July 24 / 20.11 Chepstow

20.11

Good To Firm

Sophie Busson Memorial Handicap

  • Prize money: £3454.44
  • 0m 5f 16y
  • Class 6
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Sophie Busson Memorial Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.88
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 335222 CD

Last run: 4 days

W: 9st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
Losing run up to 16, but often placed and has finished runner-up in his last three starts off this mark, the latest a neck defeat at Beverley (5f, good to firm) on Monday; no reason why he shouldn't run his race again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(1)

31st Aug 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 16y

Class 5

17:10 Chepstow

Level Up

9st 12lb

J: Pat Dobbs

T: David Evans

All ground seems to come alike to him and he gained his second C&D success (good to firm) last month, but a 4lb rise appeared to anchor him in his two outings since; may need the returning visor to perk him up a bit.

5/1

7th

6

(9)

28th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 10y

Class 5

15:00 Sandown

Level Up

9st 9lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: David Evans

Prominent racer who was well held at Chepstow last time, but that was a Class 4 event and he won that track (5f, good to firm) on his penultimate run; remains well treated on his old form and has claims if he can bounce back on this drop back in grade; acts on fast and soft ground.

5/1

6th

6

(3)

6th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 16y

Class 4

18:30 Chepstow

Level Up

9st 3lb

J: Miss Amy Tucker

T: David Evans

Exposed but very consistent and deserved to snap a losing streak over C&D recently when racing prominently and keeping on; back up 4lb.

8/1

16/1

  • Place: £9.50

Form: 5489-5

Last run: 16 days

W: 8st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 50

Form & Verdict
Well handicapped on some of last season's form, but failed to beat a rival on stable debut after nine months off here (7f, good to firm) 16 days ago; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

(3)

27th Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

15:37 Ffos Las

Sundiata Keita

9st 9lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: John & Rhys Flint

0-16 and he failed to beat a rival in 6f Windsor handicap last time after a very slow start; not one to rely on.

8/1

12th

5

(1)

17th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 12y

Class 6

19:25 Windsor

Sundiata Keita

9st 7lb

J: William Carson

T: John & Rhys Flint

0-15, albeit with competitive form off higher marks; easily best show this season was his Chepstow second on penultimate start; tried blinkers latest and now reverts to last season's cheekpieces; his yard won this race last year and a case can be made but others are more compelling.

9/1

4th

5

(6)

9th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 16y

Class 6

14:06 Chepstow

Sundiata Keita

9st 2lb

J: Charlie Tucker

T: John & Rhys Flint

0-14 but has competitive form off higher marks and was runner-up over 5f here two weeks ago; won't be hindered by returning to 6f and blinkers might give him a lift.

9/2

5/2

Form: 533431 CD

Last run: 8 days

W: 9st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 58

Form & Verdict
Took advantage of a drop in the weights when making all to record his second C&D success in an apprentice handicap (good to firm) eight days ago, beating stable-companion Savannah Smiles by 2l; races off the same mark (6lb well in) and a big chance of following up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

9

(1)

28th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 10y

Class 5

15:00 Sandown

So Smart

9st 4lb

J: Laura Coughlan

T: Grace Harris

Dominated a four-runner apprentice handicap at Chepstow (5f, good to firm) last month, but he's taken two backward steps since then; handles most ground but he's still 4lb higher than for that last success and others are more convincing.

16/1

7th

7

(5)

17th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 21y

Class 5

17:20 Windsor

So Smart

9st 6lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: Grace Harris

Dominated a four-runner apprentice handicap at Chepstow (5f, good to firm) last month but not so good there eight days later; back up 4lb today and balance of form this term suggests he is not the percentage call.

10/1

3rd

4

(2)

24th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 16y

Class 6

20:11 Chepstow

So Smart

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Grace Harris

Took advantage of a drop in the weights when making all to record his second C&D success in an apprentice handicap (good to firm) eight days ago, beating stable-companion Savannah Smiles by 2l; races off the same mark (6lb well in) and a big chance of following up.

5/2

Form: 452/34

Last run: 8 days

W: 8st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 46

Form & Verdict
Five-race maiden who missed the whole of last year; not beaten far when last of four behind So Smart and Savannah Smiles over C&D (good to firm) eight days ago and 1lb better off with the pair, but he still needs to find a bit more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

(4)

24th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 16y

Class 6

20:11 Chepstow

River Edge

8st 4lb

J: Tyler Heard

T: Christopher Mason

Five-race maiden who missed the whole of last year; not beaten far when last of four behind So Smart and Savannah Smiles over C&D (good to firm) eight days ago and 1lb better off with the pair, but he still needs to find a bit more.

10/1

4th

5

(5)

16th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 16y

Class 5

14:40 Chepstow

River Edge

8st 9lb

J: Rose Dawes

T: Christopher Mason

He was returning from 736 days on the sidelines when third of eight in a 0-50 classified event over C&D (good to firm) two weeks ago; tired in the closing stages on that occasion and he should last longer with the run behind him; open to improvement.

6/1

Form: 2535-8

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
Placed in five of his first six starts, but not so good in his last two outings including on stable debut after a lengthy absence at Windsor (6f, good to firm; 33-1) last month; down in grade but best watched for now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(9)

24th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 21y

Class 6

19:48 Windsor

Trafalger

9st 9lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Ben Case

Lightly raced 5yo; yet to hit top form in handicaps here (6f) and at Chepstow (5f) this summer; needs to take a step forward despite a falling mark.

12/1

5th

1

(3)

24th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 16y

Class 6

20:11 Chepstow

Trafalger

9st 9lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Ben Case

Placed in five of his first six starts, but not so good in his last two outings including on stable debut after a lengthy absence at Windsor (6f, good to firm; 33-1) last month; down in grade but best watched for now.

7/1

8th

5

(1)

29th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 12y

Class 5

21:00 Windsor

Trafalger

9st 10lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Ben Case

0-7 but has claims on his best form for Eve Johnson Houghton including a close third in Bath handicap (5.7f, good to firm) last September; returns after 259 days off but he needs watching in market on stable debut; hood reapplied.

10/1

Form: 762312 CD BF

Last run: 8 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
Three-time winner over 5f/6f here; finished 2l behind stablemate So Smart over C&D eight days ago and meets him on the same terms, but she lost ground at the start when the blindfold was removed late so she may get closer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(3)

31st Aug 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 16y

Class 5

17:10 Chepstow

Savannah Smiles

9st 9lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: Grace Harris

Three course wins over 5f/6f; just 2lb above her last winning mark and softening ground wouldn't be a problem, but she needs to do better than in her last two starts.

8/1

9th

1

(5)

18th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 16y

Class 6

17:00 Chepstow

Savannah Smiles

9st 9lb

J: Harry Vigors

T: Grace Harris

Well backed and took advantage of a sliding mark when winning an uncompetitive small-field handicap off 3lb lower at Lingfield (turf) in June; always liked it here but this mark is as high as she's ever won off, so there's little margin for error.

8/1

6th

2

(7)

24th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 16y

Class 6

20:11 Chepstow

Savannah Smiles

9st 9lb

J: Harry Vigors

T: Grace Harris

Three-time winner over 5f/6f here; finished 2l behind stablemate So Smart over C&D eight days ago and meets him on the same terms, but she lost ground at the start when the blindfold was removed late so she may get closer.

7/2

Form: 506020 D

Last run: 41 days

W: 9st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 56

Form & Verdict
2lb lower than for the latest of three wins last year, but this season's form has been patchy and the suitability of ground faster than good is still to be established.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(7)

28th Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

14:00 Ffos Las

Son Of Astar

9st 7lb

J: David Probert

T: Tony Carroll

Has won here on good ground but appreciates it softer, as he showed when going close over 5f at Chepstow three runs back; he's considered off a good mark.

7/1

7th

5

(5)

24th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 16y

Class 6

20:11 Chepstow

Son Of Astar

9st 0lb

J: George Wood

T: Tony Carroll

2lb lower than for the latest of three wins last year, but this season's form has been patchy and the suitability of ground faster than good is still to be established.

8/1

10th

1

(10)

13th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 10y

Class 6

14:30 Bath

Son Of Astar

9st 11lb

J: Jack Callan

T: Tony Carroll

Scored three times (including over C&D) in 2025; back to his best in refitted blinkers with head second of nine in 5f Chepstow handicap a week ago; up 3lb but holds very good claims with talented 3lb claimer Jack Callan up.

100/30

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £50.20
Straight Forecast £49.15
Trifecta £210.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

So Smart

WEST COUNTRY:

Savannah Smiles

Telegraph:

Level Up

The Times:

Sundiata Keita

D Express:

Savannah Smiles

The Star:

Savannah Smiles

The Sun:

Level Up

RP RATINGS:

So Smart

POSTDATA:

So Smart

The Guardian:

So Smart

Daily Mail:

So Smart

Daily Mirror:

So Smart

Daily Record:

So Smart