January 16 / 19.00 Wolverhampton (AW)

19.00

Standard

BetMGM Supports Safer Gambling Handicap

  • Prize money: £4972.3
  • 1m 0f 142y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
SKY
View Course
BetMGM Supports Safer Gambling Handicap

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Rain and snow

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £34.00
  • Place: £4.90

Form: 61725- BF

Last run: 91 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Record of 4-18 for Charlie Johnston and was second at Southwell (1m, Tapeta) on his penultimate run for that yard; returns after three months off but he's still lightly raced on AW and needs watching in market on stable debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

18th

3

(5)

23rd May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:00 York

Paladin

9st 8lb

J: Oliver Stammers

T: Kevin Frost

Free-going sort who was 4-18 for Charlie Johnston, including two 1m wins last summer, and made a winning start for new connections when 33-1 for a nine-runner race at Wolverhampton (8.6f, AW) in January; absent since and has more to prove back at 7f for the first time since 2024.

20/1

1st

6

(3)

16th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 4

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Paladin

9st 4lb

J: Oliver Stammers

T: Kevin Frost

Record of 4-18 for Charlie Johnston and was second at Southwell (1m, Tapeta) on his penultimate run for that yard; returns after three months off but he's still lightly raced on AW and needs watching in market on stable debut.

12/1

5th

4

(2)

17th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 4

19:00 Newcastle (AW)

Paladin

9st 9lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Charlie Johnston

Southwell winner (1m, Tapeta) late last year and has twice won on turf (1m, good to firm) since returning from six months off in June; ran well to finish second of 13 back at Southwell (1m) a fortnight ago and much respected despite a 2lb rise.

3/1

7/2

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 62372- CD

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 4lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Six-time AW winner who bounced back with a close call at Lingfield (1m) on New Year's Eve; this is a deeper race but he's on same mark as last time and he has won over C&D in the past; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

(4)

30th May 2026

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 4

18:42 Lingfield

Hitched

9st 2lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: David Simcock

A regular on the AW here (three wins) who's much higher in the weights than when last seen frequently on turf; generally consistent but whether he's up to this mark on grass is the leading question, and Quamby looks his trainer's best chance.

25/1

13th

14

(14)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

15:15 Lingfield (AW)

Hitched

9st 0lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: David Simcock

Four-time winner over 1m/1m2f here and just 1lb higher than when beating a dual subsequent winner at Wolverhampton (8.6f, Tapeta) in January, but he has the outside stall and will require some luck given his come-from-behind style.

25/1

4th

6

(4)

13th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 4

18:10 Wolverhampton (AW)

Hitched

9st 3lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: David Simcock

C&D win in January off a 1lb lower mark; not so good twice since but he is not the type to stay down for long.

15/2

10/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 0578-7

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 10lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Group 3/Listed winner for the Gosdens as a 3yo, but a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since; has dropped a long way in the weights but he's not lived up to market expectations in his last three runs; blinkers now return but he needs to raise his game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

(6)

30th May 2026

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 4

18:42 Lingfield

Epictetus

9st 5lb

J: William Carver

T: Jamie Osborne

Things didn't pan out his way on first crack at 1m4f here last time (AW) and that was another in-form effort; has found his level again but wants a good test over this trip, he hasn't won in a long time and has become inconsistent on turf.

7/1

3rd

2

(5)

12th May 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 4

20:20 Lingfield (AW)

Epictetus

9st 10lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Jamie Osborne

Beaten half a length or less in his last three goes on the AW (7f-9.5f), but losing run up to 22 and has never attempted this far before; others safer.

5/1

2nd

1

(5)

27th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 4

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Epictetus

9st 9lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Jamie Osborne

Has gone close recently and was only beaten half a length at Lingfield (1m, AW) 13 days ago but is without a win since landing a Group 3 for the Gosdens three years ago; looks sure to be thereabouts once again.

7/2

7/4

Form: 33761- CD

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 4yo who made it 2-5 on AW when scoring over C&D on his stable debut last month; up 7lb but he resumed his progress with that clearcut win and he still looks feasibly treated; big player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(6)

25th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 31y

Class 3

17:00 Windsor

Advancing

9st 7lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Marco Botti

Has posted two duck eggs since most recent AW success and latest effort took his turf form figures to 370; not particularly solid kept to this sphere and others are preferred.

14/1

11th

4

(7)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

17:55 Newmarket

Advancing

9st 11lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Marco Botti

Mostly in good form on the AW during the winter, winning at Wolverhampton (8.6f) and Kempton (1m); however, he was below par back at Wolverhampton six weeks ago and has something to prove on a rare encounter with turf.

14/1

11th

7

(3)

20th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 3

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Advancing

9st 3lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Marco Botti

Won stable debut over C&D in December, bang there on next two starts and scored again at Kempton (1m) on latest; did it in clearcut style last time, which has earned him a 5lb rise but he remains one to take seriously.

11/2

OUR TIP

Form: 06364-

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
All of his five AW wins have come at Kempton (1m) and he's now 6lb lower than the most recent of those; still unexposed on Tapeta but he hasn't really fired in last two starts and latest was at this track three weeks ago; others are more persuasive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

(6)

28th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 2

14:42 Kempton (AW)

Whitcombe Rockstar

9st 0lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Keiran Burke

Most of his wins have been at 1m but he swooped late on to score over 1m3f in January and led 1f out when asserting in tidy style over 1m4f early this month, both at this track; back up another 5lb and he's a 7yo, but peak form (October 2024) was a little better still and he's now 7-12 at Kempton; on the shortlist.

15/2

1st

5

(5)

2nd Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 3

16:37 Kempton (AW)

Whitcombe Rockstar

9st 5lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Keiran Burke

Most of his wins have been at 1m but he made it 6-11 at Kempton when swooping late for a last-gasp win over 1m3f in January; up 2lb but he remains well handicapped on his best form and is strongly respected back up in trip.

4/1

1st

9

(7)

28th Jan 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 2

20:30 Kempton (AW)

Whitcombe Rockstar

8st 11lb

J: Tyler Heard

T: Keiran Burke

Somewhat interesting off an attractive mark back at Kempton, being 5-10 here, but all of that course form is over 1m; has a mixed record beyond that distance so carries risk back up in trip; however, certainly holds a fighting chance provided he's in top form.

9/1

20/1

Form: 90610-

Last run: 41 days

W: 9st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Recorded his 11th AW win when scoring at Newcastle (1m) in October but that was a narrow success in a seller and he struggled on stable debut over C&D (33-1) last month; headgear now returns but he was up and down last year and others are more convincing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

13

(1)

20th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Cephalus

9st 2lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Chelsea Banham

11-time AW winner but he's been out of sorts for new yard since December and was last of eight over C&D last time; mark is tumbling but he has lots to prove and needs a major revival.

66/1

8th

6

(8)

4th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:20 Kempton (AW)

Cephalus

9st 4lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Chelsea Banham

All 11 wins on the AW, including one over C&D, though his latest success for the Moores was in a Newcastle seller (1m, Tapeta) in October; out of the frame in all four starts for this yard since then and may be best watched despite his declining mark.

12/1

10th

4

(9)

31st Mar 2026

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 5

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Cephalus

9st 7lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Chelsea Banham

Prolific winner down the years; not fired in three runs for Chelsea Banham this winter; betting likely to guide if a revival is on the cards.

40/1

14/1

Form: /1467-

Last run: 132 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Promising reappearance when winning a Windsor maiden (1m, good to firm) in April but he's not made an impact in three handicaps since; still lightly raced but he needs improvement back on AW after another break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(7)

30th Apr 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

19:15 Kempton (AW)

Sea Founder

9st 9lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Richard Hughes

Versatile and in-form 4yo; opened his AW account in Lingfield contest (1m2f) in February; sound efforts at Kempton (1m) and Lingfield (1m4f; Good Friday card) since, finishing fourth both times; solid claims back down in distance.

4/1

4th

4

(5)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Lingfield (AW)

Sea Founder

9st 7lb

J: Donagh Murphy

T: Richard Hughes

Ran with credit when fourth of 13 at Kempton (1m, Polytrack) 16 days ago having won over 1m2f here the time before, but his only previous go over this far didn't prove his stamina one way or the other.

9/1

4th

2

(7)

18th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

19:00 Kempton (AW)

Sea Founder

9st 9lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Richard Hughes

Won a 1m Windsor maiden last April; big step up to 1m4f didn't work at Wolverhampton in January but he got the better of King's Hand, who runs in the finale, over the intermediate trip of 1m2f at Lingfield last time; up 3lb.

9/2

9/1

Form: 0441-8 CD BF

Last run: 10 days

W: 8st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Eight-time winner with first four on turf and last four on Tapeta; his last success was by 3l here (9.4f) last month but he flopped when favourite over C&D ten days ago; a switch to more prominent tactics may have backfired in that race but he needs to bounce back after that disappointing effort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

5

(7)

2nd Feb 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 5

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

First Greyed

9st 6lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: Thomas Faulkner

Eight-time winner with first four on turf and latest four on Tapeta; his last success was by 3l here (9.4f) in December but he's been disappointing in both subsequent runs and needs to bounce back near his best.

14/1

8th

10

(4)

16th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 4

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

First Greyed

8st 9lb

J: Zoe Lewis

T: Thomas Faulkner

Eight-time winner with first four on turf and last four on Tapeta; his last success was by 3l here (9.4f) last month but he flopped when favourite over C&D ten days ago; a switch to more prominent tactics may have backfired in that race but he needs to bounce back after that disappointing effort.

9/1

2

(8)

28th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

13:55 Ffos Las

First Greyed

11st 9lb

J: Mr Sam Burton

T: Thomas Faulkner

In excellent form in refitted visor on Tapata when last seen in spring, winning three in a row (1m-8.6f); has fitness and stamina to prove today but the return to turf on the slow side of good won't be a problem.

11/2

12/1

Form: 58916- CD

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Took advantage of a reduced mark when scoring over C&D (first-time visor) last month but he failed to back that up on his return visit 12 days later; remains well handicapped on old form but he's not easy to predict and others are more solid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(2)

27th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 96y

Class 5

15:15 Beverley

Rajapour

9st 7lb

J: Mark Winn

T: David O’Meara

AW race in December when visored first time is his only win for this yard from 21 attempts; last three starts (switched to cheekpieces; also tongue tied latest) reiterated, however, that he's still likely to be competitive if he takes to this track.

9/2

3rd

6

(11)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 218y

Class 5

16:12 Thirsk

Rajapour

9st 7lb

J: Mark Winn

T: David O’Meara

Has had some mixed results in 2026 but he had his path blocked when only just failing against Hale End at Wetherby (1m, good to firm) in April; travelled within himself but took an age to pick up when a never-nearer fourth at Ayr since and now has a tongue-tie added; capable of going well.

6/1

4th

2

(5)

5th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:00 Ayr

Rajapour

9st 8lb

J: Mark Winn

T: David O’Meara

Only 1-19 in Britain but he proved resurgent and looked unlucky in new headgear at Wetherby (1m, good to firm) nine days ago, going very close despite meeting traffic issues; respected off same mark in retained cheekpieces.

5/2

Non-runners

Mr Baloo

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £287.80
Straight Forecast £309.38
Tricast £2512.16
Trifecta £1461.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Advancing

RP RATINGS:

Whitcombe Rockstar

Telegraph:

Sea Founder

POSTDATA:

Hitched

TOPSPEED:

First Greyed

NEWMARKET:

Advancing

The Times:

Advancing

The Guardian:

Advancing

Daily Mail:

Advancing

Daily Mirror:

Advancing

The Sun:

Advancing

The Star:

Advancing

Daily Record:

Advancing

D Express:

Whitcombe Rockstar