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

2nd

1

(6)

1st Sep 2026

Good

0m 5f 60y

Class 5

19:15 Brighton

Bona Fortuna

9st 9lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Michael Appleby

Won in maiden and handicap company over 6f when a 3yo; expensive to follow last year in handicaps but ran some good races, and again from the front in a 6f Class 4 here last month on return from an absence; might take a step forward from that and he'll be fine back in trip.

7/2

6th

5

(1)

7th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 215y

Class 4

16:00 Brighton

Bona Fortuna

9st 11lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Michael Appleby

Won his maiden over C&D as a 3yo, returning from eight months off, which is a positive after a break of ten months; expensive to follow in handicaps last season, following a second wind op, and it will be interesting to see how he goes in the market.

8/1

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

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

3

(5)

31st Aug 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 3y

Class 3

15:00 Epsom

Kisskodi

9st 10lb

J: George Wood

T: Harry Eustace

Better than ever when winning at Chepstow (7f, soft) in June; he was returning from a ten-week break when finishing behind Aurora Majesty at Southwell 15 days ago; 2-3 at the track and won't mind how slow the ground gets; no surprise to see him go well.

6/1

8th

14

(13)

16th Aug 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 3

15:40 Southwell (AW)

Kisskodi

9st 4lb

J: George Wood

T: Harry Eustace

Took strike-rate to 5-16 when winning comfortably at Chepstow (7f, good to soft) ten weeks ago, looking better than ever; 7lb higher in this classier contest but has run well here before and he's not easily knocked.

14/1

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

7th

1

(7)

21st Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 6y

Class 4

19:45 Hamilton

Winged Messenger

10st 0lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Julie Camacho

Four-time sprint winner who is ideally suited by good or slower ground; finished down the field in last two starts, but he ran well at Redcar in May and is now back on the same mark as when landing the Ayr Bronze Cup (6f, soft) last autumn; needs a close look back from a short break.

11/2

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

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

2

(6)

26th Aug 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

19:21 Kempton (AW)

Musical Angel

9st 8lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Simon Dow

Unconventional tracks look to be her thing as she broke through at Brighton (6f) and signed off for Andrew Balding with a win at Epsom (7f); fallen short for new yard so far (at scene of most recent win of late) and looks best watched.

16/1

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

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