August 15 / 15.15 Epsom

15.15

Good

Betfred “The Classic Bookmaker” Handicap (Jockey Club Grassroots Sprint Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £6019.1
  • 0m 6f 3y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
RTV
View Course
Betfred “The Classic Bookmaker” Handicap (Jockey Club Grassroots Sprint Series Qualifier)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 5-5322 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 4yo who won twice over 6f last summer, including at Brighton which bodes well for this track; has been running well in defeat this season, such as when second in a big-field York handicap (5f, good) three weeks ago; player again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

(8)

2nd Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 6f 18y

Class 2

15:35 Nottingham

Bona Fortuna

9st 3lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Michael Appleby

Won two in a row (6f/7f, good to firm) last summer and performing well in defeat this year, including second to Air Force One in a big-field at York (5f) in July and to subsequent Ayr Bronze Cup winner Winged Messenger at Epsom (6f; third and fourth also won since) when last seen seven weeks ago; raced mainly on good or firmer but showed promise on soft at the start of his career; has first-time cheekpieces added to his tongue-tie; high on the shortlist with Warren Fentiman taking 5lb off.

11/2

1

(2)

15th Aug 2025

Good

0m 6f 3y

Class 4

15:15 Epsom

Bona Fortuna

9st 12lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Michael Appleby

Lightly raced 4yo who won twice over 6f last summer, including at Brighton which bodes well for this track; has been running well in defeat this season, such as when second in a big-field York handicap (5f, good) three weeks ago; player again.

5/2

Form: 621110 CD BF

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Progressive in 6f handicaps, completing hat-trick when accounting for seven rivals over C&D (good) under Jack Nicholls last month; easy to forgive latest effort when racing freely over 7f; good chance he can resume his progress back down in trip and returned to this venue.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

14

(1)

22nd May 2026

Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:52 Goodwood

Kisskodi

9st 0lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Harry Eustace

Unraced on soft/heavy; scored four times on turf last term and may resume his progress with creditable AW reappearance under his belt; combined record of 3-4 at Epsom and Brighton bodes well for this first visit to Goodwood, which is quite similar to those tracks; highly respected.

6/1

3rd

5

(3)

25th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 4

19:00 Southwell (AW)

Kisskodi

9st 6lb

J: George Wood

T: Harry Eustace

All four of his wins were on turf last year, but he was runner-up on his sole AW start at Newcastle; his progressive profile gives him a squeak but he may be better for his first outing since October.

12/1

16

(3)

14th Oct 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:44 Leicester

Kisskodi

9st 2lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Harry Eustace

Progressive sort who has won four of his last six races, first three over 6f (one here) and the latest over 7f at Epsom (good to soft; met trouble in running); has gone up 21lb but should be competitive again.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: -32212

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Bang-in-form sprinter who scored at Doncaster (5.5f) in July and was beaten half a length when second of 22 at York (6f, also good) three weeks ago; up another 3lb but he's a contender once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

(6)

25th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 217y

Class 4

16:43 Redcar

Winged Messenger

9st 8lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Julie Camacho

String of good runs in 2025, winning three times with the last of them coming in the Ayr Bronze Cup 248 days ago (6f, soft); 4lb higher mark to contend with and may come on for this return to action.

7/2

54

19th Sep 2025

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:40 Ayr

Winged Messenger

9st 4lb

T: Julie Camacho

Progressive since these cheekpieces went on, winning at Doncaster (5.5f, good) and Epsom (6f, good) and finishing a close third of 16 to Eternal Sunshine at Thirsk (6f, good) recently despite having to wait for a clear run; he's right at home on slow ground and could play a leading role.

15/2

10

(11)

6th Sep 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

16:35 Thirsk

Winged Messenger

9st 4lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Julie Camacho

Thriving on racing this year, following a second of 22 at York by winning in clearcut style at Epsom (6f, good) three weeks later; a further 6lb rise demands another career best but that's not out of the question.

6/1

Form: 3-5818 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
From family of Lochsong and she tapped into the family trait when making all in five-runner Brighton maiden in June; never sighted from a high draw on last month's handicap debut at Chester; no surprise if she leaves existing form behind at some point but she meets some in-form sprinters today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(3)

6th Apr 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:05 Kempton (AW)

Musical Angel

9st 8lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Simon Dow

Best form for Andrew Balding came on turf, including wins at Brighton (6f, good to firm) and Epsom (7f, good to soft) last year; makes stable debut after 190 days off having changed hands for 50,000gns in October; market informative.

4/1

1st

5

(6)

28th Sep 2025

Good

0m 7f 3y

Class 4

17:15 Epsom

Musical Angel

9st 11lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Recorded a game success in Brighton maiden (6f) in June; neck second, clear of remainder, upped to 7f at Chester (good) most recently; this 3yo filly may do better still and is one to consider.

4/1

Form: 917992

Last run: 15 days

W: 8st 9lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
Went off the boil after winning in a hood and tongue-tie at Southwell (5f, AW) in May but much more like it when finishing off well for second over C&D (good to soft; equipment removed) a fortnight ago; the fourth has won since but a bit more is needed from this one back up in grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

(3)

27th Jan 2026

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 6

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Nordic Games

9st 3lb

J: Harry Russell

T: Noel Wilson

Sole win over 5f on Southwell AW last May but in moderate form on last five starts, three for this yard; return to 5f might help; has been tried in a variety of aids, first-time cheekpieces today.

33/1

9th

7

(5)

1st Nov 2025

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

17:15 Newcastle (AW)

Nordic Games

8st 13lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Noel Wilson

Of interest on his best form for Stuart Williams, including a Tapeta win (5f) off 3lb higher; met some trouble in running on his stable debut at Southwell 16 days ago (6f; Atomic Mass second) but he was hardly flashing home; needs to step up on that.

14/1

9th

7

(5)

1st Nov 2025

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

17:15 Newcastle (AW)

Nordic Games

8st 13lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Noel Wilson

Of interest on his best form for Stuart Williams, including a Tapeta win (5f) off 3lb higher; met some trouble in running on his stable debut at Southwell 16 days ago (6f; Atomic Mass second) but he was hardly flashing home; needs to step up on that.

14/1

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Kisskodi

NEWMARKET:

Nordic Games

SPOTLIGHT:

Bona Fortuna

Daily Mirror:

Winged Messenger

The Times:

Nordic Games

TOPSPEED:

Kisskodi

POSTDATA:

Kisskodi

Telegraph:

Kisskodi

Daily Mail:

Kisskodi

D Express:

Kisskodi

The Star:

Kisskodi

Daily Record:

Kisskodi

The Guardian:

Bona Fortuna

The Sun:

Winged Messenger