October 28 / 15.20 Leicester

15.20

Soft

Happy Birthday Hamish Claiming Stakes

  • Prize money: £4320
  • 0m 7f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 5 runners
RTV
View Course
Happy Birthday Hamish Claiming Stakes

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 744709

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 13lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Three 6f wins (good to firm/good/AW) for previous yard but out of luck for this one despite falling fast down the weights; had wind surgery since last seen (his second) but conditions are a worry, having missed a soft-ground race in July.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

11

(12)

21st Jul 2026

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 6

21:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Brave Empire

8st 13lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Ivan Furtado

Ran well when a close fourth of 16 at Doncaster (6f, good to firm) last month, but didn't back it up at Pontefract (5f, good; first-time hood) a fortnight ago; opposable given his wide draw and a losing run of 22.

10/1

7th

9

(7)

7th Jul 2026

Good

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

16:48 Pontefract

Brave Empire

9st 1lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Ivan Furtado

Losing run up to 21, but he ran well to finish a close fourth of 16 at Doncaster (6f, good to firm) last month; a few winners have come out of that race and a hood is given a go, but the drop to 5f may not be ideal even on a stiff track like this.

7/1

4th

8

(12)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 2y

Class 6

13:20 Doncaster

Brave Empire

9st 7lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: Ivan Furtado

Very useful juvenile/3yo for Roger Varian but his last win was in February 2024 and he's not made an impact in seven runs this year; mark continues to fall but losing run is up to 20 and others are preferred.

14/1

Form: 723102 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 12lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Won final French start, at Vichy (7f claimer, very soft) in August; well held in an Ascot handicap on yard debut but he came home strongly and only just failed in C&D seller (good) since; has a big run in him on soft.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

(6)

31st Aug 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 113y

Class 5

16:40 Epsom

Amused

9st 11lb

J: Luke Catton

T: Jim Boyle

Yet to win for Jim Boyle but he has finished second on three occasions this year; disappointed as favourite at Lingfield (1m, AW) last week; had form on testing ground in France.

5/1

7th

6

(6)

25th Aug 2026

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 5

14:30 Lingfield (AW)

Amused

9st 9lb

J: Donagh Murphy

T: Jim Boyle

Sole win from 15 starts came at Vichy (7f, very soft) when trained in France; has returned to form since having the headgear removed, finishing runner-up at Sandown (1m, good to firm) on two occasions, including when narrowly ahead of Great Blasket last time; makes the shortlist.

6/1

2nd

6

(5)

6th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

19:58 Sandown

Amused

9st 3lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Jim Boyle

Inconsistent and he blew the start here two runs ago, but with the visor left off (same today) he returned to form with a good second over C&D (good to firm) a fortnight ago; can be in the mix if backing up that latest run.

6/1

Form: 091722 D

Last run: 90 days

W: 9st 11lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Off the mark in 7f Chepstow handicap (good to soft) in June and has run well over 7f and 1m on turf since; had trouble with the stalls in two intended starts since, though, getting upset and withdrawn then refusing to go in last time out, but he should be competitive if taking part.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

(3)

24th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 14y

Class 5

19:01 Chepstow

Dapper Gee Gee

9st 8lb

J: George Wood

T: Tony Carroll

Dual winner over 7f at this track, the latest (good to soft) in May; has one good run against his name over this far, but on balance shorter trips seem to suit him best and he may also prefer slower ground.

7/1

5th

8

(3)

12th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 127y

Class 5

17:28 Chester

Dapper Gee Gee

9st 7lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: Tony Carroll

Landed his third win at Chepstow (7f, good to soft) last month and ran up to that form when runner-up back there (soft) six days ago; still on a workable mark and holds claims.

7/2

2nd

9

(2)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 16y

Class 4

18:53 Chepstow

Dapper Gee Gee

8st 11lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: Tony Carroll

Gained a second C&D victory when getting up late in 11-runner handicap last month; up 2lb but that form is working out well so he must enter calculations.

9/2

Form: 222523

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 61

Form & Verdict
Consistent at 7f and 1m and he's been close to breaking his duck three times, including on soft; would have a better weights chance if this was a handicap but his reliability counts for plenty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

6

(8)

30th Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 210y

Class 6

16:43 Brighton

Joycean Way

9st 8lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Third in his last two starts over 1m/1m2f here, but now 0-19 despite a slipping mark and not sure dropping back to this trip is the key; blinkers return.

6/1

3rd

1

(1)

22nd Jun 2026

Good

1m 1f 207y

Class 6

19:37 Brighton

Joycean Way

9st 12lb

J: David Egan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Regressive maiden who hasn't looked to see it out in a few previous tries at this trip, including over C&D this time last year; back in form here last time and this looks weaker again, given a second try in cheekpieces (in place of blinkers); stamina the question.

2/1

3rd

2

(11)

29th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 216y

Class 6

15:52 Brighton

Joycean Way

9st 9lb

J: David Egan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Blinkered when he hit a run of second spots at 7f and 1m last summer, including here (soft; acts on good to firm) in September; had previously looked unlucky on a couple of those occasions and the blinkers were absent when never figuring at Lingfield ten days ago; might do better with that aid now refitted and he's dangerously handicapped; watch the market.

13/2

Form: 534038

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Winner of final 2yo start, over 6f on soft; in this picture on his best 7f form this year but he's been rather up and down in various forms of headgear of late and hard to know how he'll fare now going without aids.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

(4)

1st Sep 2026

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 6

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Forever My Prince

9st 8lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Michael Blake

Unplaced all five turf starts new stable this season (6f-7f) but hasn't been running that badly and continues to slip down the weights; Billy Loughnane is booked for this rare AW appearance; not ruled out.

9/2

6th

9

(6)

23rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

19:35 Newbury

Forever My Prince

9st 8lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Michael Blake

Two turf wins, the latest a claimer at Leicester last October on final run for Eve Johnson Houghton; dropping down the weights but hasn't been shaping of late as though he's about to take advantage.

11/1

5th

2

(10)

29th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 16y

Class 6

17:10 Chepstow

Forever My Prince

9st 8lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Michael Blake

Made encouraging seasonal/stable debut when fifth of 15 in higher-grade race at Doncaster (7f, good to soft) in March, but two lesser efforts have followed (7f/6f) and she'd appeal more on ground slower than good.

12/1

Non-runners

Good Banter

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £19.40
Straight Forecast £25.05
Trifecta £61.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Amused

RP RATINGS:

Forever My Prince

Daily Mail:

Good Banter

The Star:

Dapper Gee Gee

The Times:

Amused

Telegraph:

Amused

The Guardian:

Amused

Daily Mirror:

Amused

The Sun:

Amused

Daily Record:

Amused

TOPSPEED:

Forever My Prince

POSTDATA:

Forever My Prince

D Express:

Forever My Prince