July 26 / 16.55 Chester

16.55

Good

Layrd Design Handicap

  • Prize money: £9277.2
  • 0m 5f 15y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Layrd Design Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: 664136 D BF

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 1lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Progressed on AW over the winter and capitalised on good track position when winning at Lingfield last month (5f, good); respectable efforts in last two runs but he was beaten around 3l on both occasions and needs to find more to defy this mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

(8)

3rd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

19:02 Beverley

Master Of My Fate

9st 11lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

Added another two AW wins to his tally earlier in the year; unplaced in three runs back on turf but dropping back into a Class 4 should help; others preferred all the same.

8/1

7th

7

(4)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 3y

Class 3

14:30 Doncaster

Master Of My Fate

9st 4lb

J: James Sullivan

T: John & Sean Quinn

Successful twice over 5f at Southwell this year; ran respectably back on turf at Nottingham (5f, good) in April but he was laboured in similar conditions at York two weeks ago; has bit to prove again after that and he's never won off a mark this high.

16/1

13th

10

(14)

23rd May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

14:40 York

Master Of My Fate

9st 3lb

J: Shane Gray

T: John & Sean Quinn

Successful twice over 5f at Southwell this year and ran respectably at Nottingham in April, but he's 3lb above his highest winning mark and will need a career best if he's to go in again.

40/1

OUR TIP

Form: -22100 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Hold-up performer who gained his fourth win when scoring off 2lb lower at Haydock (5f, good to firm) in May; well held in valuable handicaps at York and the Curragh since but this is a big drop back in grade and he has possibilities if he can rediscover his spark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

10

(13)

13th Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:25 York

Duran

9st 10lb

J: Faye McManoman

T: Nigel Tinkler

In better heart than recent form-figures suggest, shaping encouragingly at Beverley on reappearance and poorly drawn at Ascot next time; usually runs at 5f but also successful at 6f; falling in weights and has each-way hopes.

16/1

Form: 8-4344 D BF

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 13lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
All three wins have been over 5f at Doncaster (good/good to firm) and latest was last August; still 4lb higher than for that success but he started this season with three creditable efforts and things didn't really go his way in small field at Doncaster three weeks ago; should get more cover this time and could make a serious impact if he gets the breaks.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

(3)

11th Apr 2026

Good

0m 5f 42y

Class 4

17:40 Yarmouth

Brave Nation

9st 7lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Michael Bell

Drew a blank in 2025 but there were some good runs in defeat and he starts this season off an 8lb lower mark than for last year's reappearance; solid third in one run at Yarmouth; best on good ground or faster; makes his seasonal return with a hood back on and with his stable in good form.

4/1

4

(3)

8th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

18:40 Kempton (AW)

Brave Nation

9st 8lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Michael Bell

All his wins have come at Doncaster but he's fully effective elsewhere and is still unexposed on AW; plenty of solid efforts over 5f this season but losing run is mounting up and he's struggled in four previous runs at this trip; down the list.

10/1

13

(8)

28th Aug 2025

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 2

20:45 Southwell (AW)

Brave Nation

8st 2lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Michael Bell

All his wins have come at Doncaster but he is fully effective elsewhere, including on AW as evidenced by his close third in this race last year when rated 3lb higher; retains plenty of ability and more minor money not out of the question.

10/1

Form: -31433 D

Last run: 8 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
4yo who has done well for new yard this season, with form figures of 31433 in sprint handicaps; got pestered for the lead at Pontefract (5f, good) last time but he was beaten less than 2l and is respected on this drop back in grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(8)

6th Jul 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

19:40 Ripon

Kodiac Thriller

10st 0lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Mark Walford

Has mostly duck eggs in his form figures this term but won at Ripon (6f) in April and the return to this venue, combined with first-time visor, may have positive effect; scored over 5f last year.

7/1

13th

11

(10)

13th Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:25 York

Kodiac Thriller

9st 10lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Mark Walford

Front-runner; has done well since joining Mark Walford, first home on his side in the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon (6f, good to firm) last summer and winning over the same C&D (good to soft) in April; has to bounce back from poor run at Ascot last time but that's certainly possible.

14/1

10th

11

(9)

8th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

15:25 Ascot

Kodiac Thriller

8st 10lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Mark Walford

Had a good season for new yard in 2025, winning on second start and running two excellent races at Ripon when returned to 6f, notably when first home on his side in the Great St Wilfrid (good to firm) in August; confirmed his liking for that course when winning there three weeks ago and needs to prove he's the same horse elsewhere.

8/1

Form: 244310 C

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Four wins during a busy spell this year and latest was at Chester (5.5f, good) on his penultimate run; still looks feasibly treated on that form and he had an excuse when forced wide over C&D the following day; well drawn this time and has claims if he can bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(10)

10th Jul 2026

Good

0m 5f 110y

Class 4

19:35 Chester

Rosenpur

9st 7lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Jennie Candlish

Ideally suited by going around a left-hand bend, with his six wins coming here and at Wolverhampton; 10lb higher than for his win in this race last year and the widest draw isn't a big selling point today; cheekpieces join the hood today.

10/1

6th

7

(7)

27th Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 17y

Class 3

15:03 Chester

Rosenpur

9st 5lb

J: George Wood

T: Jennie Candlish

6yo who posted career-best performance when dominating from the front over C&D (good) last month; used up energy to get across to lead from a wide draw when fifth of ten over 5f here a fortnight ago and can be treated as if still in good form.

8/1

5th

4

(8)

13th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 15y

Class 3

16:00 Chester

Rosenpur

9st 7lb

J: George Wood

T: Jennie Candlish

6yo who posted career-best performance when dominating from the front over 6f here (good) last month; 5f on ground slower than good also suits but he's not ideally drawn and recent 4lb rise demands even more from him.

13/2

Form: -62175 CD

Last run: 66 days

W: 9st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Comfortably saw off six rivals at Lingfield (5f AW) in March but went up 7lb for that and then failed to figure at Wolverhampton and Chepstow; had some traffic issues on his stable debut last time but this is a deeper race and others are preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(4)

28th Sep 2025

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:15 Ffos Las

Ecclesiastical

9st 11lb

J: Elizabeth Gale

T: Lisa Williamson

Strong traveller with eight wins on his record, the latest off this mark in March (5f, AW); well beaten in three starts for his new stable though and enough to prove at present.

14/1

9

(11)

5th Sep 2025

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:15 Haydock

Ecclesiastical

9st 3lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Lisa Williamson

Four-time turf winner who scored at Lingfield (5f, AW) in March; however, he was soundly beaten on his final run for Tristan Davidson and it's been the same story on both outings for this stable.

40/1

8

(3)

26th Jul 2025

Good

0m 5f 15y

Class 4

16:55 Chester

Ecclesiastical

9st 2lb

J: Elizabeth Gale

T: Lisa Williamson

Comfortably saw off six rivals at Lingfield (5f AW) in March but went up 7lb for that and then failed to figure at Wolverhampton and Chepstow; had some traffic issues on his stable debut last time but this is a deeper race and others are preferred.

16/1

Form: 7-7847 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Scored off 3lb higher over C&D (good) last August but he's not come close to that form in four runs this season; drops back in trip/grade but has difficult draw and others are more convincing; blinkers are removed and visor returns.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

(2)

9th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 3y

Class 4

19:50 Epsom

Balon DOr

9st 1lb

J: Tyler Heard

T: Simon Dow

0-6 on AW for new stable since the autumn but took good step back in right direction when close fourth at Lingfield (5f) last month and will be suited by this return to 6f on turf; interesting.

10/1

12

(12)

2nd Jul 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

20:53 Kempton (AW)

Balon DOr

9st 1lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Simon Dow

All three wins came on turf when trained by Hugo Palmer, the most recent at Chester in September; 0-12 on the AW but he did post a solid effort when a 1l fourth of seven at Lingfield (5f, AW) 28 days ago; steps back up in trip.

12/1

4th

3

(1)

4th Jun 2026

Standard

0m 5f 6y

Class 6

17:40 Lingfield (AW)

Balon DOr

9st 7lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Simon Dow

Both handicap wins on turf at Chester (5f and 6f); no great shakes on this track for new yard since November but he's dropped 9lb in that time and there was the glimmer of a revival here last time when back from a break; not ruled out.

12/1

Form: 345-79

Last run: 7 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Won a Curragh handicap (7f, good) for Joseph O'Brien last autumn but he's not gone on from that and has been well held in both runs for current yard this season; mark continues to fall but he's now 1-9 and has plenty to prove on this drop to 5f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

(6)

10th Jul 2026

Good

0m 7f 1y

Class 5

20:12 Chester

Montpellier Green

9st 1lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: Ian Williams

Useful 2yo for Joseph O'Brien but he struggled last season at trips ranging from 5f to 2m; has dropped a long way in the weights but he's now 1-16 and needs a major revival after 202 days off.

16/1

Non-runners

Curious Rover, Grandlad

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £15.70
Straight Forecast £16.67
Tricast £83.76
Trifecta £99.20

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Kodiac Thriller

Telegraph:

Balon d'Or

TOPSPEED:

Ecclesiastical

SPOTLIGHT:

Brave Nation

POSTDATA:

Rosenpur

Daily Record:

Curious Rover

Daily Mirror:

Duran

The Guardian:

Kodiac Thriller

The Sun:

Kodiac Thriller

Daily Mail:

Balon d'Or

The Star:

Balon d'Or

NEWMARKET:

Brave Nation

The Times:

Ecclesiastical

D Express:

Ecclesiastical