August 10 / 18.45 Haydock

18.45

Good

Sky Bet Club Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

  • Prize money: £15462
  • 2m 0f 46y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
ITV4
View Course
Sky Bet Club Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: 3531 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Made all in Southwell contest (2m, AW) last month on Flat handicap debut; adding to his bumper wins (0-6 over hurdles); rise in weights is virtually offset by Charlie Maggs's handy 5lb claim; still unexposed under this code and looks one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

(2)

9th May 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:10 Nottingham

Dino Bellagio

9st 10lb

J: Conor Whiteley

T: Donald McCain

Two-time bumper winner (soft/good) who made all in Flat handicaps on Tapeta (1m6f) and turf (2m, heavy) in the second half of last year; ended last season on a low note but he still has scope for further progress and needs watching in market on his return.

4/1

8th

8

(5)

17th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 3

13:55 Haydock

Dino Bellagio

9st 4lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Donald McCain

Two-time bumper winner (soft/good) who has made all in Flat handicaps this year at Southwell (2m, AW) and Chester (1m6f, heavy); he did it easily last time and, while the form perhaps shouldn't be taken at face value, a 6lb rise isn't overly harsh; could make another bold bid.

13/2

Form: 801735

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Came up short in Racing League event over 1m6f last time, taking AW record to 0-10; he's 5-16 on turf but gained the wins over middle distances; bit to prove back at 2m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

(8)

29th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 198y

Class 5

15:20 Brighton

Gallant Lion

9st 0lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Ian Williams

1m2f win here (good to firm) kicked off a four-timer in 2023 for Tony Carroll but he took a while to rediscover his level before scoring at Chepstow (1m4f, good; first-time blinkers) for this yard one year ago; raced mainly over further without success since and latest start over 1m can be written off; handy mark and he's not discounted on just his second visit to Brighton.

9/1

11th

5

(1)

7th May 2026

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 5

18:30 Southwell (AW)

Gallant Lion

9st 7lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Ian Williams

Beaten 11l when fifth in a maiden hurdle at Hereford three weeks ago; only 1lb higher than for his win at Chepstow (1m4f, good) last May but will likely find this trip on the sharp side on his switch back to the Flat (all wins over 1m2f or further).

14/1

5th

4

16th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

17:30 Hereford

Gallant Lion

11st 4lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Ian Williams

Some notable Flat form last year, in victory and defeat; two runs over hurdles last February were underwhelming but raw ability is respected.

10/1

Form: 740704 BF

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Inconsistent this term but has become attractively handicapped; neck second (off 3lb higher) in this race 12 months ago then went one better at Pontefract, collecting a £100,000 bonus for winning three Sunday Series events in 2024; has the ability to play a big role.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

(1)

31st May 2026

Good

1m 4f 8y

Class 4

17:15 Thirsk

Letsbefrank

9st 2lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

He's reappeared in rude health this year with wins under Lauren Young at Musselburgh (1m4f, good) and Hamilton (1m3f, good); beat bang-in-form stablemate last time and a 5lb higher mark might not stop this course winner.

5/2

1st

4

(1)

17th May 2026

Good

1m 3f 15y

Class 4

18:45 Hamilton

Letsbefrank

9st 10lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Three wins (C&D, 1m6f and 2m1f) in summer 2024 and, from a reduced mark, back on the scoresheet at Musselburgh (1m4f) three weeks ago when arriving very late on the scene at 20-1 under Lauren Young to deny Fast Fred; back up 4lb but could take another step back up the ladder.

7/2

1st

7

(7)

26th Apr 2026

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 4

17:15 Musselburgh

Letsbefrank

8st 7lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Three wins (1m3f, 1m6f and 2m1f) in summer 2024 and he's 7lb below his last winning mark; struggled to get competitive last year until his running-on fifth under Lauren Young in a blanket finish on final start (1m4f, soft); reappearance record isn't great and today's test may be a bit too sharp for him.

10/1

Form: 424121 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
0-4 at maiden/novice level; has record of 121 since switched to handicaps and wearing cheekpieces, both wins at Doncaster (1m4f/2m); penultimate effort (1m5f, AW) is a solid piece of form; the type to progress further and has major claims in the retained headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

(9)

28th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 2

14:08 Kempton (AW)

Belgravian

9st 9lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Andrew Balding

Second on Chelmsford Polytrack in latest AW race; tremendous progress last year once sent handicapping in cheekpieces, racking up four wins and the last three of those (in small fields) were over 2m, increasingly impressive; improvement stalled at Newmarket in the Cesarewitch Trial and Cesarewitch itself on last two outings, but he remains of major interest on this return.

100/30

19

(7)

11th Oct 2025

Good

2m 2f 0y

Class 2

15:40 Newmarket

Belgravian

8st 2lb

J: Nicola Currie

T: Andrew Balding

Tremendous progress once sent handicapping in cheekpieces, racking up four wins and the last three of those (in small fields) were over 2m, increasingly impressive; he was put in his place, improvement ending, when never-dangerous third to Reverend Hubert over C&D three weeks ago off revised mark, but he's able to race off 5lb lower today; considered.

9/1

4

(4)

20th Sep 2025

Good

2m 2f 0y

Class 2

15:55 Newmarket

Belgravian

9st 4lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Andrew Balding

Since sent handicapping in cheekpieces he's delivered form figures of 12111 and has looked seriously progressive since upped to 2m, again winning as he liked last time at Goodwood (good to firm); handicapper didn't hold back with a 10lb rise but that might not halt his progress.

5/4

Form: 84-511

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Has form figures of 511 since handicapping, the wins at Goodwood (1m4f) and Yarmouth (1m6f); this Prescott filly is exactly the sort to carry on improving and defying the assessor; could well run up a sequence and accordingly warrants major respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(1)

10th Aug 2025

Good

2m 0f 46y

Class 4

18:45 Haydock

String Of Pearls

9st 1lb

J: Dylan Hogan

T: Sir Mark Prescott Bt

Has form figures of 511 since handicapping, the wins at Goodwood (1m4f) and Yarmouth (1m6f); this Prescott filly is exactly the sort to carry on improving and defying the assessor; could well run up a sequence and accordingly warrants major respect.

13/8

4

(1)

28th Jul 2025

Good To Soft

1m 6f 17y

Class 5

15:15 Yarmouth

String Of Pearls

9st 5lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Sir Mark Prescott Bt

Improved for the step up in trip to get off the mark at Goodwood (1m4f, good to firm) last month; goes up in trip again and must come under consideration.

13/8

1st

5

(3)

20th Jun 2025

Good

1m 3f 218y

Class 5

17:52 Goodwood

String Of Pearls

9st 4lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Sir Mark Prescott Bt

Showed some ability in three AW maidens over 7f-8.6f last autumn, but tended to hang (not for the first time) when fifth of nine on last month's Newmarket handicap debut/reappearance (1m2f, good to firm); the longer trip should suit on breeding but she does have a bit to prove.

4/1

Non-runners

Gibside, In The Breeze, Mostly Sunny

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £29.30
Straight Forecast £30.95
Trifecta £63.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

String Of Pearls

POSTDATA:

Dino Bellagio

Daily Record:

Belgravian

RP RATINGS:

Gallant Lion

Daily Mirror:

Gibside

NEWMARKET:

String Of Pearls

Telegraph:

String Of Pearls

D Express:

String Of Pearls

The Sun:

String Of Pearls

The Star:

String Of Pearls

The Times:

Dino Bellagio