Today / 20.51 Brighton

20.51

Good To Soft

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  • Prize money: £4396.56
  • 0m 5f 60y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 51-122 D

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Has done well since joining Adam Kirby and his record over 5f reads 11122, but he finished out of the frame in his only start on turf which does pose a question.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

29th May 2026

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 5

20:25 Wolverhampton (AW)

Ancient State

9st 4lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Adam Kirby

Looked ahead of his mark in first three 5f wins on the AW, most recently at Southwell in March; missed a beat at the start and only just failed to reel in the more prominently ridden Spendmore Lane at Lingfield since; raised a further 3lb but still has potential.

5/2

2nd

4

(5)

28th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 5f 6y

Class 5

16:43 Lingfield (AW)

Ancient State

9st 6lb

J: William Carson

T: Adam Kirby

3-3 over 5f, including here, and he took his form to a new level with a comfortable Southwell success last month; up 6lb and now tackles Class 5 company but his ceiling is yet to be established.

7/4

Form: 313732 CD

Last run: 8 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Handy sort whose record here reads 131; has run well in both starts under Chloe Lyons since returning to turf last month, going down by just a neck at Newbury (5f, good to firm) eight days ago; respected off the same mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

(1)

1st Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 34y

Class 5

16:00 Newbury

Merrimack

9st 8lb

J: Chloe Lyons

T: Stuart Williams

Better strike-rate on turf than AW; solid third at Windsor three weeks ago (for Chloe Lyons) and has a chance if in the same form; finished behind a couple of today's rivals in a C&D handicap last summer.

7/1

3rd

2

(6)

11th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 21y

Class 5

19:17 Windsor

Merrimack

9st 9lb

J: Chloe Lyons

T: Stuart Williams

C&D winner last summer; off the mark for 2026 when making all at Chelmsford in January (5f); two defeats since have come over 6f; better expected back at 5f.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 146146 D

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who is 11-61 on the AW, but 0-6 on turf; has a bit to prove and will probably need the ground to dry out in any case.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

29th May 2026

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 5

20:25 Wolverhampton (AW)

Micks Spirit

9st 3lb

J: Jack Gilligan

T: Conrad Allen

Cracking 8yo who has won two Polytrack races in every season for the last five years; however, he finished behind Spendmore Lane and Ancient State at Lingfield recently and the return to Tapeta looks a negative.

20/1

4th

1

(2)

28th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 5f 6y

Class 5

16:43 Lingfield (AW)

Micks Spirit

9st 9lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Conrad Allen

Prolific C&D winner, most recently when making all 54 days ago; a 3lb rise won't stop him if in the same form and he may not have to work too hard to lead; major player.

5/2

Form: 6-0016

Last run: 38 days

W: 9st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 61

Form & Verdict
Sole success in 12 starts came on the AW but he has run well on various surfaces on turf; has proved inconsistent since returning in February, though, and he can miss the break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

(8)

2nd May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

15:20 Goodwood

Rory Rocket

8st 10lb

J: Sam Hitchcott

T: Gary & Josh Moore

4yo who made the breakthrough when scoring off a reduced mark at Kempton (6f, Polytrack; 18-1) in March; has claims if he can back that up but he can miss the break and will need a good pace on this drop back to 5f.

5/1

1st

1

(9)

25th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

17:00 Kempton (AW)

Rory Rocket

9st 9lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Well handicapped on his second at Goodwood (6f, good) last August but he's lost his way in last four runs and was beaten 14l over C&D three weeks ago; record is now 0-10 and he has a lot to prove from tough draw.

20/1

Form: 3732-6 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 8st 13lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 60

Form & Verdict
Now at the veteran stage; may have needed last month's Lingfield reappearance and is back off the same mark as when beaten a head over C&D last September; can make the running; stable also runs Kento.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

(2)

18th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

16:22 Lingfield

Recon Mission

8st 10lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Tony Carroll

Has run well fresh in the past but is knocking on and may need this after eight months off; doesn't often go beyond 5f these days and is drawn low, so has a bit to overcome.

12/1

2nd

1

(6)

29th Sep 2025

Good

0m 5f 60y

Class 6

14:10 Brighton

Recon Mission

9st 9lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Tony Carroll

Dangerous when he can get to the front early as was the case when a close third last week at Lingfield (AW); worrying that he's been well held in three previous runs here.

7/2

Form: 131351 CD

Last run: 11 days

W: 8st 9lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 56

Form & Verdict
Effective from the front as he showed when making all and winning by a nose over C&D (good to firm) 11 days ago; 4lb rise begs a question, though, and he is unraced on ground softer than good.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(10)

29th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 60y

Class 6

17:30 Brighton

Kento

9st 9lb

J: David Egan

T: Tony Carroll

All three wins at Wolverhampton (5f, AW) including two this year; 0-9 on turf, though, and an easy lead seems unlikely, especially from a wide draw; stable also runs Wedgewood.

11/4

5th

4

(4)

5th May 2026

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 6

20:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Kento

9st 7lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Tony Carroll

In fine form on AW this year, winning twice over C&D and placed in his other four starts; record when ridden by Rossa Ryan is 333113; leading contender.

11/4

Form: 083003 CD

Last run: 11 days

W: 8st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
A bit in and out lately, but having dropped 5lb below his last winning mark he finished a close third of 13 here (6f, good to firm) 11 days ago; return to this trip will be no problem given his record over C&D reads 3121351123; high on list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(1)

29th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 215y

Class 6

16:58 Brighton

Secret Handsheikh

9st 9lb

J: Luke Morris

T: John Gallagher

The latest of his 11 wins was last August off 5lb higher; no win over this far since 2021 but he goes well at this track and, despite recent form, can't be comfortably ruled out.

10/1

10th

3

(13)

22nd May 2026

Good

0m 5f 160y

Class 6

17:03 Bath

Secret Handsheikh

9st 9lb

J: Luke Morris

T: John Gallagher

Recorded his 11th win when scoring over C&D (firm) last August; well handicapped on that form but he's been up and down this year and was out the back at Windsor two weeks ago; comes with risks attached and he needs to bounce back again.

16/1

Form: 13-360 C

Last run: 17 days

W: 8st 8lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
Dual course winner over 6f but he won over 5f on the Lingfield AW in November; becoming better handicapped but others are more appealing on recent efforts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

13

(7)

23rd May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 12y

Class 6

16:57 Windsor

Roman Spring

9st 1lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Rachel Cook & John Bridger

Up in the weights following three wins in the second half of last year; not at his best in a couple of starts back off 3lb higher and might need more help yet from the handicapper.

25/1

6th

8

(3)

11th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 21y

Class 5

19:17 Windsor

Roman Spring

8st 13lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Rachel Cook & John Bridger

Three wins (6f, good to firm (twice) and 5f, AW) last year; didn't run badly on last week's return to action at Salisbury but he will need a step forward to take this.

8/1

Betting Forcast

2/1 Ancient State, 5/2 Merrimack, 20/1 Micks Spirit, 7/1 Rory Rocket, 12/1 Recon Mission, 4/1 Kento, 13/2 Secret Handsheikh, 16/1 Roman Spring

Verdict

Merrimack (second choice) has a good record around here (131) and is off the same mark as when beaten a neck at Newbury last time, while the veteran Recon Mission is also on a feasible mark if last month’s reappearance has brought him on. The selection, however, is SECRET HANDSHEIKH (nap) whose record over C&D reads 3121351123 and who has dropped 5lb lower than when last successful.[David Bellingham]

Selections

NEWMARKET:

Ancient State

SPOTLIGHT:

Secret Handsheikh

Daily Mirror:

Merrimack

The Guardian:

Recon Mission

TOPSPEED:

Rory Rocket

Telegraph:

Kento

The Times:

Ancient State

Daily Mail:

Ancient State

The Sun:

Ancient State

The Star:

Ancient State

Daily Record:

Merrimack

RP RATINGS:

Secret Handsheikh

POSTDATA:

Secret Handsheikh

D Express:

Recon Mission