July 12 / 16.20 Chester

16.20

Good

Matthew Clark Handicap

  • Prize money: £7756.76
  • 1m 4f 63y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
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

5th

3

(2)

11th Jul 2026

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 5

17:00 Chester

LEagle Aid

9st 9lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Charlie Johnston

Well suited by about 1m4f; form over C&D features a success (off current mark) in this race last year and resurgent effort, doing well to finish third having been slowly away then come from a difficult position, in latest start; respected.

7/2

3rd

1

(4)

27th Jun 2026

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 5

17:50 Chester

LEagle Aid

10st 2lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Charlie Johnston

Has won three races, the latest over C&D off this mark last July (good); just fair form this term, last time finishing 5l sixth to Patagonia Girl (runs in the 4.45) over C&D (good).

10/1

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

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

10

(7)

2nd Aug 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 3

16:35 Newmarket (July)

Moon Angel

8st 10lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Stuart Williams

Won on stable and seasonal debut at Salisbury (1m4f, good to firm) in June and close third at Chester (1m4f, good) since; this 4yo has raced only six times and could still have more to offer; high on the list.

7/2

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

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

1st

6

(6)

19th Jun 2026

Good

1m 3f 218y

Class 4

18:55 Goodwood

Damascus Steel

9st 1lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Gihan Arnolda

Two 1m4f AW wins for Denis Quinn in the winter and a respectable fifth at Lingfield (1m4f, AW) in April on sole starts for John Ryan; left the impression he's still in form at Thirsk 19 days ago on his first start for this yard and cheekpieces now go on.

14/1

6th

10

(3)

31st May 2026

Good

1m 4f 8y

Class 4

17:15 Thirsk

Damascus Steel

8st 11lb

J: William Carson

T: Gihan Arnolda

Two 1m4f AW wins last winter for Denis Quinn and respectable fifth of 15 at Lingfield (1m4f, AW) last month on sole run for John Ryan; however, it's a long time since he ran well on turf and has something to prove back on grass; stable debut.

12/1

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

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

6th

5

(3)

27th Jun 2026

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 5

17:50 Chester

Percy Jones

9st 13lb

J: David Egan

T: Mark Loughnane

Has won four times on the AW but is 0-23 on turf, although has been placed on 12 occasions; decent third at Bath last time (1m6f, good); each-way chance; cheekpieces now tried.

15/2

3rd

3

(5)

5th Jun 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

17:00 Bath

Percy Jones

9st 8lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Mark Loughnane

All four wins on AW at Wolverhampton; 0-22 on turf and beaten 24l on reappearance at Newbury (1m4f, good) three weeks ago; hard to fancy.

5/1

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

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

2nd

7

(2)

22nd May 2026

Soft

1m 2f 42y

Class 5

16:05 Haydock

Lesrico

9st 5lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Lisa Williamson

Ninth start when off the mark in game fashion from the front at Doncaster (1m2f, soft; 6lb higher today) in October under Ben Ffrench Davis; out of the handicap when appearing to run well 11 days later (1m2f, good) and he needs a second look on this reappearance.

10/1

5th

9

(7)

4th Nov 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 1y

Class 3

13:55 Redcar

Lesrico

8st 9lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Lisa Williamson

Lightly raced 5yo; off the mark on ninth start when a game winner at Doncaster 11 days ago (1m2f, soft); raised 5lb and competing in a higher grade here.

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