September 27 / 15.15 Haydock

15.15

Good To Soft

Oddschecker Handicap

  • Prize money: £15462
  • 0m 7f 212y
  • Class 2
  • 10 runners
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Oddschecker Handicap

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

9/2 (Won)

Form: -22722

Last run: 22 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Soft-ground novice win last autumn; has a touch of seconditis over 6f/7f this term but he's built up a solid record and 1m looks worth a go; might be one who needs his mind making up and De Sousa taking the reins for the first time could also be a positive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

(2)

29th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 0f 75y

Class 1

14:47 Nottingham

Fondo Blanco

9st 1lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Reliable sort who's found some improvement in recent starts, on last two occasions taking second at Ascot (7f, soft) and winning well in a handicap at Haydock (1m, good to soft); first crack at 1m suited him very well last time but another step forward is required.

8/1

4th

6

(2)

29th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 0f 75y

Class 1

14:47 Nottingham

Fondo Blanco

9st 1lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Reliable sort who's found some improvement in recent starts, on last two occasions taking second at Ascot (7f, soft) and winning well in a handicap at Haydock (1m, good to soft); first crack at 1m suited him very well last time but another step forward is required.

8/1

1st

7

(3)

27th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 212y

Class 2

15:15 Haydock

Fondo Blanco

8st 12lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Roger Varian

Soft-ground novice win last autumn; has a touch of seconditis over 6f/7f this term but he's built up a solid record and 1m looks worth a go; might be one who needs his mind making up and De Sousa taking the reins for the first time could also be a positive.

9/2

7/2

Form: 11 D

Last run: 41 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
First foal of the multiple Group 1 winner Laurens; unbeaten in 7f Newcastle maiden and 1m Southwell novice seven months apart; his Southwell win has been boosted by the second, third, fourth and fifth winning since; lacks experience for a race of this nature but rates a smart prospect now switching to turf.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

19th

3

(17)

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

14:25 Doncaster

First Ambition

9st 11lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: K R Burke

Has been unable to sustain his early progress, most recently out of the money when a 20-1 shot in the Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton; needs to raise his game.

25/1

7th

10

(3)

7th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 2

14:42 Wolverhampton (AW)

First Ambition

8st 10lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: K R Burke

Free-going sort who has won two of his six starts; should be sharper with last month's Southwell reappearance behind him and still has some potential.

14/1

6th

3

(9)

20th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 3

19:00 Southwell (AW)

First Ambition

9st 7lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Made it 2-2 in a C&D novice in August and wasn't disgraced in two Class 2 handicaps before producing his worst performance yet last time at Newcastle; if forgiven that, and it was three months ago, then he's not without hope.

8/1

Form: 430105 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 8st 11lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Showed he's a useful sort with Glorious Goodwood success (1m, heavy) in July; one of his slow starts scuppered him back at Goodwood next time but he got away on terms when a respectable fifth of 14 to Treble Tee at Doncaster (1m, good) a fortnight ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(10)

9th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 75y

Class 4

15:25 Nottingham

Principality

9st 11lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Harry Eustace

Acts on good to firm and heavy ground; won off 1lb higher at Goodwood (1m) last July but has mixed record since and was beaten 11l in the Spring Mile on his reappearance in March; this is a big drop back in grade but he's now 1-11 in handicaps and others are more convincing.

12/1

11th

4

(12)

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

14:25 Doncaster

Principality

9st 10lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Harry Eustace

Not disgraced (fifth of 14) in sole Doncaster attempt and current mark is workable; however, may be more interesting when back at Goodwood with this reappearance under his belt, having gained both wins there.

12/1

16/1

Form: 305495 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Made a good start to the term with creditable thirds in competitive handicaps at Thirsk and York in the spring but hasn't been in quite the same form since; his mark has edged down as a result but others are still more persuasive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

22

(9)

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:32 Doncaster

La Trinidad

8st 12lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Roger Fell

9yo who went 0-10 last year but he's well handicapped on the pick of last season's efforts, which came in the spring, and his Doncaster form-figures of 1413 catch the eye on his first visit here since 2023; interesting.

50/1

3rd

1

(3)

27th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 219y

Class 3

15:45 Redcar

La Trinidad

10st 0lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: Roger Fell

Won twice last season, the second one over this C&D; sound efforts on first two starts this term but not so good recently; on a good mark (6lb lower than last win).

7/1

3rd

1

(3)

27th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 219y

Class 3

15:45 Redcar

La Trinidad

10st 0lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: Roger Fell

Won twice last season, the second one over this C&D; sound efforts on first two starts this term but not so good recently; on a good mark (6lb lower than last win).

7/1

13/2

Form: 2-1107

Last run: 13 days

W: 8st 11lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Won a pair of 7f novice events (good to firm/good) in May; not disgraced in warm 7f 3yo handicaps at Glorious Goodwood and Doncaster St Leger meeting since; shaped on Town Moor as if this return to 1m may suit; remains unexposed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

(10)

28th May 2026

Good

1m 1f 170y

Class 3

15:40 Ripon

El Matador

9st 8lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

Low-mileage 4yo who has been a good second at Lingfield (7f, AW) and Redcar (1m, good) this spring; hasn't necessarily shaped as if crying out for this trip but he's likely to be bang there again if his stamina holds.

5/2

2nd

3

(4)

7th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 219y

Class 3

19:20 Redcar

El Matador

9st 6lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Ralph Beckett

This low-mileage 4yo found the line coming a few strides too soon when odds-on favourite for his 7f Lingfield (AW) reappearance ten days ago; that points to this return to 1m suiting one who is back out a couple of days before a 3lb rise for Lingfield takes effect; his turf wins last year came on good to firm and good; should go well.

2/1

2nd

1

(5)

27th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 4

15:45 Lingfield (AW)

El Matador

9st 11lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

Won two novices over this trip last May before finishing held in some decent-quality handicaps (among the favourites each time); not fully exposed as yet and this is a deal less competitive on his AW debut, back from seven months off, having been gelded.

5/4

Form: 3144-1 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Better than ever when landing a 7f Newbury handicap (good to soft) on last Saturday's belated reappearance; a 3lb rise is fair but a second outing in quick succession after an absence has to be a slight concern.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

(5)

9th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 135y

Class 3

15:15 Lingfield

Christian David

9st 5lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Richard Hannon

Novice and handicap (7f) winner on AW here, latterly in December when sporting first-time blinkers (retained); respectable ninth of 21 when 66-1 for the Lincoln in March and it was another solid effort when third in Class 2 handicap (1m, good) at Newmarket's Craven meeting; can't be ruled out.

8/1

3rd

6

(6)

14th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

16:45 Newmarket

Christian David

9st 0lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

Four-time winner including of a good-ground 1m handicap in June 2024; first-time blinkers when doing well to win 7f AW handicap (now just 1lb higher) narrowly in December; low-key AW return in March but it was a fair effort when ninth in the Lincoln (1m, good to soft) three weeks later; fitness guaranteed.

14/1

9th

20

(11)

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:32 Doncaster

Christian David

9st 0lb

J: Alec Voikhansky

T: Richard Hannon

Won at Newbury (7f, good to soft) last September and at Lingfield (7f, AW) in December, and he scored over 1m in 2024; however, he has an up-and-down profile and was well beaten on his reappearance three weeks ago (8.6f, AW); this is tougher than he's used to and he may be best watched.

50/1

Form: 1372-6 D BF

Last run: 182 days

W: 9st 13lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Wrapped up a good 3yo campaign with smart effort for second of 12 in 1m Doncaster handicap (soft) last October; couldn't justify favouritism but still made a respectable return to the track when sixth of 22 in the Lincoln there (1m, good to soft) in March; off a further six months since but evidently capable when fresh and remains with untapped potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

(8)

4th Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 15y

Class 2

13:55 Musselburgh

Midnight Gun

9st 8lb

J: James Doyle

T: Hamad Al Jehani

Faded in a 1m Listed race at Saint-Cloud (heavy) in November; had previously won a novice and a handicap (good) at that trip but the return to 7f worked well for him at Doncaster (soft) in October when he was bumped and later met trouble, only just failing against one on the crest of a wave; that strong form gives him solid claims.

9/4

3

(10)

24th Oct 2025

Heavy

0m 7f 6y

Class 2

15:18 Doncaster

Midnight Gun

9st 10lb

J: James Doyle

T: Hamad Al Jehani

Lightly raced 4yo; campaigned mostly at 1m but his two efforts this term, including when sixth in the Lincoln here, suggest this return to 7f is worth exploring; good second at Doncaster (soft) 12 months ago; possibilities, provided he takes well to first-time headgear.

9/2

7th

2

(11)

27th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 212y

Class 2

15:15 Haydock

Midnight Gun

9st 13lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Hamad Al Jehani

Wrapped up a good 3yo campaign with smart effort for second of 12 in 1m Doncaster handicap (soft) last October; couldn't justify favouritism but still made a respectable return to the track when sixth of 22 in the Lincoln there (1m, good to soft) in March; off a further six months since but evidently capable when fresh and remains with untapped potential.

4/1

Form: 207302

Last run: 21 days

W: 8st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
0-12 since debut win on AW but there have been some good runs since, notably his second in the Silver Bowl over C&D (good) in May; bounced straight back from a poor run on AW when runner-up over C&D on good ground again three weeks ago; ought to be in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

(5)

1st May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

17:30 Ascot

Tilted Kilt

9st 6lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: William Knight

Went 0-14 after his winning debut at two but belatedly doubled his tally when comfortably accounting for his five rivals after a break at Southwell (1m); this is tougher, but he was runner-up in last year's Silver Bowl at Haydock which was a Class 2 handicap on turf; only 3lb higher than that day.

7/1

14/1

Form: 5-6597

Last run: 37 days

W: 8st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Only 1-10 but running better this season than his form figures may suggest and contested a Group 2 on his penultimate run; he's not without hope off a reduced mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

(5)

9th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 75y

Class 4

15:25 Nottingham

Intrusively

9st 4lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: Michael Appleby

Third in 2yo Group 2 in 2024; ran respectably off a falling mark on a few occasions last season but he's struggled in two 1m handicaps (good to soft/good to firm) this spring; has plenty to prove and overall record is now 1-14.

20/1

9th

6

(5)

20th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 219y

Class 3

15:42 Redcar

Intrusively

9st 2lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Michael Appleby

Third in 2yo Group 2 in 2024; unable to reproduce that promise last season and well beaten in last month's Spring Mile on stable/seasonal debut; however, he has a reduced mark to work with and his new trainer may well find the key to him sooner rather than later; the returning visor may be a plus.

11/1

OUR TIP

40/1

Form: 130- D

Last run: 315 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Quickly reached a useful level for Aidan O'Brien at the end of last summer, winning a 1m Leopardstown maiden then 1l third in a Dundalk Listed race over an extended 1m2f; subsequently allowed to leave Ballydoyle for only 18,000gns and last of ten in 1m2f Newcastle Listed event for new connections last November; off since and a watching brief is very much the call after gelding and wind operations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

2

(15)

10th Oct 2025

Good

0m 7f 192y

Class 2

13:30 York

Platoon

9st 4lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Stella Barclay

Made a promising start to his career for Aidan O'Brien last August and September, but down the field on stable debut in AW Listed race last November and tailed off at 50-1 on belated reappearance in a handicap at Haydock a fortnight ago; a transformation is needed in a first-time tongue-tie.

66/1

10th

1

(9)

27th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 212y

Class 2

15:15 Haydock

Platoon

10st 0lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Stella Barclay

Quickly reached a useful level for Aidan O'Brien at the end of last summer, winning a 1m Leopardstown maiden then 1l third in a Dundalk Listed race over an extended 1m2f; subsequently allowed to leave Ballydoyle for only 18,000gns and last of ten in 1m2f Newcastle Listed event for new connections last November; off since and a watching brief is very much the call after gelding and wind operations.

40/1

Non-runners

Hawksbill

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £29.13
Tricast £269.76

Selections

NEWMARKET:

Fondo Blanco

SPOTLIGHT:

Midnight Gun

The Guardian:

First Ambition

The Times:

Hawksbill

TOPSPEED:

Tilted Kilt

Daily Mirror:

Christian David

POSTDATA:

La Trinidad

The Star:

First Ambition

Daily Mail:

Fondo Blanco

Daily Record:

Fondo Blanco

Telegraph:

Hawksbill

D Express:

Tilted Kilt

RP RATINGS:

Midnight Gun

The Sun:

Midnight Gun