August 20 / 14.40 Carlisle

14.40

Good To Firm

Armstrong Watson Handicap

  • Prize money: £4187.2
  • 0m 5f 182y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
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Armstrong Watson Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

Form: 231161 CD

Last run: 8 days

W: 9st 10lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Progressive gelding who has won three of his last four starts, including a Class 5 over C&D (good) last Tuesday; has a penalty for that last-gasp win but he did well to overcome trouble and that made it 2-2 at Carlisle; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(9)

11th Sep 2025

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

19:30 Newcastle (AW)

Promise Time

9st 9lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Nigel Tinkler

Had a couple of near misses on Tapeta in the spring and his form has taken off on turf since, winning 6f handicaps at Carlisle (twice) and Doncaster; came up short under a penalty back at Carlisle three weeks ago but still ran creditably in second; hood added today; shouldn't be far away.

7/2

1

(4)

20th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 182y

Class 5

14:40 Carlisle

Promise Time

9st 10lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Nigel Tinkler

Progressive gelding who has won three of his last four starts, including a Class 5 over C&D (good) last Tuesday; has a penalty for that last-gasp win but he did well to overcome trouble and that made it 2-2 at Carlisle; respected.

9/4

9

(3)

12th Aug 2025

Good

0m 5f 182y

Class 5

14:45 Carlisle

Promise Time

9st 8lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Nigel Tinkler

C&D win in May been well advertised since and he duly defied a 9lb rise next time; again pulled hard when well held off this mark a few weeks ago and it's possible he's hit his ceiling unless consenting to settle better.

5/1

Form: 251657

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Made her breakthrough with a narrow success at Redcar (5f, good to firm) in May but she's not hit the same level in three subsequent runs; has run near her best over 6f but she's now 1-10 and others are more persuasive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

(5)

17th Oct 2025

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

14:50 Redcar

Boyne Lady

9st 5lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Roger Fell

C&D scorer who comes here in decent form, sixth of 13 in 6f Southwell handicap 18 days ago; she's one for the shortlist off a falling mark.

12/1

5

(5)

29th Sep 2025

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 5

18:30 Southwell (AW)

Boyne Lady

9st 8lb

J: Cian Horgan

T: Roger Fell

Gained sole win off 2lb higher (on turf) and Cian Horgan takes off 5lb today; attractively weighted and in reasonable form.

12/1

120

19th Sep 2025

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:40 Ayr

Boyne Lady

8st 7lb

T: Roger Fell

Form: 52-246

Last run: 33 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Returned after a gelding operation with a close second at Ripon (6f, good to soft) in May but he's taken two backward steps since; hood is now tried but he's still a maiden after eight starts and this is competitive for the grade; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

(1)

14th Jul 2026

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 6

18:55 Wolverhampton (AW)

On Key

9st 4lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Scott Dixon

No wins in 23 but has been banging at the door in recent months and won't mind returning to 7f.

11/4

3rd

3

(5)

7th Jul 2026

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 6

20:10 Wolverhampton (AW)

On Key

9st 7lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Scott Dixon

0-22 but he has been banging at the door in recent months, most recently a close second over C&D nine days ago; cheekpieces were absent there but they return tonight; should go well again.

9/4

2nd

9

(2)

28th Jun 2026

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 6

16:23 Wolverhampton (AW)

On Key

9st 7lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Scott Dixon

Record stands at 0-21 but he has been banging at the door on AW and turf since April; well drawn for one that races prominently and he should be in the thick of it once again.

7/2

Form: 68P-11 D

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Unexposed gelding who won at Doncaster (6f, good to firm) on his seasonal debut in June and followed up in similar conditions at Thirsk 12 days ago; up another 7lb but he beat a clear second last time and is open to more progress; big player for yard that has won this race three times since 2016, including last year.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(1)

11th Sep 2025

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

19:30 Newcastle (AW)

Sole Spirit

9st 5lb

J: Harrison Shaw

T: Bryan Smart

Returned from 190 days off to win a Doncaster handicap in June and he followed up at Thirsk last month (both 6f, good to firm); came up short in his hat-trick bid at Carlisle three weeks ago, a race where he dropped away quickly in the final furlong; finished lame there so that run perhaps not the one to judge him on; still not fully exposed.

4/1

4

(7)

20th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 182y

Class 5

14:40 Carlisle

Sole Spirit

9st 4lb

J: Harrison Shaw

T: Bryan Smart

Unexposed gelding who won at Doncaster (6f, good to firm) on his seasonal debut in June and followed up in similar conditions at Thirsk 12 days ago; up another 7lb but he beat a clear second last time and is open to more progress; big player for yard that has won this race three times since 2016, including last year.

13/8

5

(6)

8th Aug 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

16:45 Thirsk

Sole Spirit

9st 4lb

J: Harrison Shaw

T: Bryan Smart

Unexposed 3yo who returned from 190 days off to win a Doncaster handicap six weeks ago (6f, good to firm); 3lb rise is not excessive and the best could still be to come from him.

5/2

16/1

Form: 521589 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Handles most ground but best form has been on good to soft; got off the mark when scoring off 2lb lower at Ripon (6f) in May but he's been disappointing in last two starts; record is now 1-12 and needs a major revival with cheekpieces added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(7)

16th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 6y

Class 6

16:35 Hamilton

Tarlac

9st 5lb

J: Sam James

T: Katie Scott

Not in the same form as he was in May and June last year but he's on a lowly mark now and, after being pushed along from some way out, he did stick well to the task when fourth over C&D (good to firm) recently; form case to be made down in grade.

7/2

4th

7

(6)

25th Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 6y

Class 6

21:00 Hamilton

Tarlac

8st 13lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Katie Scott

Yet to be placed after six starts this season (5f-7f) but won off a much higher mark last spring, at Ripon (6f, good to soft), and may yet turn things around; worth a glance in the betting.

12/1

7th

8

(8)

8th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 6f 195y

Class 6

17:28 Carlisle

Tarlac

9st 0lb

J: Greg Fairley

T: Katie Scott

Campaigned mostly over 6f; inconsistent since sole win; his chance of taking advantage of a reduced mark partly depends on the effects of this return to 7f; record over this trip isn't fully conclusive.

16/1

Form: 475-68 D

Last run: 84 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Unplaced in seven starts since making a successful nursery debut at York (6f, good to soft) 13 months ago; down another 2lb so 5lb lower than for the win, but his best form has come on a soft surface.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

11

(3)

5th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

15:30 Thirsk

East Tyrone

8st 4lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Philip Kirby

Infrequent winner (2-29); placed six times on AW since narrow win at Wolverhampton (6f; 18-1) in early January; failed to figure from a wide draw at Catterick (7f) latest so needs to bounce back; more appeal than stablemate Kitaab.

16/1

9th

10

(10)

21st May 2026

Good

0m 7f 6y

Class 6

16:50 Catterick

East Tyrone

8st 10lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: Philip Kirby

Doesn't find winning easy (2-28) but is consistent for the level; third in four of his last five AW starts, including when keeping on behind Mount Ruapehu at Southwell (6f; 14-1) 23 days ago; wide draw isn't ideal for turf return; stablemate of Indy's Angel.

10/1

3rd

9

(2)

28th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 6

17:10 Southwell (AW)

East Tyrone

8st 10lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Philip Kirby

Can miss the break and tends to pull hard; still deserves some respect after a recent third over C&D.

10/1

Form: 447835

Last run: 8 days

W: 8st 7lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
Seven-race maiden who was a fair fifth over C&D last week but that was behind Promise Time; he needs to find more with blinkers added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(3)

20th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 182y

Class 5

14:40 Carlisle

Memphisatmidnight

8st 7lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Tim Easterby

Seven-race maiden who was a fair fifth over C&D last week but that was behind Promise Time; he needs to find more with blinkers added.

8/1

10

(10)

12th Aug 2025

Good

0m 5f 182y

Class 5

14:45 Carlisle

Memphisatmidnight

8st 11lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Tim Easterby

Lightly raced maiden who offered more off this mark last time; that was only a Redcar 0-55, though, and he'll need another forward step if he's to overcome the outside stall.

8/1

4

(7)

30th Jul 2025

Good

0m 5f 217y

Class 6

16:35 Redcar

Memphisatmidnight

9st 4lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Tim Easterby

0-5; regressive RPRs since his debut at Southwell (5f, AW) in April and he's been midfield in two starts since handicapping; dropped another 2lb; better needed.

16/1

Selections

POSTDATA:

Promise Time

SPOTLIGHT:

Sole Spirit

TOPSPEED:

Tarlac

The Times:

Promise Time

Telegraph:

Promise Time

The Guardian:

Promise Time

D Express:

Promise Time

The Sun:

Promise Time

Daily Mail:

Tarlac

RP RATINGS:

Sole Spirit

Daily Mirror:

Sole Spirit

The Star:

Sole Spirit

Daily Record:

Sole Spirit