April 06 / 17.50 Kempton (AW)

17.50

Standard To Slow

Virgin Bet Handicap (London Stayers’ Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £4187.2
  • 1m 7f 218y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
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Virgin Bet Handicap (London Stayers’ Series Qualifier)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Polytrack

Weather: Partly cloudy

50/1 (Won)

  • Win: £56.30
  • Place: £6.60

Form: 2057-8

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Twice placed in France but hasn't offered a lot for this yard, suffering with his breathing when tailed off on turf last autumn; hard to recommend.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(5)

26th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

20:10 Newmarket (July)

Now The Eagle

9st 9lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Luke Dace

Ex-French 4yo who is 1-7 for current connections, easily best of those outings all from off the pace over 2m on Kempton AW; five-day break was blamed when he tailed off on turf (2m, good to firm) on latest outing, but that still leaves him with something to prove.

6/1

7th

8

(1)

1st Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:35 Newbury

Now The Eagle

8st 12lb

J: Jack Dace

T: Luke Dace

Ex-French; no questioning his stamina with the form of his last three starts at Kempton (2m, AW) reading 122; has something to prove under these conditions, though.

7/1

2nd

11

(10)

27th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 4

21:00 Kempton (AW)

Now The Eagle

8st 12lb

J: Jack Dace

T: Luke Dace

Won in April and creditable second early this month, both over C&D under Jack Dace; Gooloogong had his measure in no uncertain style in the latter race, however, and this ex-French 4yo needs to improve on those recent runs.

10/1

3/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 47-131

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Best efforts, including two wins this year, have all come for Kyle McHugh; maybe unwise to take his latest Chelmsford victory at face value and he'll need more again if he's to overcome a 7lb rise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

(6)

12th May 2026

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 5

17:15 Lingfield (AW)

Mio Amico

9st 8lb

J: Kyle McHugh

T: Michael Keady

Got off the mark here (1m4f) in January and added a Chelmsford handicap victory (1m6f) in March; below-par fifth off 7lb higher mark at Southwell (1m6f) last time though so more is needed here.

6/1

5th

1

(1)

15th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 5

18:30 Southwell (AW)

Mio Amico

9st 9lb

J: Kyle McHugh

T: Michael Keady

Successful under Kyle McHugh at Lingfield (1m4f, AW) in January and Chelmsford (1m6f, AW) last month; ran another good race when second of nine off this mark at Kempton (2m, AW) nine days ago and has solid claims returned to this trip.

3/1

2nd

5

(3)

6th Apr 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 5

17:50 Kempton (AW)

Mio Amico

9st 11lb

J: Kyle McHugh

T: Michael Keady

Best efforts, including two wins this year, have all come for Kyle McHugh; maybe unwise to take his latest Chelmsford victory at face value and he'll need more again if he's to overcome a 7lb rise.

3/1

5/2

  • Place: £1.50

Form: -30851 CD

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Not as good now but the handicapper's been quick to ease off and he showed the right attitude to end a losing run over C&D 12 days ago; a 2lb rise seems fair and that won't have hurt his confidence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(4)

10th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 5

17:08 Kempton (AW)

Fleurman

9st 10lb

J: Donagh Murphy

T: Patrick Morris

Multiple winner, mostly at about 2m and is 1lb higher than when scoring over C&D in March; matched that effort back here next time, before a below-par effort on soft at Haydock latest; will be a player if bouncing back.

15/2

5th

3

(2)

21st May 2026

Soft

2m 0f 45y

Class 5

14:00 Haydock

Fleurman

9st 8lb

J: Harry Burns

T: Patrick Morris

Won at Kempton (2m, AW) in March and solid third there (2m, AW) last month; rarely seen on turf nowadays but he was effective on grass early in his career (particularly on slow ground); visor replaces cheekpieces; respected.

7/2

3rd

2

(6)

6th Apr 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 5

17:50 Kempton (AW)

Fleurman

9st 13lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Patrick Morris

Not as good now but the handicapper's been quick to ease off and he showed the right attitude to end a losing run over C&D 12 days ago; a 2lb rise seems fair and that won't have hurt his confidence.

5/2

4/1

Form: -34754 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Veteran who hasn't won since 2023; expensive to follow in recent times but he arrives in form and this is a touch easier again off a career-low mark; can't be left out of calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

10th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

19:51 Worcester

Bashful Boy

11st 8lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Without a win since 2023 and was out of form when last seen over hurdles in the autumn; this year's Flat form has been fairly respectable but he's on the downgrade and makes only limited appeal back in this sphere.

14/1

4th

4

(6)

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 1f 24y

Class 5

16:15 Bath

Bashful Boy

9st 2lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: David Pipe

Veteran who hasn't won since 2023 but he's been in fair form on AW this spring including when fourth on Polytrack (2m) in his last two starts; should be in the mix again but he needs to find more to make a big impact; cheekpieces are removed and blinkers return.

9/2

4th

4

(1)

6th Apr 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 5

17:50 Kempton (AW)

Bashful Boy

9st 12lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: David Pipe

Veteran who hasn't won since 2023; expensive to follow in recent times but he arrives in form and this is a touch easier again off a career-low mark; can't be left out of calculations.

4/1

5/1

Form: 34471- D

Last run: 139 days

W: 9st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Won first time out on Polytrack two years ago and made it 2-3 on the AW when closing out last season with a Newcastle victory off 4lb lower; perhaps a bit surprising to see no blinkers tonight but he's one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(4)

17th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 1f 208y

Class 5

15:27 Nottingham

Merrijig

9st 7lb

J: Jason Watson

T: John Berry

Adaptable regarding ground and tactics; this looks less competitive than the Ffos Las 0-65 in which he finished second last time (hampered; two of these behind) and his claims are obvious.

7/4

2nd

2

(2)

30th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 0y

Class 6

20:39 Ffos Las

Merrijig

9st 8lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: John Berry

Done a lot of his winning later in the year but offered more in the returning blinkers last time, back from a couple of months off; boasts a decent record when dipping below 0-70 company and won't mind any rain.

5/1

3rd

1

(1)

8th Jun 2026

Good

2m 1f 27y

Class 6

20:00 Pontefract

Merrijig

9st 9lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: John Berry

Was 2-3 on the AW until disappointing at Kempton two months ago but he had been running well in the blinkers (reapplied) and he's a three-time turf winner on a competitive mark.

8/1

Form: 51664- D

Last run: 119 days

W: 9st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Well held in two runs for his new yard, one over hurdles, one on Polytrack, late last year; five Irish wins all came after a recent outing and he looks high enough in the weights presently (inexperienced 7lb claimer James Glennon up tonight).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

25th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 4f 145y

Class 5

15:10 Huntingdon

The Truant

12st 0lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: Michael Attwater

3-36 on the Flat and 2-30 over hurdles after signing off for Paul Flynn with a Punchestown win last October (2m, good to yielding); has been running okay on the AW for this yard; not discounted.

14/1

4th

6

(5)

12th May 2026

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 5

17:15 Lingfield (AW)

The Truant

9st 4lb

J: James Glennon

T: Michael Attwater

Won over 2m at Tramore last August for Paul Flynn; yet to reach that form for his new stable, just fourth of five in 1m6f handicap at Southwell 19 days ago; more is required despite an easing mark.

14/1

4th

4

(5)

23rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 5

18:00 Southwell (AW)

The Truant

9st 5lb

J: Kieren Fox

T: Michael Attwater

Five-time winner in Ireland (hurdles/Flat) but he was well held in two starts for this yard at the end of last year; however, he seemed to be going quite well at the top of the straight before weakening into seventh at Kempton (2m, AW) 17 days ago and may take a step forward from that return to action.

16/1

OUR TIP

Form: 81120- D

Last run: 124 days

W: 10st 0lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Dual Lingfield winner who's always had two ways of running; done all his winning after a recent start, which is a concern back from four months off, and he's on a career-high mark after a couple of turf victories last autumn.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

(5)

14th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 5y

Class 4

17:32 Salisbury

Fair Dinkum

9st 0lb

J: Taryn Langley

T: Jeremy Scott

Perhaps better over further and when going close over C&D a month ago he was edged out by a 66-1 chance who wasn't in much form before that race and has disappointed since; may need a tad more here, though Taryn Langley takes off a handy 5lb.

4/1

2nd

2

(3)

14th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 5y

Class 5

17:03 Salisbury

Fair Dinkum

9st 8lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Jeremy Scott

His two wins last year include one here over 1m6f in October and he was runner-up off 2lb higher than today's mark at Kempton (2m, AW) next time; respectable fifth at Goodwood 13 days ago but he isn't certain to be suited by this drop back in trip.

4/1

5th

10

(6)

1st May 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:35 Goodwood

Fair Dinkum

8st 12lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Jeremy Scott

Four wins divided between turf and the AW; capable on his day and this trip on this ground is fine, but he's always had two ways of running; well below his best on last two outings.

10/1

Form: 569-95 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 8st 12lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 54

Form & Verdict
Went close over C&D off a much higher mark last spring, but it's been a struggle since and the years look to be catching up; the return here is the main positive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

(11)

18th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 68y

Class 6

14:50 Lingfield

Capone

8st 11lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Dominic Ffrench Davis

Veteran who's been sharply on the downgrade in recent times, coming 22lb down the weights in the past year; a long time since he wore headgear, which is likely fitted more in hope than expectation.

20/1

6th

8

(4)

4th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 5

18:00 Kempton (AW)

Capone

8st 7lb

J: Laura Coughlan

T: Dominic Ffrench Davis

Veteran who is 1-29 on the Flat and has completely lost his way, including when last of nine (behind two of these) over C&D four weeks ago; opposable from 1lb wrong.

33/1

Form: /7077/

Last run: 1024 days

W: 9st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £310.50
Straight Forecast £230.46
Tricast £870.61
Trifecta £1468.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Fleurman

NEWMARKET:

Mio Amico

D Express:

Port Of Entry

RP RATINGS:

Bashful Boy

The Times:

Mio Amico

Telegraph:

Mio Amico

The Guardian:

Mio Amico

The Star:

Mio Amico

POSTDATA:

Fleurman

Daily Mail:

Fleurman

Daily Mirror:

Fleurman

The Sun:

Fleurman

Daily Record:

Fleurman