August 16 / 16.45 Newbury

16.45

Good To Firm

Chapel Down Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

  • Prize money: £11776.5
  • 1m 4f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Chapel Down Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: -36630

Last run: 7 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
0-9 in handicaps; best form when second in the closing 1m2f race on this card last year; some respectable shows over 1m4f too, including with first-time blinkers (kept since) on penultimate start; last of ten back at Ascot last Saturday, admittedly in a Shergar Cup race and not beaten far but others have more pressing claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(4)

25th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:45 Newmarket

Houstonn

9st 12lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Richard Hannon

0-10 in handicaps; twice third over 1m4f at Ascot this year but last two efforts have been below par; dropped another 3lb but it's not enough to tempt.

9/1

1

(6)

16th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:45 Newbury

Houstonn

10st 2lb

J: Alec Voikhansky

T: Richard Hannon

0-9 in handicaps; best form when second in the closing 1m2f race on this card last year; some respectable shows over 1m4f too, including with first-time blinkers (kept since) on penultimate start; last of ten back at Ascot last Saturday, admittedly in a Shergar Cup race and not beaten far but others have more pressing claims.

9/1

10

(3)

9th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

14:45 Ascot

Houstonn

9st 4lb

J: Ryusei Sakai

T: Richard Hannon

0-8 in handicaps; easily his best 2025 efforts were two thirds over C&D on good to firm, including when on the heels of Night Breeze on latest start, wearing first-time blinkers, but he needs to find extra.

16/1

Form: 72100 D

Last run: 59 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
First three runs were in maidens and he made all at Chester (1m4f, good) in May; the Derby proved far too tough for him next time and so did 1m6f Group 2 at Royal Ascot 11 days later; his sights are lowered dramatically for this handicap debut and he needs a close look.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

(5)

9th May 2026

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 3

14:55 Ascot

Al Wasl Storm

9st 7lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Owen Burrows

Came up well short at Group level last summer but resumed his progression back in calmer waters with a 1m4f Newbury handicap debut success (good to firm) last August; this low-mileage sort has the potential for better again in 2026.

9/1

2

(3)

16th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:45 Newbury

Al Wasl Storm

9st 9lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Owen Burrows

First three runs were in maidens and he made all at Chester (1m4f, good) in May; the Derby proved far too tough for him next time and so did 1m6f Group 2 at Royal Ascot 11 days later; his sights are lowered dramatically for this handicap debut and he needs a close look.

4/1

12th

1

(1)

18th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 6f 34y

Class 1

15:05 Ascot

Al Wasl Storm

9st 2lb

J: David Probert

T: Owen Burrows

First three runs were in maidens and he made all at Chester (1m4f, good); the Derby proved far too tough for him only 11 days ago and he was so comprehensively out of his comfort zone that this race too looks hard.

50/1

OUR TIP

20/1

Form: 050610 CD

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
7-25 on AW; failed to place in first nine turf starts but that all changed with a comfortable success over C&D (good to firm) in July, his trainer stating that the 5yo benefited from being ridden with more restraint; no show off this 6lb higher mark at Chepstow (good to soft) nine days ago, however.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

(4)

28th Aug 2026

Good

1m 3f 209y

Class 5

16:55 Ffos Las

Raintown

9st 7lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: J S Moore

Last three runs have been over 1m2f at Newbury and was bang there on each occasion; still on a good mark and has won over this far; seems fine on most surfaces.

7/1

2nd

1

(2)

14th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

15:00 Newbury

Raintown

10st 0lb

J: Kyle McHugh

T: J S Moore

He had been threatening prior to his C&D win in an amateur riders' race three weeks ago; a 3lb rise shouldn't prevent another big run.

4/1

1st

7

(6)

23rd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

20:48 Newbury

Raintown

10st 5lb

J: Miss Scarlett Dorricott

T: J S Moore

Has much better strike-rate on AW but has performed well on fast turf here twice in recent weeks (1m3f/1m2f) and is still on a workable mark.

11/2

Form: 2-2382

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Unraced on firmer than good; four placings from his six starts, including over this sort of trip in two novice events in April and a five-runner AW handicap on latest outing; wore cheekpieces in the latter and they are retained; he needs to find a bit extra.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(4)

16th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:45 Newbury

Renato

9st 7lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Marco Botti

Unraced on firmer than good; four placings from his six starts, including over this sort of trip in two novice events in April and a five-runner AW handicap on latest outing; wore cheekpieces in the latter and they are retained; he needs to find a bit extra.

9/2

5

(2)

13th Jul 2025

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 3

17:45 Southwell (AW)

Renato

9st 1lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Marco Botti

His three placings from five starts include one over C&D; handicap debut at Doncaster five weeks ago came in a hot race and over 14.5f, which he may not have stayed, a creditable effort nevertheless but he surely needs better to win this; cheekpieces are enlisted.

7/1

4

(6)

7th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 6f 115y

Class 2

18:15 Doncaster

Renato

9st 1lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Marco Botti

Runner-up twice in a row on AW (1m3f/1m4f) before 1l third in Haydock novice (11.6f, good) in April; unexposed but he needs to find some improvement now up in trip in a warm race on his handicap debut.

15/2

Form: 22-541

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Expensive to follow in his first five starts (7f-1m2f) and long odds-on for his maiden win at Southwell (1m3f, AW; made most) recently on the sixth attempt; 1m4f now looks worth a go but he may well need to raise his game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

18

(9)

11th Oct 2025

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 4

17:05 York

Byblos

9st 4lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: John & Thady Gosden

Landed a Southwell maiden (1m3f, AW; 30-100) in August, but held in three starts back in handicaps since (in blinkers last time); has raced freely, but he may settle better in a bigger field and this race has gone to a 3yo three times in the last six years.

7/1

12

(9)

21st Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 4f 14y

Class 3

17:40 Southwell (AW)

Byblos

9st 2lb

J: Colin Keane

T: John & Thady Gosden

Only 1-8 and disappointed at Windsor (1m3f; raced freely) when the return to soft ground was expected to benefit; however, could settle better in the new blinkers and he is a course winner.

5/1

9

(1)

1st Sep 2025

Good

1m 3f 99y

Class 4

18:00 Windsor

Byblos

9st 4lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

Record is 1-7, the win in 1m3f AW maiden two starts ago; beaten favourite latest but wasn't disgraced; well bred and may do better still.

7/4

Form: 184741 CD

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish; 3-33 overall, with two wins from his 12 starts for this stable; that includes when he obliged over C&D (good to firm) 11 days ago and, although he's not the most consistent, going back up 2lb far from rules him out if this is another of his good days.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

(7)

3rd Sep 2026

Soft

1m 3f 140y

Class 5

13:30 Haydock

Shahbaz

10st 3lb

J: Miss Brodie Hampson

T: Archie Watson

Reached the frame twice in similar races on AW under Brodie Hampson in February; well treated on those efforts but hasn't found the same form back on turf (good to firm/good) after a break, including well behind Star Start and Austrian Theory at Catterick 17 days ago; the return to softer ground could help but leap of faith needed.

25/1

6th

6

(6)

17th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 13y

Class 5

14:15 Catterick

Shahbaz

10st 6lb

J: Miss Brodie Hampson

T: Archie Watson

Down the field in two turf handicaps this summer after a five-month absence; on a dangerous mark but there are risks attached; blinkers replace cheekpieces today.

16/1

6th

6

(5)

3rd Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 99y

Class 5

18:00 Windsor

Shahbaz

10st 10lb

J: Miss Brodie Hampson

T: Archie Watson

Patchy form since joining this yard and well behind I'd Go Maniac on his return from five months off at Epsom (1m4f, good to firm) 18 days ago, but is 9lb lower than when winning at Newbury (1m4f, good to firm) for Ian Williams a year ago; first-time tongue-tie.

6/1

Form: 343113 D BF

Last run: 13 days

W: 8st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Progressing and going up in trip has helped; front-running win when 4-6 at Wolverhampton (1m4f, AW) in June and he saw off a Prescott-trained hotpot to follow up at Ffos Las (1m4f, good) in July; close third at Chester on latest outing and may still have more to give.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

(4)

26th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 3

17:10 Haydock

Respiro Solitario

8st 4lb

J: Connor Planas

T: William Muir & Chris Grassick

Progressive sort who's scored twice this term and ran well again at Windsor (11.5f, good) 18 days ago; steps out of his grade but this trip might unlock more and he's a likeable sort who threatens to give the classier types a proper workout.

7/1

12

(8)

8th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 3f 99y

Class 5

15:32 Windsor

Respiro Solitario

9st 5lb

J: Connor Planas

T: William Muir & Chris Grassick

Unraced on softer than good; ran well at Newbury (1m4f) most recently, taking record this season to 3431132; that consistency makes him one to consider.

13/2

7

(1)

16th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:45 Newbury

Respiro Solitario

8st 4lb

J: Connor Planas

T: William Muir & Chris Grassick

Progressing and going up in trip has helped; front-running win when 4-6 at Wolverhampton (1m4f, AW) in June and he saw off a Prescott-trained hotpot to follow up at Ffos Las (1m4f, good) in July; close third at Chester on latest outing and may still have more to give.

6/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £27.10
Straight Forecast £33.35
Trifecta £74.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Respiro Solitario

NEWMARKET:

Byblos

POSTDATA:

Shahbaz

The Times:

Al Wasl Storm

TOPSPEED:

Houstonn

Telegraph:

Byblos

The Star:

Byblos

Daily Record:

Byblos

RP RATINGS:

Respiro Solitario

LAMBOURN:

Respiro Solitario

The Guardian:

Respiro Solitario

D Express:

Respiro Solitario

Daily Mail:

Shahbaz

Daily Mirror:

Shahbaz

The Sun:

Shahbaz