September 20 / 15.05 Chester

15.05

Soft

Caa Stellar Selling Stakes

  • Prize money: £7731
  • 0m 7f 127y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
Caa Stellar Selling Stakes

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

OUR TIP

Form: 903315

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Not the force of old but still retains plenty of ability and won a Class 4 handicap at Ayr (1m, good; RPR 94) on penultimate run; looks interesting on this drop into a seller and he's very effective on slow ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

(2)

17th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 6y

Class 4

19:42 Pontefract

Empirestateofmind

9st 3lb

J: James Sullivan

T: John & Sean Quinn

A dual winner (around 1m) in 2025 but he's yet to fire this season, only ninth of 11 in 1m Redcar handicap four weeks ago; others appeal more.

20/1

9th

11

(3)

19th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 219y

Class 3

15:25 Redcar

Empirestateofmind

9st 2lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

Has dropped 8lb lower than when last winning a handicap for good reason; his last two starts didn't suggest a return to winning ways was imminent.

14/1

9th

6

(1)

4th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

16:42 Wetherby

Empirestateofmind

9st 7lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

Prolific winner at 1m-1m1f on good or slower; inconsistent this season but has slipped to a workable mark and, if in the same form as at Ripon on penultimate start, he could have a say.

10/1

Form: 814485 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Slow-ground specialist who recorded his 11th win when landing the Carlisle Bell (1m, soft) in June; ran near his best with that strong-finishing success but he hasn't hit the same level since and this looks tough at the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

(8)

11th Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 75y

Class 4

15:42 Nottingham

On The River

9st 6lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Harriet Bethell

Promising fifth in the Spring Mile on his return and then found only a stablemate too strong at Ripon in April (both 1m, good to soft); not so good at Pontefract last time when faced with good ground; the more rain to fall the better for him.

6/1

7th

5

(6)

29th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 6y

Class 4

15:23 Pontefract

On The River

9st 4lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Harriet Bethell

Won last summer's Carlisle Bell off this mark (1m, soft); ran well when fifth in the Spring Mile at Doncaster on his return before finding only his stablemate Milteye too strong at Ripon 13 days ago (1m, good to soft; Walsingham back in third); fully effective over C&D but he appears to have a preference for slower than good now and drying conditions aren't sure to suit.

3/1

2nd

5

(4)

16th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:25 Ripon

On The River

9st 8lb

J: Harry Vigors

T: Harriet Bethell

The vast majority of his wins have come on slow ground but the going was good when he was second in this race last year; reappeared with promising fifth of 22 in the Spring Mile at Doncaster and could be in the mix.

3/1

Form: 531168

Last run: 44 days

W: 9st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Five-time AW winner who won two in a row at Chepstow (7f, good/soft) early this summer but he's taken two backward steps since his last win; bit to prove again and this is a tough task in this hot seller.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(5)

27th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 4

17:45 Wolverhampton (AW)

Ultramarine

9st 9lb

J: Toby Moore

T: David Evans

Shaped well, amid traffic issues, over 6f at Kempton on reappearance; has gained most wins over 7f, including twice at Wolverhampton; interesting back up in trip with Toby Moore taking off a handy 7lb.

8/1

5th

4

(4)

14th Jan 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Ultramarine

9st 9lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: David Evans

6f winner but majority of his wins at 7f; went back-to-back at Chepstow in May/June; not in same form since and returns to AW after a break with his mark still looking tricky; drop back down in trip also a slight query.

10/1

Form: 150737 C

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Last-gasp winner of a Class 3 handicap here (7f, good) in May but he hasn't matched that form since and was well held over C&D (good to soft) last time; hood now returns but this is highly competitive for a seller and others are preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

(9)

18th Oct 2025

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 3

16:29 Wolverhampton (AW)

Probe

9st 5lb

J: George Wood

T: Jennie Candlish

C&D winner; flashed home to win a 7f handicap at Chester in May but it has been a mixed bag since, including dropped into a seller at Chester four weeks ago; dangerous mark if the addition of a tongue tie has a positive effect.

10/1

4

(4)

20th Sep 2025

Soft

0m 7f 127y

Class 4

15:05 Chester

Probe

9st 10lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Jennie Candlish

Last-gasp winner of a Class 3 handicap here (7f, good) in May but he hasn't matched that form since and was well held over C&D (good to soft) last time; hood now returns but this is highly competitive for a seller and others are preferred.

8/1

1

(9)

13th Sep 2025

Good

0m 7f 127y

Class 4

16:35 Chester

Probe

10st 1lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Jennie Candlish

Produced a strong finish for a last-gasp success off this mark here (7f, good) in May; hasn't hit the same level since but he had some serious traffic issues when a creditable third here last month; looks interesting on this step back up in trip and could be a big factor if he gets the breaks.

14/1

Form: -39308 C

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Won a Listed event here (7f, good to soft) last July and a Group 3 in Germany (6f, soft) the following month; has mixed record in five runs for Marco Botti this year but he's had a couple of close calls on AW and wasn't disgraced off a mark of 109 over C&D last time; this looks a golden opportunity now dropped into a seller and he should be hard to beat on these terms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(10)

26th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

19:28 Newcastle (AW)

Al Shabab Storm

9st 12lb

J: Conor Whiteley

T: Michael Appleby

Smart on his day and his third at Wolverhampton (6f) last July saw him record an RPR of 115; down the field in two runs for Mick Appleby this year and he now drops to 5f for the first time in his career; tongue tied for the first time.

25/1

12th

2

(4)

31st May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

17:45 Thirsk

Al Shabab Storm

9st 11lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Michael Appleby

Finished down the field on stable/seasonal debut at Chester (7.5f) this month but that doesn't tell the full story as he ran well for a long way from his wide draw and was hampered late on; he's dropped to an attractive mark and is just the type his new trainer does very well with.

14/1

12th

1

(10)

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 127y

Class 2

14:05 Chester

Al Shabab Storm

9st 12lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Michael Appleby

Won a 7f Listed race here (good to soft) for Andrew Balding in 2024; still capable of smart performances for Marco Botti last year but wasn't at his best on final two starts, including in a course seller; sold for 45,000gns in October; a Group 1 entry at Royal Ascot suggests new connections are hopeful he retains all his ability.

12/1

Form: 705444 C

Last run: 8 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
All five wins have been on good or slower ground, but he hasn't been at his best this year and was beaten 7l in a Class 4 handicap here (7f, good) last Friday; down the list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

6

(14)

27th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 56y

Class 4

16:50 York

Spirit Genie

10st 13lb

J: Mr Jamie Neild

T: Jennie Candlish

Five-time winner on a handy mark but it's been a quiet start to this season and, even if back on song, looks vulnerable to stronger stayers over this far; the return of a visor might be no bad thing.

14/1

8th

2

(10)

12th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 1y

Class 4

13:30 Chester

Spirit Genie

11st 1lb

J: Mr Jamie Neild

T: Jennie Candlish

C&D scorer who made a promising return from a poor draw when seventh of 22 in 7f York handicap four weeks ago; figures on a handy-looking mark now and he's interesting.

10/1

7th

5

(21)

15th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

13:45 York

Spirit Genie

9st 9lb

J: George Wood

T: Jennie Candlish

Ended winless 2025 campaign with a placed effort in an above-average seller; starts his 2026 season off 8lb below his last winning mark but chance partly depends on the weather as he's best on ground softer than good.

20/1

Form: -70400 C

Last run: 6 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Useful 2yo who won twice (6f, good to soft) last summer but he's been generally disappointing this season; showed signs of a revival with his fourth here in July but he's finished out the back in both subsequent runs and others are preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

12

(11)

27th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 14y

Class 2

13:40 Newcastle (AW)

Brighton Boy

8st 11lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Led late when beating Sergeant Wilko at Thirsk last month and he had a few of today's rivals in behind when second at Chester four weeks ago; another solid effort at York a fortnight ago but he has to prove his effectiveness on AW.

10/1

6th

12

(8)

13th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

14:25 York

Brighton Boy

9st 7lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Won at Thirsk (7f, good) last month on third stable start and close second at Chester (7f, good) subsequently; won here in September 2024 on sole previous course visit and this in-form 4yo could again be thereabouts.

10/1

2nd

12

(8)

30th May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 1y

Class 2

15:30 Chester

Brighton Boy

8st 8lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

Course winner (7.6f, soft) for Andrew Balding last summer; not beaten far in the 7.6f handicap won by Supido 24 days ago (poor draw) and confirmed that promise with a Class 3 win at Thirsk a fortnight ago (7f, good); a 3lb rise shouldn't prove beyond him and Warren Fentiman's claim is a bonus.

11/1

Form: 978458 C

Last run: 58 days

W: 9st 2lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 47

Form & Verdict
Modest mare who was tailed off on her hurdling debut last month and this is an impossible task back on the Flat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

7

(1)

22nd Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

13:40 Leicester

Lockdown Lass

8st 13lb

J: Christian Howarth

T: Gary Hanmer

Showed some ability remained when fifth at Chester in June (7.6f, good) but well held Flat and hurdles since; tailed off in the faces of a stiff task at Chester on Saturday.

16/1

9

(6)

20th Sep 2025

Soft

0m 7f 127y

Class 4

15:05 Chester

Lockdown Lass

9st 2lb

J: Harrison Shaw

T: Gary Hanmer

Modest mare who was tailed off on her hurdling debut last month and this is an impossible task back on the Flat.

200/1

12

6th Sep 2025

Good To Firm

2m 0f 70y

Class 4

16:45 Stratford

Lockdown Lass

10st 11lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Gary Hanmer

Four-time winner on the Flat but not since September 2023 and she has a lowly mark nowadays; best watched on hurdling debut.

100/1

Non-runners

Bellarchi

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £74.60
Straight Forecast £71.60
Trifecta £274.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Al Shabab Storm

Daily Mirror:

Empirestateofmind

Telegraph:

Brighton Boy

D Express:

Spirit Genie

The Star:

Lockdown Lass

RP RATINGS:

Al Shabab Storm

TOPSPEED:

Al Shabab Storm

POSTDATA:

Al Shabab Storm

The Times:

Al Shabab Storm

The Guardian:

Al Shabab Storm

Daily Mail:

Al Shabab Storm

Daily Record:

Al Shabab Storm