aug 2026

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 4

14:10 Chester

LEagle Aid

9st 6lb

J: Jack Callan

T: Charlie Johnston

One of three wins came over C&D in July of last year (promoted after dead-heating); solid runs in his last three races, two at Chester; tactically versatile and should be in the mix; first-time headgear.

6/1

3rd

3

(4)

22nd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 13y

Class 4

16:12 Catterick

LEagle Aid

9st 8lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Charlie Johnston

Gradually coming back to form this term and last two efforts, both at Chester, can be marked up (met late trouble latest); remains on last winning mark and he is 1-1 over C&D (novice success two years ago); respected assuming fortune is back on his side.

7/4

OUR TIP

Form: 0644-1 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Trainer enjoying a good summer and she did her bit when off the mark on her yard/turf debut back from nine months off four weeks ago; remains open to further improvement upped 5lb and is one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

(5)

28th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 209y

Class 4

17:20 Sandown

Moon Angel

10st 1lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Stuart Williams

Lightly raced 5yo who won at Salisbury (1m4f) and Newmarket (1m6f, both on good to firm) last summer, but she reappeared with a laboured effort at Ascot (1m2f) in May; has bit to prove after another break and she seems more potent at longer trips.

13/2

8th

4

(8)

9th May 2026

Good

1m 1f 212y

Class 4

16:05 Ascot

Moon Angel

9st 10lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Stuart Williams

Second win for Stuart Williams when getting up on the line over 1m6f at Newmarket (good to firm) last August; not seen since, though, and possibly best watched racing short of 1m3f for the first time on her return.

10/1

1st

4

(5)

16th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 3

15:45 Newmarket (July)

Moon Angel

9st 2lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Stuart Williams

Lightly raced 4yo who won on yard debut at Salisbury (1m4f, good to firm) in June and close third at Chester (12.2f, good) next time; good to soft ground may not have been ideal when soundly beaten third here (1m4f) latest, and this trip may be within range, but she has to be better than ever today.

15/2

Form: 72-288 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Did most racing for Ed Walker, from whom she was picked up for 5,000gns in January, over further, both wins coming on the AW; soft ground wouldn't have been any good for her a fortnight ago but she offered little in finishing last at a big price.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

(4)

4th Jun 2026

Good

1m 3f 209y

Class 6

20:20 Ffos Las

Hedonista

9st 9lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Bernard Llewellyn

Dual winner but 0-11 for current yard and essentially regressive; off since January.

9/1

6th

3

(8)

20th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 6

19:30 Southwell (AW)

Hedonista

9st 5lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Bernard Llewellyn

She has dropped a long way in the weights since joining this yard and hasn't made a major impact; latest Chelmsford third (beaten over 7l) was a bit better but she will need to step forward again to take this.

11/2

3

(5)

15th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 5

19:40 Kempton (AW)

Hedonista

9st 7lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Bernard Llewellyn

On a losing run of 13 but ran better when fourth of ten at Wolverhampton (16.5f, Tapeta) last month, even though a slow pace probably didn't suit; last visit here resulted in a win over this trip just over two years ago and he's 12lb lower now; interesting.

7/1

Form: 788492 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Does most racing now on the AW and hasn't run well on turf in over a year; bounced back to form when making L'Eagle Aid work for it on Tapeta a fortnight ago, given a second go in the visor instead of blinkers, but now needs to back it up on similar terms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

(12)

31st Aug 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

15:35 Epsom

Damascus Steel

11st 3lb

J: Mr Fletcher Yarham

T: Gihan Arnolda

2-4 for new stable, winning at Goodwood (1m4f, good; cheekpieces first time) before getting the better Epictetus over C&D last month; came unstuck at York in his hat-trick bid and this looks a competitive race in which to get back on track.

20/1

8th

8

(3)

25th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 188y

Class 3

16:17 York

Damascus Steel

9st 1lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Gihan Arnolda

Represents a new trainer in excellent form and has won at Goodwood (1m4f, good) and Epsom (1m4f, good to firm) on his last two outings, proving himself better than ever; edging up the weights only gradually and in the mix again.

10/1

1st

4

(8)

16th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

19:30 Epsom

Damascus Steel

10st 6lb

J: Miss Becky Smith

T: Gihan Arnolda

Did well on AW last winter and even better form when the cheekpieces replaced a visor at Goodwood (1m4f, good) four weeks ago, leading over 1f out to score with rather more authority than the half-length winning margin suggests; used to act on good to firm; up 3lb but firmly in the picture.

5/1

Form: 73-824 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Course regular who does most racing now over further and wants a good test at this trip; arrives in decent form but looked to have no excuses in a less-competitive, small-field affair last time and there's no margin for error off this mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

(1)

1st Sep 2026

Standard

1m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:20 Lingfield (AW)

Percy Jones

9st 12lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Mark Loughnane

In form having made the frame in most starts this term, close fourth over C&D on penultimate; has never won away from Wolverhampton but can't be dismissed off current mark.

9/1

4th

5

(3)

18th Aug 2026

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 5

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Percy Jones

9st 13lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Mark Loughnane

Versatile sort whose four wins have all been at this track between 1m4f to around 2m; well-handicapped on his best form but hasn't won for 12 months and some of his younger rivals may have more scope.

11/1

4th

3

(10)

13th Jul 2026

Standard

1m 5f 0y

Class 5

17:40 Lingfield (AW)

Percy Jones

9st 8lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Mark Loughnane

All four wins have been at Wolverhampton (1m4f-2m) and latest was 11 months ago; finished a close third off 1lb higher at Bath (1m6f, good) last month but he's not easy to predict and was well held with cheekpieces tried at Chester last time; the headgear is quickly discarded but he comes with risks attached.

16/1

Form: -09254 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Won five times last summer, latterly off this mark, but has been patchy at best this time round; often takes plenty of pushing and she's some way down the pecking order.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(1)

14th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 6

15:25 Musselburgh

Lincoln Rockstar

9st 9lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Ivan Furtado

Won five times last year, one of those over C&D, but below form since finishing second of five at Leicester (1m4f, good to firm) this June; she has dropped in the weights and is dangerous to dismiss back here.

4/1

1

(1)

10th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 179y

Class 5

15:30 Leicester

Lincoln Rockstar

10st 1lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: Ivan Furtado

Has five wins including one over C&D; ran well when second over C&D in June off 4lb higher mark but has been below that form in four runs since; has possibilities if a return to this track works the oracle.

9/2

2

(4)

25th Jul 2025

Good To Soft

1m 4f 8y

Class 5

16:35 Thirsk

Lincoln Rockstar

9st 8lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ivan Furtado

Won five times last summer and went the best part of two stone up the weights; patchy this time and often takes plenty of driving but is 2lb lower than when last successful and will find this a touch easier.

6/1

Form: 4059-7

Last run: 45 days

W: 9st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Longer trip should be fine on pedigree, having offered a bit more back up to 1m2f on comeback, when going without the hood; that was just his second run in almost a year and he'll need to improve on it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(4)

10th Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

16:15 Ayr

Lesrico

10st 2lb

J: Mark Winn

T: Lisa Williamson

Won on soft ground in the autumn and ran big race in defeat on reappearance outing at Haydock (1m3f, good to soft) in the spring, but disappointed on his next outing (again raced too freely) and is not easy to predict.

8/1

8th

7

(2)

13th Jun 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

21:00 Leicester

Lesrico

9st 6lb

J: Alfie Redman

T: Lisa Williamson

Sole win from 11 starts came in game fashion on soft ground at Doncaster (1m2f) in October and he ran a fine race when runner-up behind Blue Wonder at Haydock (1m2f, good to soft) on his reappearance 22 days ago, coming clear of the rest; on the shortlist.

7/1

Form: 3-1851 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 8st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who proved this trip within range when making all in a small field at Ffos Las off a 3lb lower mark three weeks ago; yet to run on ground faster than good and might not want it too quick but a good chance he'll be able to lead again from stall 1.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

(1)

23rd Oct 2025

Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

16:32 Nottingham

Run Of Luck

8st 12lb

J: Liam Wright

T: Ed de Giles

On a winning mark and won't mind the forecast rain but he hasn't convinced with his stamina in two attempts at this trip.

12/1

13

(8)

20th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 6f 87y

Class 5

16:45 Chester

Run Of Luck

8st 13lb

J: Morgan Cole

T: Ed de Giles

Front-runner who has won twice (1m2f/1m4f) on good to soft this season; only 1lb higher than for his last success but he can race freely and he didn't seem to get home when upped to 1m6f at Haydock last time.

8/1

9

(10)

5th Sep 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

13:32 Haydock

Run Of Luck

9st 1lb

J: Jack Callan

T: Ed de Giles

Front-runner who won twice (1m2f/1m4f) on good to soft this season; not sure to get 1m6f, as he raced freely to set up a clear lead at Carlisle last time but he also rallied that day to finish a creditable second; needs a second look.

7/1

Non-runners

Khangai

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £34.43
Tricast £58.15

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Moon Angel

TOPSPEED:

Khangai

RP RATINGS:

Percy Jones

The Sun:

Run Of Luck

POSTDATA:

Damascus Steel

NEWMARKET:

Moon Angel

The Times:

Moon Angel

Telegraph:

Moon Angel

The Guardian:

Moon Angel

Daily Mail:

Moon Angel

Daily Mirror:

Moon Angel

Daily Record:

Moon Angel

The Star:

Khangai

D Express:

Percy Jones