August 09 / 16.17 Newmarket (July)

16.17

Good

Close Brothers Handicap

  • Prize money: £9534.9
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Close Brothers Handicap

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: -33203

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Did well at Meydan earlier in the year (7f/1m) and bounced back from his no-show in the Britannia with a close third at Sandown (7f, good to firm) to Mudbir who went in again last week at Goodwood; interesting off an untouched mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

8

(5)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

15:25 Newmarket (July)

The Fingal Raven

9st 4lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Jamie Osborne

Quite a useful sort but has a stronger record at Meydan than on home soil and came up well short when an outsider in the 7f handicap at Royal Ascot most recently; others preferred.

25/1

16th

22

(12)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

The Fingal Raven

9st 2lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Jamie Osborne

Quite a useful sort but has a stronger record at Meydan than on home soil and his limitations were rather exposed, even allowing for a tricky draw, in the Britannia at this meeting 12 months ago; wears first-time tongue-tie; something to prove back in a British race.

40/1

6th

8

(8)

25th Aug 2025

Good

0m 7f 3y

Class 3

14:45 Epsom

The Fingal Raven

9st 4lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Jamie Osborne

Did well at Meydan earlier in the year (7f/1m) and was a close third at Sandown (7f, good to firm) last month but he didn't really fire at Newmarket (third of six) last time; that took his record to 1-10 and others are more persuasive.

8/1

Form: 57-853

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Two 6f novice wins at two included one at York; signs of rediscovering some form when a 3l third at Doncaster (7f) on what proved to be her final run for the Quinns (same owners); not ruled out, though does have to prove her stamina for this far.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

10

(5)

27th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 1y

Class 1

15:33 Chester

Royalty Bay

9st 2lb

J: Dale Swift

T: Seb Spencer

Back on form to take advantage of a reduced mark in 7f Musselburgh handicap (good) three weeks ago; this is harder but the fact she was second in a Group 3 in France as a juvenile provides some hope.

14/1

1st

2

(2)

6th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 15y

Class 4

14:50 Musselburgh

Royalty Bay

9st 10lb

J: Dale Swift

T: Seb Spencer

Should be on a good mark but last year was mostly underwhelming and so too her comeback effort over C&D; opposable.

10/1

6th

4

(9)

26th Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 15y

Class 4

17:45 Musselburgh

Royalty Bay

9st 7lb

J: Dale Swift

T: Seb Spencer

She's well handicapped on 2024 2yo form; last year wasn't devoid of spark but it was an underwhelming campaign and she has to raise her game.

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: 4-3311 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Lingfield novice winner (7.6f, good) who found lots of improvement when following up on handicap debut at Newbury (1m, good to firm); that was pretty easy and a 5lb rise doesn't overly dent optimism.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(4)

9th Aug 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:17 Newmarket (July)

Abundance

9st 6lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Jonathan Portman

Lingfield novice winner (7.6f, good) who found lots of improvement when following up on handicap debut at Newbury (1m, good to firm); that was pretty easy and a 5lb rise doesn't overly dent optimism.

3/1

Form: 112533 D BF

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Dual AW novice winner through the winter; hasn't been disgraced in any of his four handicaps (all at 1m) without looking on an strikingly generous mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(1)

8th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 0f 75y

Class 4

15:28 Nottingham

Transparent

9st 7lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Tom Ward

Both wins in AW novices (7f/1m) early this year; runner-up over 1m in two of his four starts on turf but below form in both spheres on last two outings; bit to prove, including on softer than good.

14/1

5th

3

(15)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Newbury

Transparent

9st 9lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Tom Ward

Both wins in AW novices (7f/1m), but runner-up in two of his three starts on turf (both over this trip on straight tracks); needs to put a modest effort at Southwell (1m, AW) behind him, though.

14/1

13th

10

(2)

28th Aug 2025

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 3

19:45 Southwell (AW)

Transparent

9st 4lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: Tom Ward

C&D novice winner who was a close third in a warm 3yo handicap over C&D last month; beaten 5l when runner-up at Newmarket since but behind a fast-improving winner and the AW may be more his thing; major player back here.

11/2

Form: -32214

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Consistent 3yo and it was a Class 2 in which he wasn't beaten far over C&D at the July meeting despite racing with the choke out; player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

23th

17

(10)

17th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

Mister Winston

9st 4lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Overcame trouble to win by 1l at Epsom (8.5f, good to soft) on Oaks day, taking record since being gelded to 2-3 and overall strike-rate to 4-12; returns to a hotter handicap but he's improving steadily and 1lb well in under a penalty; not dismissed.

14/1

1st

3

(8)

5th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 113y

Class 2

16:40 Epsom

Mister Winston

9st 9lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Unraced on ground softer than good; Chester maiden (7.5f) winner who made all on Newmarket's July course last August; had been gelded when successfully repeating those tactics on his comeback at Newmarket (also 1m) in April but below that form back there at the Guineas meeting the following month; not dismissed, with Oisin Murphy sticking with him.

6/1

6th

9

(2)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 2

14:20 Newmarket

Mister Winston

9st 4lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Down the field when 33-1 in C&D Cambridgeshire last September, before being gelded; however, he was reliable and progressive earlier last season and reappeared with a front-running 1m win here (favourite) 18 days ago; has 5lb penalty (same as his revised mark) but needs plenty of respect.

4/1

Form: 602-99

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Promised to be useful for Charles Hills but departed that yard for 10,000gns after a quiet reappearance; fared no better on yard debut at Doncaster (tried a hood and cheekpieces).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

11

(4)

14th Jul 2026

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 6

19:25 Wolverhampton (AW)

Victory Sound

9st 1lb

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Mark Usher

7f turf winner (good to firm) when with Charles Hills; 0-9 for current trainer but his last two efforts have offered more encouragement; each-way player.

7/1

3rd

7

(4)

29th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 80y

Class 5

15:52 Ffos Las

Victory Sound

8st 12lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: Mark Usher

Useful 2yo for Charles Hills who proved hard to place last year and tumbled down the weights; found his level again now, just cracking late over 1m last time, and won't mind the return to turf.

7/1

Non-runners

Wolfpack

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £6.20
Straight Forecast £5.42
Trifecta £13.90

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Mister Winston

NEWMARKET:

Wolfpack

LAMBOURN:

Abundance

SPOTLIGHT:

The Fingal Raven

The Sun:

Transparent

Daily Mail:

Abundance

Daily Mirror:

Abundance

TOPSPEED:

Mister Winston

POSTDATA:

Mister Winston

The Times:

Mister Winston

Telegraph:

Mister Winston

D Express:

Wolfpack

The Star:

Wolfpack

Daily Record:

Wolfpack

The Guardian:

The Fingal Raven