April 15 / 17.17 Newmarket

17.17

Good

Betway Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

  • Prize money: £12885
  • 1m 2f 0y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
Betway Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £17.00
  • Place: £3.50

Form: 8431-

Last run: 130 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Some improvement in maidens in the mud for Aidan O'Brien in the autumn; 30,000gns purchase and first-time cheekpieces (replacing blinkers) when getting off the mark at first time of asking for new yard in seven-runner novice at Wolverhampton (9.4f, AW) in December, making all; needs a chunk of improvement on this handicap debut but the trip should not be a problem.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

(1)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 2

13:50 Newmarket (July)

Archers Bay

9st 2lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Marco Botti

Improved form over 1m2f at the other Newmarket track on his first two starts this season, winning a handicap (on good) and third of five in a Listed race (good to firm); the Derby Italiano on heavy ground last time did not work out but he returns to a handicap on what looks a pretty good mark.

8/1

3rd

2

(5)

1st May 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

14:20 Newmarket

Archers Bay

9st 2lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Marco Botti

Ex-Ballydoyle colt who got off the mark in first-time cheekpieces (retained since) on his stable debut in a Wolverhampton novice (9.4f, AW) in December and followed up over this C&D (good) 16 days ago on his first handicap start; could continue to progress but does need another step forward today.

12/1

1st

4

(8)

15th Apr 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

17:17 Newmarket

Archers Bay

9st 7lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Marco Botti

Some improvement in maidens in the mud for Aidan O'Brien in the autumn; 30,000gns purchase and first-time cheekpieces (replacing blinkers) when getting off the mark at first time of asking for new yard in seven-runner novice at Wolverhampton (9.4f, AW) in December, making all; needs a chunk of improvement on this handicap debut but the trip should not be a problem.

12/1

7/2

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 376-22 BF

Last run: 23 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Showed promise in three turf runs for Ralph Beckett last summer; turned over at 4-6 this year at Wolverhampton (AW) in a 7f maiden and 8.6f handicap, which were his best form and he's shaping as if worth a go at 1m2f but he needs to find extra.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

(1)

8th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 23y

Class 3

15:45 Yarmouth

Waterford Castle

9st 6lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Boughey

Inclined to pull hard and cracked late on over 1m4f at Royal Ascot, having bumped into a few progressive winners previously; sets the standard back into maiden company but can hang right and has had eight cracks at it now.

9/4

7th

14

(12)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

15:05 Ascot

Waterford Castle

8st 9lb

J: Zac Lloyd

T: George Boughey

Maiden after seven races, runner-up in all four since joining George Boughey; three of those were handicaps (8.6f/1m2f) so he should be far more exposed than most of today's rivals, but he has been improving (wore cheekpieces last time) and 1m4f now looks worth a go.

20/1

2nd

1

(4)

9th May 2026

Good

1m 1f 212y

Class 3

15:30 Ascot

Waterford Castle

9st 9lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Boughey

Now 0-6 but he's posted progressive RPRs when runner-up on all three starts since joining George Boughey; the form of his latest 1m2f Newmarket second has been boosted by subsequent wins for the third and fourth (the winner also a creditable third in a Listed race); if he can pull out only a little more for the addition of cheekpieces he could take a bit of stopping.

9/4

4/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 542-

Last run: 158 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Showed ability on good ground at Newmarket (1m) and Goodwood (1m1f) before his neck second of ten in a novice at Wolverhampton (8.6f, AW; made most) in November; will stay 1m2f+; cheekpieces go on and he has what looks a competitive mark for handicap/seasonal debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

9

(11)

17th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 34y

Class 1

15:05 Ascot

Ranga Tang

9st 2lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: James Owen

Fifth attempt when short-head winner at 8-13 in a maiden at Salisbury (1m4f, good to firm) in early May; may well stay and had pretty useful form twice before that latest start but nothing to suggest a prominent finish in this company; his owners (who also run Magnetude) had a big-priced outsider in the last two runnings of this race and they finished seventh and sixth.

66/1

1st

3

(8)

3rd May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 5y

Class 3

16:20 Salisbury

Ranga Tang

9st 7lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: James Owen

The most exposed runner in the line-up, having run four times, but ran game race from the front when close third in Class 3 Newmarket handicap (1m2f, good; first-time cheekpieces) on last month's seasonal debut, and sets a useful standard back in a maiden; moves up in trip; headgear removed.

Evs

3rd

7

(7)

15th Apr 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

17:17 Newmarket

Ranga Tang

8st 13lb

J: Luke Morris

T: James Owen

Showed ability on good ground at Newmarket (1m) and Goodwood (1m1f) before his neck second of ten in a novice at Wolverhampton (8.6f, AW; made most) in November; will stay 1m2f+; cheekpieces go on and he has what looks a competitive mark for handicap/seasonal debut.

4/1

OUR TIP

5/1

Form: 52617-

Last run: 193 days

W: 9st 11lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Close second in a Goodwood maiden (7f, good to soft) and dominant novice win at Salisbury (1m, heavy) were easily best of his five efforts as 2yo; two of the others were in France; needs to resume progress but will stay 1m2f and is one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(3)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 2

13:50 Newmarket (July)

Evanesco

9st 9lb

J: David Egan

T: Charlie Johnston

Improved form in 1m2f handicaps at the other Newmarket course on his first two starts this term, bossing a five-runner race (good to firm) impressively on second occasion; doing the same off this 8lb higher mark in 16-runner race at Royal Ascot (1m2f, good to firm; 12-1) wasn't possible but he led entering straight until over 1f out and wasn't at all discredited in seventh (Princling fifth); could get run of the race this time and is one to consider.

7/1

7th

3

(16)

20th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 2

17:35 Ascot

Evanesco

9st 6lb

J: David Egan

T: Charlie Johnston

Mixed bag as 2yo but improved form in two 1m2f Newmarket handicaps this term; had it all his own way up front in five-runner race last time (good to firm) but stretched clear impressively from over 1f out; 8lb higher in a much more competitive affair today, but runner-up Sahara King went close in the always-strong London Gold Cup next time; considered.

10/1

1st

3

(3)

3rd May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

17:20 Newmarket

Evanesco

9st 6lb

J: David Egan

T: Charlie Johnston

Pretty useful in two of his five efforts as 2yo; second favourite for handicap/seasonal debut over C&D (good) 18 days ago but weakened in the final 1f into fourth of eight; that was creditable but he needs to build on it.

11/2

7/2

Form: 34-21 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Markedly better this season when second at Southwell (1m3f, AW) and winning from the front in a maiden at Doncaster (1m2f, good to soft); has a competitive mark for this handicap debut and he'll be staying on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

29th May 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 3

21:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

High Storm

9st 8lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Disappointed as favourite in a 1m2f handicap at Newmarket last month but his earlier Doncaster win (1m2f, good to soft) was encouraging; promise on AW in February; should stay 1m4f and he is not fully exposed just yet; Karl Burke is also responsible for Galilean Quality.

5/1

5th

5

(2)

15th Apr 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

17:17 Newmarket

High Storm

9st 4lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Markedly better this season when second at Southwell (1m3f, AW) and winning from the front in a maiden at Doncaster (1m2f, good to soft); has a competitive mark for this handicap debut and he'll be staying on.

7/2

Form: 056166

Last run: 33 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Fair form on varied turf as 2yo; rather better in his seven-race campaign at Meydan in December-March, including a 1m win and he shaped as if he stayed 1m1f on latest start; needs to find extra but, unlike most of these, there are no doubts over his fitness.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

14

(16)

27th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 192y

Class 3

13:55 York

Tailgunner Joe

9st 1lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: Dylan Cunha

Has failed to convince over 1m2f since returning to home soil; gelded prior to latest start; 1m winner during his campaign at Meydan and the return to this distance looks the angle with him.

16/1

7th

3

(6)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 2f 17y

Class 2

16:40 Epsom

Tailgunner Joe

9st 4lb

J: David Egan

T: Dylan Cunha

Better in Meydan campaign in December-March, including a 1m win and he shaped as if he stayed 1m1f on final start there; needs to rebound from a poor show at Newmarket (1m2f) in April and he was gelded the next day.

33/1

6th

3

(3)

15th Apr 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

17:17 Newmarket

Tailgunner Joe

9st 8lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Dylan Cunha

Fair form on varied turf as 2yo; rather better in his seven-race campaign at Meydan in December-March, including a 1m win and he shaped as if he stayed 1m1f on latest start; needs to find extra but, unlike most of these, there are no doubts over his fitness.

8/1

Form: 9731-6

Last run: 26 days

W: 8st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Sole turf run was debut (on good; last of nine); improved on handicap debut when seeing off his five rivals at Wolverhampton (upped to 9.4f, AW) in November, but ran poorly at Lingfield (1m2f, AW; raced widest and a bit freely) on last month's reappearance; needs to resume improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(2)

13th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

20:50 Windsor

Impossible Mission

9st 6lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: John Butler

Yet to make any significant further progress since winning nursery debut at Wolverhampton (9.4f, AW) in November but recent third of five here (11.4f, good to firm) was perfectly respectable and he may benefit from this drop back in trip.

11/2

3rd

3

(5)

22nd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 99y

Class 5

19:50 Windsor

Impossible Mission

9st 6lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: John Butler

Successful handicap debut at Wolverhampton (about 1m1f, AW) last November but has had a very mixed record at this level since, albeit this lesser test than at Newbury recently should be in his favour as he is down in grade and back on his winning mark.

13/2

4th

3

(5)

11th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:15 Newbury

Impossible Mission

9st 3lb

J: David Probert

T: John Butler

Won on nursery debut at Wolverhampton (9.4f, AW) last November; flopped on his first two runs this year but back on song with 5l third of 11 at Haydock (1m2f, good to soft) three weeks ago, when shaping as though this step up in trip could be a good move; respected.

7/1

Form: 2316-

Last run: 155 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Three months off before showing substantial improvement to win 12-runner novice at Nottingham (1m, heavy) in October; creditable sixth of seven in French Listed race on final outing; better is needed on this handicap/seasonal debut but it looks like he'll surely stay.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(7)

7th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 3

16:45 Chester

Oratorical

9st 9lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: David Loughnane

Substantial improvement to win novice at Nottingham in October, followed by creditable sixth of seven in French Listed race (both 1m on heavy); however, eased right down from 4f out on handicap/seasonal debut at Newmarket (1m2f, good; 22-1) three weeks ago, after which it's hard to approach him with confidence.

20/1

8th

2

(1)

15th Apr 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

17:17 Newmarket

Oratorical

9st 9lb

J: William Buick

T: David Loughnane

Three months off before showing substantial improvement to win 12-runner novice at Nottingham (1m, heavy) in October; creditable sixth of seven in French Listed race on final outing; better is needed on this handicap/seasonal debut but it looks like he'll surely stay.

7/1

Non-runners

The Joker

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £85.90
Straight Forecast £131.91
Tricast £697.69
Trifecta £788.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

High Storm

The Times:

Ranga Tang

TOPSPEED:

The Joker

NEWMARKET:

Waterford Castle

RP RATINGS:

High Storm

POSTDATA:

High Storm

Telegraph:

High Storm

The Guardian:

High Storm

Daily Mail:

High Storm

D Express:

High Storm

Daily Mirror:

High Storm

The Sun:

High Storm

The Star:

High Storm

Daily Record:

High Storm