May 02 / 16.45 Newmarket

16.45

Good

Boodles Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

  • Prize money: £25770
  • 1m 4f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 9 runners
RTV
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Boodles Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.20
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 84353-

Last run: 204 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Sole win in eight runs was a Chester maiden; best efforts, however, when third in both the 1m6f Melrose at York (good to firm; led over 2f out) and another valuable handicap over C&D (good; finishing strongly) in October; gelded soon afterwards; interesting prospect as 4yo.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(12)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 34y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

Daiquiri Bay

9st 12lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Alan King

After just the solitary run as 2yo he made steady progress last season and delivered a clear personal best when reeling in the front-running Gamrai in a 1m4f Newmarket handicap at the Guineas meeting (good to firm; first run since gelded) on reappearance; up just 4lb and this return to a longer trip won't bother him; hard to knock.

6/1

1st

6

(8)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 2

16:45 Newmarket

Daiquiri Bay

9st 3lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Alan King

Sole win in eight runs was a Chester maiden; best efforts, however, when third in both the 1m6f Melrose at York (good to firm; led over 2f out) and another valuable handicap over C&D (good; finishing strongly) in October; gelded soon afterwards; interesting prospect as 4yo.

5/1

3rd

1

(5)

10th Oct 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:30 Newmarket

Daiquiri Bay

9st 9lb

J: James Doyle

T: Alan King

Sole win in seven runs was a Chester maiden; good third in the 1m6f Melrose at York (good to firm) on penultimate start, having led over 2f out; failed to back that up at Ascot two weeks later, when soft ground rather than the 1m4f could have been the issue; one to consider.

8/1

15/8

  • Place: £1.30

Form: /124-1

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Won a maiden at Windsor (1m2f, good to firm) on reappearance last term, before failing to go on in his next two starts; however, he was gelded later in the autumn and led 2f out for an impressive 3l win when back in action five weeks ago in useful handicap at Kempton (1m3f, AW); 9lb higher today but likely to stay 1m4f and, after just five races, could still have potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

(2)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 34y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

Gamrai

9st 11lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

Late developer who ran once as a 2yo; the waves made last season have gathered scale in handicaps this year, as he backed up his comfortable AW win (1m3f) with a length defeat by Daiquiri Bay at Newmarket (1m4f, good to firm; led for the most part); he clearly needs to find more again (off 2lb higher) to gain his revenge on the winner but these Gosden runners have a tendency to get better and better; the stable has won this twice since 2021.

11/2

2nd

5

(3)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 2

16:45 Newmarket

Gamrai

9st 4lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

Won a maiden at Windsor (1m2f, good to firm) on reappearance last term, before failing to go on in his next two starts; however, he was gelded later in the autumn and led 2f out for an impressive 3l win when back in action five weeks ago in useful handicap at Kempton (1m3f, AW); 9lb higher today but likely to stay 1m4f and, after just five races, could still have potential.

15/8

1st

10

(2)

28th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 2

14:42 Kempton (AW)

Gamrai

8st 9lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: John & Thady Gosden

Won a maiden at Windsor (1m2f, good to firm) in August on reappearance last term; no further progress when favourite in his only two subsequent starts (handicap debut on latest) but gelded later in the autumn and, after just four races, he should retain potential.

8/1

9/2

  • Place: £1.55

Form: /3229- BF

Last run: 175 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
2-2 as 2yo and progressive last term in his first three handicaps, short-headed by another unexposed sort at Leicester (1m4f) on third occasion; underperformed on heavy going (he won on it as a 2yo) when joint-favourite for the November Handicap at Doncaster on final outing but that's not hard to forgive and this lightly raced 4yo, gelded since latest start, surely has more to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

10

(8)

19th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

15:40 Ascot

Hopewell Rock

9st 8lb

J: James Doyle

T: George Boughey

Lightly raced 4yo who's without a handicap win but has mostly progressed in defeat, with the exception on heavy going; came from last to third in eight-runner race at Newmarket (1m4f, good to firm) seven weeks ago for a promising reappearance and the two ahead of him filled the same positions over 1m6f here on Tuesday; changed hands since and has a major chance.

9/2

3rd

4

(7)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 2

16:45 Newmarket

Hopewell Rock

9st 8lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Boughey

2-2 as 2yo and progressive last term in his first three handicaps, short-headed by another unexposed sort at Leicester (1m4f) on third occasion; underperformed on heavy going (he won on it as a 2yo) when joint-favourite for the November Handicap at Doncaster on final outing but that's not hard to forgive and this lightly raced 4yo, gelded since latest start, surely has more to offer.

9/2

2nd

5

(4)

7th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

1m 3f 179y

Class 3

17:02 Leicester

Hopewell Rock

9st 11lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Boughey

Won both starts over 1m as a juvenile and two good runs in handicaps, especially the latest when running on well to push a relatively unexposed winner close at Doncaster (1m2f, good to soft); might have won that day had the pace been stronger and he's only 3lb higher here over a longer trip.

100/30

Form: 13824- D BF

Last run: 259 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
100-1 for the Derby at Epsom but showed improvement in making late headway from the back to finish eighth of 18 runners; similar form later last summer in Group 3s at Newmarket and Newbury; gelded in March and some improvement is needed but he is lightly raced and may be capable of it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(1)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

16:12 Ascot

Nightime Dancer

10st 2lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

Contested three Group races last summer; 1m4f handicaps (good to firm) this season, registering his highest rating when fourth of eight at Newmarket in May but backpedalling from over 3f out when just 9-1 at Royal Ascot; needs to bounce back in first-time headgear but his sights are lowered.

9/2

14th

7

(18)

19th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

15:40 Ascot

Nightime Dancer

9st 9lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

Ran creditably last summer in the Derby and two 1m5f Group 3s, while coming up well short; absent 259 days before his fourth of eight on handicap debut at Newmarket (1m4f, good to firm; Hopewell Rock third) seven weeks ago, which was actually his best form and the first two also dominated a 1m6f handicap here on Tuesday, but he needs to build on that.

14/1

4th

2

(9)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 2

16:45 Newmarket

Nightime Dancer

9st 10lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

100-1 for the Derby at Epsom but showed improvement in making late headway from the back to finish eighth of 18 runners; similar form later last summer in Group 3s at Newmarket and Newbury; gelded in March and some improvement is needed but he is lightly raced and may be capable of it.

15/2

OUR TIP

Form: -72305 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
AW Listed winner for the Gosdens in November 2024 but he hasn't been near that form since a Listed second last June; second and third places early this year came in small fields and other options look more solid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

12

(7)

19th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

15:40 Ascot

Military Academy

9st 7lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

1m4f AW Listed winner for the Gosdens but he left that yard under a cloud in the autumn; rediscovered some form at 1m2f on AW last winter but reverted to lesser efforts on his four outings this spring.

66/1

7th

3

(11)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 2

17:20 Epsom

Military Academy

9st 8lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

1m4f AW Listed winner (also acts on good to soft and softer) for the Gosdens but he left that yard under a cloud in the autumn; rediscovered some form at 1m2f on AW this winter but he's been below par on his last three starts; soft ground would enhance his cause but others are more solid.

33/1

5th

3

(4)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 2

16:45 Newmarket

Military Academy

9st 10lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

AW Listed winner for the Gosdens in November 2024 but he hasn't been near that form since a Listed second last June; second and third places early this year came in small fields and other options look more solid.

20/1

Form: 5169-5 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 0lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Seemingly ring-rusty on Group 3 return at Newbury two weeks ago, the same story as in 2025 when he followed that race with a win at this meeting in a four-runner 1m4f Group 2 with first-time cheekpieces; they were kept for two modest efforts last June but have not been called on this season; this is his first handicap and he has a big chance if springing back to his best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(5)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 2

16:45 Newmarket

Bellum Justum

10st 0lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Seemingly ring-rusty on Group 3 return at Newbury two weeks ago, the same story as in 2025 when he followed that race with a win at this meeting in a four-runner 1m4f Group 2 with first-time cheekpieces; they were kept for two modest efforts last June but have not been called on this season; this is his first handicap and he has a big chance if springing back to his best.

7/1

5th

4

(7)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:35 Newbury

Bellum Justum

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Won Group 2 at Newmarket (1m4f, good) last May in first-time cheekpieces, which were kept for two modest efforts in June but not today; first run since a gelding operation in September; ring-rusty on his 2025 reappearance in this race and the market may reveal whether the same is expected this time.

12/1

9th

3

(9)

21st Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

15:05 Ascot

Bellum Justum

9st 3lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Displayed improved form in first-time cheekpieces (retained since) when winning the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket (1m4f, good) last month; flopped in the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom subsequently but was reportedly unsuited by the good to soft ground; he could be just the type of older horse his trainer excels with and he's not ruled out.

25/1

Form: 00008- D

Last run: 141 days

W: 8st 12lb

7 yo Colt

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Scored at the Newmarket July meeting (1m6f) last year but didn't do a lot afterwards; he's back 1lb below that last winning mark, so will pop up in front again at some stage, but he was well held on last year's reappearance at this fixture.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

(2)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Newmarket (July)

Oneforthegutter

8st 11lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Ian Williams

Second in this race in 2024 and won it last year (good to firm); now he has a 4lb lower mark than last year; that's having failed to finish in the first six in any of his seven races since, but at least his latest start was better than reappearance and it's not unheard of for runners from this stable to surge back to form.

14/1

8th

4

(2)

20th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 26y

Class 2

14:53 Ayr

Oneforthegutter

9st 6lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Ian Williams

His form went the wrong way last season and he was soundly beaten on last month's return at Newmarket; however, he may have needed that run and is 2lb lower than when winning at Newmarket (1m6f, good to firm) last July; versatile ground-wise; not ruled out.

25/1

25/1

Form: 4/1440 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 8st 11lb

7 yo Colt

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Six wins from his 24 AW starts, the latest in February, but 0-9 on turf and he was last seen in this sphere in 2023; fit from AW action (well beaten in hot race last time) but other options seem more likely.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

(2)

10th Jul 2026

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 3

19:00 Chester

Nolton Cross

9st 9lb

J: David Probert

T: Hugo Palmer

6-24 on AW but 0-12 on turf; recent efforts have been underwhelming and he's probably better suited by 1m4f; not the percentage call.

20/1

5th

3

(2)

20th Jun 2026

Good

1m 2f 50y

Class 4

19:10 Nottingham

Nolton Cross

9st 10lb

J: Luke Catton

T: Hugo Palmer

Six-time AW winner but he's 0-11 on turf and has struggled at Newmarket (1m4f, good to firm) and Hamilton (1m5f, good) in last two runs; now drops back into a Class 4 event but he has plenty to prove back at this trip.

16/1

9th

4

(4)

17th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 3

16:45 Hamilton

Nolton Cross

9st 8lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Hugo Palmer

Six wins (latest in February) from 24 AW starts but 0-10 on turf; Newmarket 15 days ago saw first turf race since 2023 and he came last of eight.

25/1

Form: 443113 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 8st 11lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Consistent 4yo who twice made all over 1m4f on Wolverhampton AW once the visor was enlisted; respectable third of five on turf debut at Thirsk (1m4f, good; hung left) three weeks ago but this race should be a lot harder.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(8)

27th Jun 2026

Good

1m 3f 99y

Class 3

19:45 Windsor

Pride Of Donegal

9st 4lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Charlie Johnston

A two-time 1m4f scorer at Wolverhampton in the spring; rare poor effort when last of eight in 1m4f Newmarket handicap last time; the sort to bounce back.

10/1

8th

2

(7)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 3

14:32 Newmarket

Pride Of Donegal

9st 9lb

J: Neil Callan

T: Charlie Johnston

Steady improver on AW who won his third race in that sphere when making all at Wolverhampton in April; bit below that under a penalty when third on his turf debut at Thirsk (also 1m4f, good) but that came just six days later; five-week break should have recharged his batteries and pedigree points to grass being no problem.

4/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.90
Straight Forecast £10.00
Tricast £27.42
Trifecta £35.30

Selections

POSTDATA:

Gamrai

RP RATINGS:

Daiquiri Bay

SPOTLIGHT:

Hopewell Rock

LAMBOURN:

Bellum Justum

TOPSPEED:

Oneforthegutter

NEWMARKET:

Gamrai

The Guardian:

Gamrai

Daily Mail:

Gamrai

The Sun:

Gamrai

The Star:

Gamrai

Daily Record:

Gamrai

Telegraph:

Daiquiri Bay

D Express:

Daiquiri Bay

Daily Mirror:

Daiquiri Bay

The Times:

Hopewell Rock