July 26 / 13.30 Chester

13.30

Good

Pure Homes Handicap

  • Prize money: £7731
  • 1m 4f 63y
  • Class 5
  • 10 runners
SKY
View Course
Pure Homes Handicap

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: /798-6

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Five-time turf winner for Iain Jardine but he struggled in three starts for Craig Lidster last year and was beaten 11l over C&D (good) on his stable debut last month; mark continues to fall but he needs a major revival with visor added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(4)

17th Oct 2025

Good

1m 2f 1y

Class 6

17:05 Redcar

Innse Gall

11st 2lb

J: Mr Shay Halton

T: Ivan Furtado

Record of 0-4 this term for new yard but was placed under Shay Halton at Ripon on penultimate start and latest race didn't pan out favourably; has slipped to an attractive mark.

10/1

8

(13)

4th Sep 2025

Good

1m 3f 140y

Class 5

14:00 Haydock

Innse Gall

10st 13lb

J: Mr Shay Halton

T: Ivan Furtado

Has dropped 11lb below his last winning mark but that was from August 2023; third at Ripon ten days ago was his best result this term but he needs much better than that form if he's to turn the tables on Spartan Times.

16/1

1

(2)

25th Aug 2025

Good

1m 2f 190y

Class 6

17:33 Ripon

Innse Gall

11st 2lb

J: Mr Shay Halton

T: Ivan Furtado

Has dropped 11lb below his last winning mark, but his abbreviated career since the start of last year (including two starts for this yard) suggests he hasn't been easy to train; needs the switch to a visor to help him get back on track.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 466-74 C

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
His last win was off 6lb higher at this track but that was over 2m last spring; hasn't been with Donald McCain for long and ran respectably when fourth at Carlisle (2m1f, soft) last time but this is a big drop back in trip and others look more likely.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

14:35 Cartmel

Animato

11st 11lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Ran well for a long way when third of seven on latest hurdling start, at Doncaster (2m, soft) in February, and will be fine on the faster ground here but recent Flat form has been underwhelming; others appeal more.

10/1

3rd

5

(5)

4th Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 47y

Class 5

20:09 Carlisle

Animato

9st 8lb

J: Miss Lizzie O’Neill

T: Donald McCain

Five-time Flat winner for David O'Meara but hasn't really threatened to add to tally on the Flat or over hurdles for this yard, including back on the level last month.

25/1

5th

1

(1)

25th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 6

18:00 Hamilton

Animato

11st 2lb

J: Miss Lizzie O’Neill

T: Donald McCain

Five-time Flat winner, the latest in May 2024, and he ran okay in February on his last hurdle start; he may have needed the run when back on the Flat three weeks ago and is not ruled out off a reduced mark.

16/1

Form: 752300 CD

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
0-13 on AW and has struggled on Tapeta in last two runs but he started this season with two solid efforts on turf including when runner-up behind an improver at Leicester (1m4f, good to firm); looks interesting on that form and he has won over C&D.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(4)

5th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 6

18:00 Southwell (AW)

Haliphon

9st 6lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Ian Williams

0-17 on AW but he returned to form with a staying-on third here (1m6f) last month; now drops back in trip but he's 1lb lower than last time and has possibilities if this sets up for his closing style; visor reapplied.

9/2

3rd

2

(7)

20th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 6

19:00 Southwell (AW)

Haliphon

9st 7lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Ian Williams

On losing run and 0-16 on AW, unable to justify favouritism at Chelmsford 12 days ago; another 2lb lower today and too much ability to discount.

9/2

Form: 436-63

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 60

Form & Verdict
Nine-race maiden and she was beaten 7l when third at Nottingham (1m2f, good to firm) three weeks ago; continues to drop down the weights but she needs to find more back up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(3)

18th Oct 2025

Good

1m 5f 192y

Class 5

10:30 Catterick

Kokinelli

9st 13lb

J: Liam Wright

T: Hugo Palmer

Pipped at Chester (1m4f, good) in July and returned to form at Southwell (upped to 1m6f, AW) 15 days ago, getting off the mark at 14th attempt; back up 5lb but may have more to offer at this trip.

2/1

6

(9)

3rd Oct 2025

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 5

20:15 Southwell (AW)

Kokinelli

9st 6lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Hugo Palmer

Just missed out at Chester (12.3f, good) in July but her form has slipped in the wrong direction in three subsequent runs; edging back down the weights but she's now 0-13 and has stamina to prove at this new trip.

10/1

Form: 557873

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 57

Form & Verdict
Record of 0-23; up and down for other trainers and broke blood vessel in March but he has form at 1m4f and looked to need a return to this trip when a keeping-on third of nine at Doncaster (1m2f) in June; that was only his second run for current yard and he has claims if he can build on it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

(9)

25th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

16:22 Lingfield (AW)

Warrior Lion

9st 9lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Jennie Candlish

29-race maiden who has struggled back over hurdles in his last two runs; finished second in a classified event at Wolverhampton (1m4f) in January but was beaten 6l and that took his AW record to 0-12; down the list.

7/1

8th

6

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

13:38 Sedgefield

Warrior Lion

10st 8lb

J: William Shanahan

T: Jennie Candlish

Runner-up in basement-grade AW race in January but pulled up over C&D (good to soft) when back over hurdles last month and now 0-28 overall; stable has much more obvious chance with Captain Cool.

25/1

8

4th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

14:42 Sedgefield

Warrior Lion

11st 0lb

J: William Shanahan

T: Jennie Candlish

Runner-up on AW last month and now has first hurdle start for current yard; however, that recent Flat form is very modest, he's achieved little in this code, and he's yet to win after 27 attempts (seven over hurdles).

15/2

Form: 0748

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Well-held at big prices in all five runs for Jack Channon, including an Epsom handicap (1m4f, good) two weeks ago; still early days but slow starts have been an issue and he needs a transformation for new yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(6)

18th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 110y

Class 2

14:25 Newbury

Team Player

9st 8lb

J: Greg Fairley

T: Ewan Whillans

With tongue-tie enlisted he's hit major new heights for new yard this year, with two wins preceding his excellent fifth of 15 in the 2m2f Chester Cup; comes from off the pace but never got seriously involved wearing first-time cheekpieces when ninth of 20 as second favourite in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle (2m); needs to bounce back from that pretty disappointing show.

11/2

9th

8

(6)

27th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

15:15 Newcastle (AW)

Team Player

9st 1lb

J: Greg Fairley

T: Ewan Whillans

With tongue-tie enlisted he's hit major new heights for new yard this year; started it with wins from off the pace at Newcastle (2m, AW) and Musselburgh (1m6f, soft), both in some style, before his excellent fifth of 15 from out the back in the 2m2f Chester Cup; a bit slow to find his stride that day and cheekpieces now go on; more to give if he takes to them, so a major player.

8/1

5th

12

(12)

8th May 2026

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

15:05 Chester

Team Player

8st 10lb

J: Greg Fairley

T: Ewan Whillans

Led on the post here for the first of two 1m4f wins last summer for Gemma Tutty and, with tongue-tie enlisted, hit major new heights for new yard this year with his wins from off the pace at Newcastle (2m, AW) and Musselburgh (1m6f, soft); raised another 9lb, which demands more, but those last two wins were delivered in some style and he has to be considered seriously.

12/1

Form: -54637 BF

Last run: 45 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 56

Form & Verdict
Eight-race maiden but he was a promising third at Kempton (1m4f, AW) in May and wasn't beaten far after a slow start there last month; still unexposed on turf and has possibilities if things go to plan back up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(6)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

21:00 Chepstow

Cloudside Rock

9st 9lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: David Simcock

Took ten goes to get off the mark but it was a convincing win at Ffos Las (1m4f, soft) in August and he doubled his tally when bagging Southwell handicap (1m3f, AW) on his April return; back up 4lb but he might be capable of better and holds leading claims.

5/2

1st

4

(2)

30th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 6

17:52 Southwell (AW)

Cloudside Rock

9st 6lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: David Simcock

Made the breakthrough in a 0-55 at Ffos Las (1m4f, soft; 6-4 favourite) last August; failed to back that up in two subsequent starts, the latest when fifth of seven at Redcar (1m6f, good) in November; 2lb lower returned to AW (0-7) for seasonal reappearance.

13/2

6

(1)

4th Nov 2025

Good To Soft

1m 5f 218y

Class 5

14:25 Redcar

Cloudside Rock

8st 11lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: David Simcock

Never got involved on the AW last time but had previously got off the mark with a 4l win over 1m4f at Ffos Las (soft); that form brings him into this, off just a 3lb higher mark.

4/1

Form: 5-7382

Last run: 39 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 3yo who travelled smoothly for a long way before finishing a clear second on his step up to 1m4f at Southwell (cheekpieces added) last month; on unchanged mark back on turf and he's a big player if he can repeat that latest form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

(2)

10th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 5

17:08 Kempton (AW)

Karthon

9st 4lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: Emma Lavelle

Formerly with Andrew Balding; has been placed at up to 12.5f in 5-10 starts; didn't appear to have any obvious excuses when beaten 7l when upped to this trip here latest; that's clearly not put connections off trying again and he's well treated on some of last year's form.

7/1

5th

5

(3)

4th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 5

18:00 Kempton (AW)

Karthon

9st 5lb

J: David Probert

T: Emma Lavelle

0-9 for Andrew Balding, but runner-up in three of his last four starts; up in trip for this stable debut after seven months off and holds each-way claims if ready to go; no headgear today.

5/1

2nd

5

(6)

4th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

17:45 Newcastle (AW)

Karthon

9st 9lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

0-8 but he's finished placed in three of his five handicaps and had some traffic issues when sixth at Kempton (1m4f) last time; wasn't beaten far in that race and he's in the mix back on Tapeta.

13/2

14/1

Form: 647-04 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 8st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 49

Form & Verdict
Won two in a row on turf last August and latest was off 2lb lower; generally disappointing since last success but he made some late headway when fourth at Beverley (1m4f, good to firm) last month; that was more like it and he has each-way claims if he can build on that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

(4)

26th Jul 2025

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 5

13:30 Chester

Jamih

8st 12lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Tina Jackson

Won two in a row on turf last August and latest was off 2lb lower; generally disappointing since last success but he made some late headway when fourth at Beverley (1m4f, good to firm) last month; that was more like it and he has each-way claims if he can build on that.

14/1

Form: 559-

Last run: 247 days

W: 8st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 58

Form & Verdict
Struggled at 25-1 or bigger in three maiden/novice events at around 1m last autumn; returns after 247 days off but this is more realistic on handicap debut and he's a possible improver upped in trip; has been gelded and a visor is added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

(1)

26th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

20:38 Newcastle (AW)

Ridgemaster

9st 2lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Simon Waugh

Returned to form when third at Ripon (6f, good) last month and again ran well when second at Ayr (7f, soft) last Saturday; his sole win came here and he could be involved.

13/2

2nd

5

(7)

20th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 50y

Class 6

15:28 Ayr

Ridgemaster

9st 9lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Simon Waugh

Sprung a 66-1 surprise (beat No Nay Nevermind) in a 7f handicap at Newcastle on his stable debut in December; three poor runs followed but he returned to form when third at Ripon (6f, good) last month; chance back up in distance.

15/2

3rd

10

(6)

28th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

16:10 Ripon

Ridgemaster

9st 4lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Simon Waugh

Caused a 66-1 shock when winning a 7f handicap at Newcastle on his stable debut in December but three heavy defeats have followed, including dropped to 6f back on turf last time.

33/1

Non-runners

Princess Niyla, Lunar Jet

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Karthon

D Express:

Warrior Lion

Daily Mail:

Ridgemaster

The Guardian:

Kokinelli

POSTDATA:

Animato

The Sun:

Haliphon

Daily Mirror:

Jamih

RP RATINGS:

Karthon

The Times:

Karthon

Telegraph:

Karthon

The Star:

Karthon

Daily Record:

Warrior Lion