August 25 / 14.45 Epsom

14.45

Good

Betfred “The Classic Bookmaker” Handicap

  • Prize money: £10308
  • 0m 7f 3y
  • Class 3
  • 9 runners
RTV
View Course
Betfred “The Classic Bookmaker” Handicap

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

13/2 (Won)

Form: 122126 CD

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who has won three times this year and latest was over C&D in June; couldn't hang in there at Galway (sixth of 15) last time but that was a respectable effort from a tough draw and he still looks on a workable mark; dangerous dropped back in grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(2)

18th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

15:25 Curragh

Partisan Hero

9st 9lb

J: Colin Keane

T: David Loughnane

British challenger a five-time handicap winner, most recently scoring off 92 at York in May; creditable first run in stakes company in a Sandown Group 3 last time when a 1.25l third behind the 110-rated Rumstar; that's solid form and Colin Keane keeps the faith; place chance.

12/1

3rd

2

(4)

4th Jul 2026

Good

0m 5f 10y

Class 1

13:50 Sandown

Partisan Hero

9st 5lb

J: Colin Keane

T: David Loughnane

Useful handicapper who has shown career-best form on last two starts, winning at York (5f) then creditable third at Epsom (6f); faces a stiffer assignment on these terms, however.

33/1

3rd

6

(14)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 6f 3y

Class 2

17:55 Epsom

Partisan Hero

9st 5lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: David Loughnane

Unproven on soft/heavy ground; has got faster over time and prevailed narrowly at York (5f, good) most recently, registering a first sprint win; peaking at the right time and record of 2-2 at Epsom (7f) includes a success at this meeting 12 months ago; major player.

10/1

Form: 196613 CD

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Made it 3-6 when landing a C&D handicap (good) last month and he found more progress when front-running third in big field at Glorious Goodwood (7f, good to soft); only 1lb higher on this drop back in grade and he's an interesting contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

4

(9)

5th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 3y

Class 2

17:50 Epsom

Aurora Majesty

9st 7lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Archie Watson

Disappointing last October on final 3yo start but the cheekpieces adopted that day are dispensed with and he's been gelded since; won over C&D (good) last July before very good efforts in defeat at Goodwood (7f, good to soft) and over C&D (good); retains potential and could be involved.

20/1

1

(9)

14th Oct 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:44 Leicester

Aurora Majesty

9st 12lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

Won for the first time since going handicapping at Epsom in July (7f, good) and was subsequently placed at Goodwood (7f, good to soft) and back at Epsom (7f, good); cheekpieces now tried and on a career high mark (3lb higher than last time); contender.

8/1

2nd

9

(5)

25th Aug 2025

Good

0m 7f 3y

Class 3

14:45 Epsom

Aurora Majesty

9st 3lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

Made it 3-6 when landing a C&D handicap (good) last month and he found more progress when front-running third in big field at Glorious Goodwood (7f, good to soft); only 1lb higher on this drop back in grade and he's an interesting contender.

4/1

OUR TIP

Form: 36-558

Last run: 44 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Short-headed in 3yo Listed race over C&D last May and he ran some good races in defeat in Qatar and UAE between last November and this March; however, he returned to Britain with a 9l defeat at York last month and needs to leave that form well behind; cheekpieces reapplied.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(5)

12th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

16:47 Goodwood

Native American

9st 10lb

J: George Wood

T: Hamad Al Jehani

Kept on for third at Epsom (7f, good) in August and 6l second at Sandown (7f, soft) last time behind an improved winner; the step back up in trip could be a plus (he ran well over 1m1f at Meydan in February); chance.

12/1

2

(9)

12th Sep 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:15 Sandown

Native American

9st 10lb

J: Faleh Bughenaim

T: Hamad Al Jehani

Useful at two and three when trained by Richard Fahey; unable to win in the Middle East last winter but he ran his best race for a while when third of nine in a 7f handicap (good) at Epsom 18 days ago, plugging on having been outpaced in the straight; today's more conventional track should suit and he'll be fine on good to soft (unraced on slower).

4/1

3rd

1

(6)

25th Aug 2025

Good

0m 7f 3y

Class 3

14:45 Epsom

Native American

10st 2lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Hamad Al Jehani

Short-headed in 3yo Listed race over C&D last May and he ran some good races in defeat in Qatar and UAE between last November and this March; however, he returned to Britain with a 9l defeat at York last month and needs to leave that form well behind; cheekpieces reapplied.

7/1

Form: 311102 CD BF

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Won three in a row on fast ground in June/July and second leg was over C&D; had tough task at Glorious Goodwood but he returned to form with a strong-finishing second at Musselburgh (7f, good) 17 days ago; looks interesting off only 1lb higher here and he's 2-4 at this track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(4)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

17:10 Newmarket (July)

Crimson Spirit

10st 2lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Daniel & Claire Kubler

Arrives in good form having won at Goodwood (7f, good) then made the frame in competitive field at Epsom (7f, good to soft); however, he remains on a career-high mark and has to concede weight all round.

9/2

4th

6

(3)

5th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 3y

Class 2

17:50 Epsom

Crimson Spirit

9st 6lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Daniel & Claire Kubler

Two C&D wins, the latest when completing a hat-trick last July (good to firm), and he won at Goodwood (7f, good) a fortnight ago; could be bang there if handling the forecast slow ground (mixed messages in his form).

8/1

1st

8

(3)

22nd May 2026

Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:52 Goodwood

Crimson Spirit

9st 5lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Daniel & Claire Kubler

Best form at 7f on good/firmer; completed a hat-trick last summer and ran creditably in big field at Newmarket in the first of his two starts this term; chance may depend on the actions of the weather, however.

8/1

Form: 414311 D

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Seven-time turf winner, who has won three of his last five starts including a dominant display at Beverley (7.4f, good to firm) 12 days ago; up 7lb but he really kicked on again with that 4l win and he's open to more progress; big player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

(6)

18th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

15:42 Newmarket (July)

Bell Shot

9st 9lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: Michael Appleby

Kickstarted 2026 with 6f success at Southwell off 2lb higher; respectable third of ten over 7f at Epsom (good) 17 days ago; successful on his previous outing over C&D; this prominent racer is capable of making a bold bid.

7/2

3rd

2

(6)

1st Jul 2026

Good

0m 7f 3y

Class 4

20:42 Epsom

Bell Shot

10st 0lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: Michael Appleby

Kickstarted 2026 with 6f success at Southwell off 1lb higher; also good third of 11 in 7f Kempton handicap in May and better than eighth of 11 might suggest at Beverley ten days later, fading late after racing too keenly; Mason Paetel has won on him before; runner-up once from two outings over C&D and enters calculations.

13/2

8th

3

(9)

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 96y

Class 4

16:00 Beverley

Bell Shot

9st 8lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Michael Appleby

Kickstarted 2026 with 6f success at Southwell and comes here on the back of a good third of 11 in 7f Kempton handicap; this three-time C&D scorer must enter calculations.

9/2

Form: 332033 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Did well at Meydan earlier in the year (7f/1m) and was a close third at Sandown (7f, good to firm) last month but he didn't really fire at Newmarket (third of six) last time; that took his record to 1-10 and others are more persuasive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

8

(5)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

15:25 Newmarket (July)

The Fingal Raven

9st 4lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Jamie Osborne

Quite a useful sort but has a stronger record at Meydan than on home soil and came up well short when an outsider in the 7f handicap at Royal Ascot most recently; others preferred.

25/1

16th

22

(12)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

The Fingal Raven

9st 2lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Jamie Osborne

Quite a useful sort but has a stronger record at Meydan than on home soil and his limitations were rather exposed, even allowing for a tricky draw, in the Britannia at this meeting 12 months ago; wears first-time tongue-tie; something to prove back in a British race.

40/1

6th

8

(8)

25th Aug 2025

Good

0m 7f 3y

Class 3

14:45 Epsom

The Fingal Raven

9st 4lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Jamie Osborne

Did well at Meydan earlier in the year (7f/1m) and was a close third at Sandown (7f, good to firm) last month but he didn't really fire at Newmarket (third of six) last time; that took his record to 1-10 and others are more persuasive.

8/1

20/1

Form: -26007 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Record of 2-4 as a 2yo; found more progress when a close second on seasonal debut at Newmarket (7f, good) in April but he's struggled in four subsequent runs; mark is falling but he needs a major revival with headgear added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(3)

17th Jul 2026

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 5

14:43 Wolverhampton (AW)

Fifty Nifty

9st 13lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Martin Dunne

Useful 3yo for Tom Clover but has gone backwards since; sold for 2,000gns to join current yard this month; risks involved in yet another change of headgear on stable debut.

16/1

8th

6

(8)

19th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

18:35 Newmarket (July)

Fifty Nifty

9st 5lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Chelsea Banham

Useful 3yo for Tom Clover, including a C&D win, who proved hard to place last year; handicapper given him a chance now, but he ran below market expectations for another new yard back from wind surgery last time; risks involved in first-time blinkers.

7/1

7th

3

(5)

28th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 3y

Class 4

14:48 Yarmouth

Fifty Nifty

9st 7lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Chelsea Banham

Dual fast-ground winner (1m/7f) for Tom Clover, including on his debut at this track in April 2024; shaped quite well at Kempton (6f, AW) in December but failed to build on that next time and has since left Mick Appleby; has bit to prove after six months off but he's had wind surgery and needs watching in market on stable debut.

11/2

Form: 19-260 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Three turf wins in the mud in France; creditable second on British/stable debut at Kempton (7f, AW) in January but he failed to build on that at Newcastle and was virtually pulled up on his Goodwood reappearance (7f, good) last month; bled from the nose last time but he looks on a tough enough mark and others are preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

(1)

3rd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 16y

Class 4

17:43 Chepstow

Society Man

9st 5lb

J: Mikey Sheehy

T: Charlie Johnston

All three wins on turf came on testing ground in France and his best efforts in Britain have been on the AW, including a win at Kempton in October; below par in recent starts and has been dropped another 2lb.

11/1

6th

3

(5)

6th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 15y

Class 4

14:50 Musselburgh

Society Man

9st 9lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Charlie Johnston

His best efforts in Britain have been on AW and he was ideally suited by testing ground when trained in France; none too consistent, either.

12/1

Form: 722010

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Trounced his rivals in Windsor novice (1m, good to firm) last month but he's found things tough in Ascot handicaps (Class 2) either side of that; still unexposed and now drops back in grade but he needs more progress back at this trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(2)

26th Sep 2025

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 3

16:45 Newmarket

Competizione

9st 9lb

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

Has something to prove having been well beaten in handicaps on his last two starts; however, this 3yo impressed in a novice at Windsor (1m, good to firm) in July and is in top hands; too soon to write him off.

10/1

9th

5

(1)

25th Aug 2025

Good

0m 7f 3y

Class 3

14:45 Epsom

Competizione

9st 6lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

Trounced his rivals in Windsor novice (1m, good to firm) last month but he's found things tough in Ascot handicaps (Class 2) either side of that; still unexposed and now drops back in grade but he needs more progress back at this trip.

7/1

12th

15

(16)

26th Jul 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Ascot

Competizione

8st 10lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

Made no impact in the Britannia and he faced a much easier task when landing the odds in Windsor novice (1m, good to firm) next time; back in deeper waters here but he's low mileage, in good hands and hard to rule out.

11/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £18.21
Tricast £96.49

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Crimson Spirit

Daily Mail:

Aurora Majesty

POSTDATA:

Competizione

Telegraph:

Bell Shot

The Times:

The Fingal Raven

NEWMARKET:

Native American

TOPSPEED:

Partisan Hero

The Star:

Competizione

Daily Mirror:

Aurora Majesty

Daily Record:

Aurora Majesty

RP RATINGS:

Crimson Spirit

LAMBOURN:

Crimson Spirit

D Express:

Crimson Spirit

The Sun:

Crimson Spirit

The Guardian:

Bell Shot