19.50
Good To FirmMerland Rise Handicap
- Prize money: £6019.1
- 0m 6f 3y
- Class 4
- 8 runners
Runners: 8 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly sunny
Form: 416035 D
Last run: 19 days
W: 10st 2lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 77
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 7 (10) |
20th Jun 2026 Good 0m 6f 0y Class 4 |
10st 0lb |
Three-time C&D winner; successful at Catterick (6f, good) in April but held in more competitive races since; not handicapped out of things but might prove vulnerable for win purposes. |
10/1 |
|
3rd 1 (2) |
2nd Jun 2026 Good 0m 6f 0y Class 4 |
9st 9lb |
Multiple winner down the years and gained his most recent success (narrowly, three starts ago) off current mark; subsequent dip in form is the negative. |
12/1 |
Form: 2-0051 D
Last run: 16 days
W: 10st 0lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 75
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 3 (1) |
23rd Jun 2026 Good To Firm 0m 6f 0y Class 5 |
10st 1lb |
Returned to form when keeping on for fifth at Sandown (5f, good) recently and he's on a handy mark on last year's best 6f form, including a near-miss over C&D (good to firm); firmly in calculations back up in trip. |
11/2 |
|
5th 9 (7) |
12th Jun 2026 Good To Soft 0m 5f 10y Class 4 |
9st 0lb |
Only 1-15 and seems to have some quirks; quiet on two visits to Ascot in May and probably wants further than this as well. |
25/1 |
Form: 775120 CD
Last run: 16 days
W: 9st 9lb
5 yo Filly
OR: 70
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11th 2 (13) |
23rd Jun 2026 Good To Firm 0m 6f 0y Class 5 |
10st 2lb |
Overcame trouble in running to win at Windsor (6f, good to firm) last month and another good run when second under James Glennon at Goodwood (6f, good to soft) since; solid claims. |
4/1 |
|
2nd 3 (5) |
5th Jun 2026 Good To Soft 0m 6f 0y Class 5 |
9st 11lb |
Exposed six-time winner who did well to overcome trouble in running at Windsor one month ago (6f, good to firm; 4lb lower); unraced here but she's an Epsom winner on good to soft. |
7/1 |
Form: 1-8624
Last run: 5 days
W: 9st 7lb
3 yo Colt
OR: 74
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 4 (5) |
4th Jul 2026 Good To Firm 0m 6f 18y Class 5 |
9st 9lb |
Won a Chelmsford novice (7f, AW) in the second of his two 2yo runs; made a low-key start in handicaps this spring but he resumed his progress back at 6f when going close at Windsor (good to soft) last month; nudged up 2lb but he's a big player if he can build on that last run. |
9/4 |
|
2nd 11 (5) |
8th Jun 2026 Good To Soft 0m 6f 12y Class 5 |
9st 5lb |
Some promise on 6f debut at Ascot (soft) and didn't need to come on a ton to win a 7f Chelmsford AW novice next time; has not looked ahead of his mark in two AW handicaps this year but perhaps he'll do better back at 6f on soft turf. |
10/1 |
Form: 597731 D
Last run: 23 days
W: 9st 5lb
3 yo Colt
OR: 72
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 10 (1) |
16th Jun 2026 Standard 0m 6f 20y Class 5 |
9st 5lb |
Only finished placed once from nine runs in handicaps (over C&D in the winter) and is fully exposed; hasn't always looked straightforward, hanging right more than once, and remains vulnerable to improvers. |
8/1 |
|
3rd 3 (5) |
29th May 2026 Good To Firm 0m 5f 215y Class 5 |
9st 8lb |
Made all to win Lingfield maiden (7f, AW) in February but his subsequent handicap form doesn't bare similar inspection, including when beating one home at Newmarket (6f, good) a fortnight ago; falling mark the straw to clutch at. |
10/1 |
Form: 0600-0 CD
Last run: 20 days
W: 9st 4lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 65
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
13th 8 (16) |
19th Jun 2026 Good 0m 6f 0y Class 5 |
9st 7lb |
In fine form in the first half of 2025 but he ended that campaign with a couple of low-key efforts; can go well fresh and he returns off a dangerous mark so he is worth a market check. |
25/1 |
Form: 06-764 D
Last run: 35 days
W: 9st 1lb
5 yo Colt
OR: 62
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
12 (12) |
2nd Jul 2026 Standard To Slow 0m 6f 0y Class 5 |
9st 1lb |
All three wins came on turf when trained by Hugo Palmer, the most recent at Chester in September; 0-12 on the AW but he did post a solid effort when a 1l fourth of seven at Lingfield (5f, AW) 28 days ago; steps back up in trip. |
12/1 |
|
4th 3 (1) |
4th Jun 2026 Standard 0m 5f 6y Class 6 |
9st 7lb |
Both handicap wins on turf at Chester (5f and 6f); no great shakes on this track for new yard since November but he's dropped 9lb in that time and there was the glimmer of a revival here last time when back from a break; not ruled out. |
12/1 |
Form: 691420 D
Last run: 10 days
W: 8st 11lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 57
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
13th 5 (5) |
29th Jun 2026 Good To Firm 0m 5f 21y Class 6 |
9st 7lb |
Nothing like the force of old but he won at Lingfield in May and has been bang there at Newbury and Brighton (beaten a nose) on both starts since, all over about 5f on good to firm; should go well again. |
5/1 |
|
2nd 4 (3) |
22nd Jun 2026 Good 0m 5f 60y Class 6 |
9st 6lb |
Useful 3yo who's come back to form since dropped to 5f on turf, minus the blinkers, following up his Lingfield win off 3lb lower with a solid effort at Newbury; needs considering but wants a proper test at this trip and a bigger field would have helped. |
7/2 |
Betting Forcast
7/2 Aberama Gold, 5/2 Rage Of Thunder, 12/1 Twirler, 7/2 Acclaimed Freedom, 5/1 King Of Chaos, 20/1 Ancient Times, 10/1 Balon DOr, 14/1 Harry Brown
Verdict
Rage Of Thunder won quite stylishly at Newbury 16 days ago and is respected but an interesting alternative is BALON D’OR, who ran quite well over 5f on Polytrack last month. Simon Dow’s 5yo has become well handicapped and will be suited by this return to 6f on turf. The veteran Aberama Gold is next on the list.[Chris Wilson]
Selections
D Express:
Rage Of ThunderRP RATINGS:
Aberama GoldThe Times:
Acclaimed FreedomNEWMARKET:
King Of ChaosDaily Mirror:
Rage Of ThunderThe Sun:
Rage Of ThunderDaily Record:
Rage Of ThunderDaily Mail:
Aberama GoldThe Star:
Aberama Gold