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

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

4

(3)

1st May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

16:20 Ascot

Duran

9st 8lb

J: Faye McManoman

T: Nigel Tinkler

Second in this race last year before running out the ready winner of a 5f AW handicap at Haydock last May (good to firm) off a 1lb lower mark; made an encouraging return to action at Beverley 16 days ago; each-way shout.

10/1

5th

5

(8)

15th Apr 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 3

15:25 Beverley

Duran

9st 0lb

J: Faye McManoman

T: Nigel Tinkler

Pushed the reopposing Smart Vision close at Doncaster last autumn; started last season well (including second in this race on reappearance) and should be on the premises if resuming in similar form.

8/1

12

(10)

25th Oct 2025

Heavy

0m 5f 3y

Class 2

13:30 Doncaster

Duran

8st 10lb

J: Faye McManoman

T: Nigel Tinkler

Ran well when second over C&D (soft) last month; respectable efforts twice since but this first experience of heavy going needs to prompt some further progress.

12/1

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

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

1st

9

(8)

16th Apr 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:45 Ripon

Kodiac Thriller

9st 3lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Mark Walford

Prominent-racer; did well for this yard last year, winning at Thirsk in May and running several good races in defeat, notably when best of the stands' rail group in the Great St Wilfrid over C&D; he needs to leave his low-key seasonal return well behind if he is to feature today though.

33/1

17th

16

(5)

29th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

0m 6f 2y

Class 3

17:15 Doncaster

Kodiac Thriller

8st 9lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Mark Walford

Prominent-racer; did well for this yard last year, winning at Thirsk in May and running several good races in defeat, notably when best of the stands' rail group in the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon; 1lb lower today and a big run could be forthcoming.

12/1

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

1st

2

(5)

8th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 17y

Class 4

15:40 Chester

Rosenpur

9st 7lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Jennie Candlish

Well suited by a left-hand turn, winning twice here over 5f last summer; promising seasonal return at Catterick (6f, good) but he wasn't in the same form at Musselburgh (5f, good) nine days ago; handy draw and he can't be discounted.

11/2

6th

1

(4)

29th Apr 2026

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

15:15 Musselburgh

Rosenpur

9st 9lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jennie Candlish

Five wins, all around a left-hand bend (5f-5.5f), in a productive 2025 campaign; his near miss on 6f Catterick reappearance (good) last Wednesday suggests he's unlikely to be long in opening his account for 2026; same mark today.

2/1

2nd

1

(2)

22nd Apr 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 212y

Class 4

16:25 Catterick

Rosenpur

9st 9lb

J: George Wood

T: Jennie Candlish

Five wins, all around a left-hand bend (5f-5.5f; has form over much further), in a productive 2025 campaign; effective at this track and not impossibly treated returning from 170 days off; one to consider.

6/1

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

6th

1

(4)

20th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 5f 6y

Class 6

16:55 Lingfield (AW)

Balon DOr

9st 9lb

J: James Glennon

T: Simon Dow

Three turf wins at 5f and 6f, the latest off this mark in September; big prices and well held in four sprints here for new yard and, although this is a drop in grade, he may be best left until back on grass.

14/1

7th

7

(2)

24th Jan 2026

Standard

0m 5f 6y

Class 5

13:43 Lingfield (AW)

Balon DOr

9st 4lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Simon Dow

Three turf wins but 0-9 on AW and he's been well held here (5f/6f) in all three runs for current yard; continues to drop down the weights but this is competitive and others are more convincing; reapplied cheekpieces replace blinkers.

25/1

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

13

(5)

29th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 4

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Montpellier Green

8st 9lb

J: Tyler Heard

T: Ian Williams

Won a 16-runner Curragh nursery (7f, good) for Joseph O'Brien in September last year, but has regressed since, especially in six starts since returning for this yard in July; look elsewhere.

66/1

13

(5)

29th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 4

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Montpellier Green

8st 9lb

J: Tyler Heard

T: Ian Williams

Won a 16-runner Curragh nursery (7f, good) for Joseph O'Brien in September last year, but has regressed since, especially in six starts since returning for this yard in July; look elsewhere.

66/1

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