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
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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

1st

2

(4)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 16y

Class 4

18:53 Chepstow

Kisskodi

9st 9lb

J: George Wood

T: Harry Eustace

Progressed well in 2025 when a four-time winner at 6f/7f; has gone with promise on both starts this spring, suffering a poor run before staying on into fifth of 14 at Goodwood (7f) 15 days ago; can race off a 1lb lower mark here so a bold showing is on the cards.

3/1

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

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

5th

2

(6)

26th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 2y

Class 4

11:15 Doncaster

Winged Messenger

9st 6lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Julie Camacho

Not at best last time but is normally consistent and may rebound; gained most recent success in last year's Ayr Bronze Cup (by a neck off 2lb lower) and is 1-1 at Doncaster.

13/2

11th

6

(17)

13th Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:25 York

Winged Messenger

9st 13lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Julie Camacho

Keeps getting better and signed off his 4yo campaign by beating Woven a neck in the Ayr Bronze Cup (6f, soft) last autumn; made a pleasing return to action when fourth at Redcar (6f, good to firm) 19 days ago; that should have blown away the cobwebs and, with his usual cheekpieces now returning, he looks ready to strike.

8/1

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

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

3rd

1

(2)

16th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 3y

Class 4

20:05 Epsom

Musical Angel

9st 9lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Simon Dow

Made all last term in a maiden at Brighton (good to firm) and a handicap over C&D (good to soft), the latter in September on final run for Andrew Balding; back over C&D on last two outings and not disgraced when sixth of ten on latest (co-favourite); case can be made back on last winning mark.

6/1

6th

3

(1)

1st Jul 2026

Good

0m 7f 3y

Class 4

20:42 Epsom

Musical Angel

9st 12lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Simon Dow

Made all over C&D (good to soft) last September on final run for Andrew Balding; failed to build on AW reappearance for new yard when only eighth of 16 over C&D but it was a competitive 0-100 at the Derby meeting and she should find life easier at this level.

4/1

8th

14

(7)

5th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 3y

Class 2

17:50 Epsom

Musical Angel

8st 12lb

J: David Probert

T: Simon Dow

Beat her five rivals to make all over C&D (good to soft) last September on final run for Andrew Balding; didn't run badly on stable/seasonal debut at Kempton (6f, AW) in April and could improve for that run; this race is more competitive than she's used to but she's not ruled out each-way.

50/1

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