July 26 / 14.10 Chester

14.10

Good

John Smith’s Maiden Stakes (GBB/IRE Incentive Race)

  • Prize money: £9277.2
  • 0m 7f 1y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
John Smith’s Maiden Stakes (GBB/IRE Incentive Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: 8

Last run: 41 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Represents a top yard but didn't show much when eighth of ten at Salisbury (6f, good to firm; 28-1) six weeks ago; improvement needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

(3)

10th Jul 2026

Good

0m 7f 1y

Class 5

20:12 Chester

Berkshire Boom

9st 7lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Won a C&D maiden (good) last July but he's been well held in three handicaps this season including over 7.6f here (soft) last month; still lightly raced but he needs to rediscover his spark back on quicker ground.

9/2

3rd

7

(8)

12th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 127y

Class 4

15:47 Chester

Berkshire Boom

8st 13lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Andrew Balding

Landed 7f maiden here last July; off ten months and has failed to kick on sent handicapping this season, again going freely when last of six at Lingfield (7.5f) 13 days ago; could still do better if becoming more tractable.

12/1

6th

3

(1)

30th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 135y

Class 5

20:12 Lingfield

Berkshire Boom

9st 7lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Andrew Balding

Absent 289 days after winning Chester maiden (7f, good) last summer and made no more than a respectable seasonal/handicap debut when midfield at Windsor (1m, good to firm) this month; needs that recent outing to have brought him on.

6/1

Form: 2

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Friendless in the market but shaped fairly well when second of ten in maiden at Chepstow (7f, good to firm; 50-1) two weeks ago, doing his best work late on; should improve and commands respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(7)

7th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 3

16:45 Chester

Oratorical

9st 9lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: David Loughnane

Substantial improvement to win novice at Nottingham in October, followed by creditable sixth of seven in French Listed race (both 1m on heavy); however, eased right down from 4f out on handicap/seasonal debut at Newmarket (1m2f, good; 22-1) three weeks ago, after which it's hard to approach him with confidence.

20/1

8th

2

(1)

15th Apr 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

17:17 Newmarket

Oratorical

9st 9lb

J: William Buick

T: David Loughnane

Three months off before showing substantial improvement to win 12-runner novice at Nottingham (1m, heavy) in October; creditable sixth of seven in French Listed race on final outing; better is needed on this handicap/seasonal debut but it looks like he'll surely stay.

7/1

OUR TIP

Form: 5

Last run: 64 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bred to be useful; weak in the market and gave the impression the run was needed when last of five at Haydock (7f, good to firm; 20-1) in May; the winner that day has since finished third in a Group 2; plenty of improvement required but he's had two months off and could take a big step forward.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

(2)

11th Jul 2026

Good

1m 3f 15y

Class 5

20:50 Hamilton

Port Darwin

8st 11lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Charlie Johnston

Resumed winning ways over 1m1f here in June but only fifth of six in 1m1f Musselburgh handicap 19 days ago; needs to bounce back.

9/2

5th

6

(3)

22nd Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 208y

Class 5

16:45 Musselburgh

Port Darwin

8st 2lb

J: Connor Planas

T: Charlie Johnston

Not the most consistent but got back on track when scoring at Hamilton (1m1f, good to soft) last Wednesday; unpenalised for that win in an apprentices' race and holds obvious claims.

5/2

1st

6

(6)

17th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 1f 35y

Class 6

14:15 Hamilton

Port Darwin

9st 4lb

J: Connor Planas

T: Charlie Johnston

Won a Musselburgh nursery last August (1m, good); gelded before this season, but hasn't improved significantly; good second over 1m4f at Kempton when tried in blinkers (dispensed with here) in April, but not so good since.

6/1

Form: 69

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Down the field at long odds both starts; needs first-time headgear to have a transformative effect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(3)

26th Jul 2025

Good

0m 7f 1y

Class 4

14:10 Chester

Super Sagitta

9st 7lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: David Evans

Down the field at long odds both starts; needs first-time headgear to have a transformative effect.

33/1

9th

8

(6)

3rd Jul 2025

Good

0m 6f 212y

Class 3

16:42 Haydock

Super Sagitta

9st 7lb

J: J F Egan

T: David Evans

50-1 when down the field on debut at Newbury (6.5f, good) three weeks ago and he's probably best watched for now.

66/1

9

(5)

12th Jun 2025

Good

0m 6f 110y

Class 4

14:05 Newbury

Super Sagitta

9st 7lb

J: Neil Callan

T: David Evans

£42,000 yearling; first foal; dam 7f AW 2yo winner (RPR 76) from talented family; gelded; others are more compelling than this Mehmas newcomer.

25/1

Form: 6

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Hung left and met some trouble when sixth of 14 at 40-1 on debut at Ascot (7f, good to firm); fared pretty well in the circumstances and should progress; has to be considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

4

(11)

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 173y

Class 2

15:45 Carlisle

Suspended Sentence

9st 3lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Michael Bell

Progressive once upped to 1m as 2yo, winning twice (good to firm/soft) before his Listed fourth in France (soft); may have needed last month's comeback run in the race won by Laureate Crown at Sandown (1m, good to firm; 14-1 from 20-1) but he's not obviously well treated.

25/1

5th

4

(3)

24th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

13:50 Sandown

Suspended Sentence

9st 3lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Michael Bell

Won Ripon novice (1m, good to firm) last August on third start then followed up in four-runner nursery over this C&D (soft); creditable Listed fourth in France (1m, soft) in September but returns to a handicap off a mark 13lb higher than for his course win; further improvement needed.

33/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
80,000euros yearling; Sioux Nation half-brother to Italian 8.7f winner Otello; dam placed 5f/6f (RPR 76), half-sister to winners Jan Van Hoof (5f/6f) and Zain Princess (9.4f); would not have to be any great shakes to make an impact in this company on debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

(6)

17th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 68y

Class 5

17:20 Hamilton

Tarmonbarry Kid

9st 6lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

Off the mark on second handicap start when landing moderately-run race at Doncaster last time (1m, good to soft; form fair); stiffer task off this 6lb higher mark but may well progress further.

3/1

1st

5

(4)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 213y

Class 6

19:40 Doncaster

Tarmonbarry Kid

9st 9lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

Didn't go on last season and was gelded; only beat one home on his C&D comeback three weeks ago but shaped well for a long way and is entitled to have come on for that; worth a second look down 2lb.

12/1

6th

6

(4)

24th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 213y

Class 5

15:25 Doncaster

Tarmonbarry Kid

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

Promising debut at Chester last July (7f, good; form worked out); no progress in two 7f runs at Newcastle afterwards but he has been gelded prior to his handicap/seasonal debut and stepping up to 1m should suit; one to be interested in.

10/1

Form: 763

Last run: 39 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Some promise all three starts in May/June, making some of the running when third of five at Beverley (extended 7f, good to firm) on last of them; now returns to the fray having been gelded; wouldn't have to find much to be involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

(9)

12th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 127y

Class 4

15:47 Chester

The Resdev Scholar

9st 7lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

Completed a hat-trick at Doncaster (6f) in November and continued in very good form when placed in four handicaps this season, including when third of 14 at York (7f) in May. Came in well held there (7f) last time but he's the sort to bounce back.

7/1

16th

4

(1)

23rd May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

15:50 York

The Resdev Scholar

9st 8lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

Reliable type who again gave his running when third of 14 over C&D at the Dante meeting (good); nudged up 1lb but that should not prevent another bold bid.

8/1

Form: 533

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Ran her best race when third of eight at Lingfield (7f, good to firm) on second start, and she was badly hampered when finishing a place behind Oratorical at Chepstow last time; could have a say.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(5)

15th Oct 2025

Good

1m 0f 75y

Class 5

14:40 Nottingham

Blooming Legend

9st 8lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Charlie Clover

Won two in a row in August (7f/1m, good/AW; including nursery debut) and has run okay on her next two outings, but she needs to better those last two performances if she's to make a serious impact here.

9/1

3

(6)

3rd Oct 2025

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 5

16:35 Southwell (AW)

Blooming Legend

9st 6lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Charlie Clover

Cosy winner of a Musselburgh maiden (7f, good) in August and she did well to reel in the favourite on nursery debut at Lingfield (1m, AW) later that month; held behind Grimese's Special in seller at Salisbury (7f) last time but that was in the mud and she could kick on again on this step back up in trip.

5/1

2

(2)

12th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 6f 213y

Class 4

17:10 Salisbury

Blooming Legend

9st 7lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Charlie Clover

Did well to reel in the favourite at Lingfield (1m nursery, AW), that her second straight success following a cosy Musselburgh maiden win (7f) from Ten Sixty Six - who also shares a form line with Castrillo; dam won on soft, so no reason why an easier surface will hinder.

11/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £32.70
Straight Forecast £31.86
Trifecta £129.60

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Oratorical

NEWMARKET:

Suspended Sentence

SPOTLIGHT:

Port Darwin

The Times:

Suspended Sentence

Telegraph:

Suspended Sentence

The Star:

Suspended Sentence

POSTDATA:

Oratorical

The Guardian:

Oratorical

Daily Mail:

Oratorical

D Express:

Oratorical

Daily Mirror:

Oratorical

The Sun:

Oratorical

Daily Record:

Oratorical