Today / 19.30 Newbury

19.30

Good

Sheldrake Training Limited ‘Train An Apprentice’ Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

  • Prize money: £7327.6
  • 1m 2f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
SKY
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Sheldrake Training Limited ‘Train An Apprentice’ Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

Form: 3-8311 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found
OUR TIP

Form: 2-7251 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Had to work hard in order to make it eighth-time lucky in a three-runner contest at Sandown (1m2f, good to firm; first-time blinkers) this month; up 3lb but still shortlisted if the headgear continues to work.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(3)

6th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 209y

Class 4

18:48 Sandown

Edwin Hubble

9st 1lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Brian Meehan

0-7 but he went close in a five-runner field at Windsor (11.4f, good to firm) in June on his second handicap start and ran respectably when fifth of 15 at Ascot (1m4f, good to firm) last time, albeit soundly beaten; this is less competitive and he could be involved in first-time blinkers.

5/2

5th

11

(7)

25th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 4

16:10 Ascot

Edwin Hubble

9st 2lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Brian Meehan

Two seconds and two thirds from his six starts; upped to 1m2f then 11.4f in handicaps for his two starts this season, best form in a never-nearer second of five last time; back up 2lb but could have more to give at this trip.

6/1

Form: 51

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
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Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 1-4030

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Won twice over 7f on good/AW last year and finished fourth of ten on his reappearance here (1m, good) in May; hasn't matched that form in three starts over 1m/1m3f since (including in a visor) and needs to turn things around.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

11

(1)

31st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 44y

Class 3

17:20 Goodwood

Magnatura

8st 13lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Tom Ward

Ended last season with a win here (7f, good) and started this one with creditable fourth of ten at Newbury; however, he faded right out of it at Newmarket (1m) next time and ended up nearly 10l behind Devil's Peak at Newbury (1m3f, good to firm) on latest start, which make him hard to fancy.

40/1

3rd

3

(3)

17th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 0y

Class 4

17:55 Newbury

Magnatura

9st 4lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Tom Ward

Unraced on good to firm except on debut (fourth); won twice from five starts as 2yo and creditable fourth of ten here on reappearance; faded right out of it at Newmarket (also 1m on good) four weeks later, which sees him visored today with a step up in trip; may need overall improvement.

10/1

Form: -53434

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Won a Brighton novice (1m, good to firm) last October and has run with credit in handicaps over 1m/1m1f since returning in April, without looking ahead of his mark; this return to a longer trip may help, but others are still preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

(6)

13th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 31y

Class 4

18:41 Windsor

Magical Merlot

9st 1lb

J: David Egan

T: Ed Dunlop

1m novice winner at two and then gelded; slow starts weren't helping matters this season but raced in touch last time at Lingfield (1m1f) and they all bumped into an improver; could go well.

4/1

3rd

4

(2)

27th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 0y

Class 4

18:25 Lingfield

Magical Merlot

9st 2lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Ed Dunlop

Often pulled hard last year and was gelded over the winter; this season his issue has been blowing the start and that's what cost him any chance last time; up to winning off this mark but has to be considered risky now.

7/2

Form: 6-7546

Last run: 48 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
0-7; showed ability in his first two starts last year, but hasn't built on it and the step up in trip made little difference when fifth of seven at Doncaster (1m2f, good to firm) last month, albeit the form of that race has worked out well; still more needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

(3)

9th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 43y

Class 4

15:55 Doncaster

Island Bear

9st 2lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Initially promising but hasn't kicked on in handicaps (0-3; 7f-1m) and blinkers are removed after last time; bit to prove, though getting back on fast ground is a likely plus.

16/1

4th

3

(2)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 16y

Class 4

18:20 Chepstow

Island Bear

9st 8lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Fair maiden who wasn't discredited with fifth of nine in 1m Nottingham handicap 18 days ago; not out of things eased 1lb with blinkers added.

12/1

Form: 6-06

Last run: 114 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 033512 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Off the mark in a five-runner Nottingham novice (1m2f, good to firm) last month and probably put up an even better effort when second of nine back in a handicap at Lingfield (1m2f, AW) 15 days ago; return to a more galloping track should suit and one of the likelier winners.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

10

(6)

11th Aug 2026

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 4

15:30 Lingfield (AW)

Guesstimate

8st 10lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

Wasn't winning out of turn when making all in a five-runner Nottingham novice (1m2f, good to firm) last month; the third has won since, but this still looks tougher back in a handicap.

15/2

1st

3

(3)

17th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 50y

Class 4

14:22 Nottingham

Guesstimate

9st 2lb

J: Harry Davies

T: William Haggas

Dam was a limited maiden and this filly has followed suit thus far; lost a shoe on her handicap debut last time but, while this race is less competitive, she's had plenty of chances now.

7/4

Form: -31153 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 8st 11lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Has run well on good to firm, but his wins at Lingfield (1m1f) and Ayr (1m2f) in June came on soft; held on the AW in his last two starts, but the return to turf and drop in trip may suit; each-way claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

(4)

31st Jul 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 5

16:20 Wolverhampton (AW)

Fans Favourite

9st 4lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Hugo Palmer

Showed promise on good to firm on reappearance, before last month's soft-ground wins at Lingfield (1m1f) and Ayr (1m2f); he had no answers, however, when fifth of 14 to Roc De Fer at Southwell (1m3f, AW) four days ago.

6/1

5th

4

(11)

27th Jul 2026

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 5

15:30 Southwell (AW)

Fans Favourite

9st 8lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Hugo Palmer

Has shown improvement this year, winning on soft at Lingfield (1m1f) and Ayr (1m2f) last month; a hat-trick could be on the cards if proving as effective stepping up in trip back on AW.

5/2

Betting Forcast

11/4 Empirical, 9/2 Edwin Hubble, 6/1 Livemore, 20/1 Magnatura, 6/1 Magical Merlot, 20/1 Island Bear, 14/1 Eagles Attire, 11/2 Guesstimate, 14/1 Fans Favourite

Verdict

Empirical (second choice) is much respected in his hat-trick bid, while Guesstimate should appreciate the return to a more galloping track. Fans Favourite and Edwin Hubble could also figure, but it may be worth siding with the completely unexposed LIVEMORE whose breeding suggests he should appreciate the step up in trip on handicap debut.[David Bellingham]

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Empirical

SPOTLIGHT:

Livemore

TOPSPEED:

Magical Merlot

POSTDATA:

Guesstimate

The Times:

Eagles Attire

The Guardian:

Edwin Hubble

Daily Mirror:

Fans Favourite

D Express:

Livemore

The Sun:

Livemore

LAMBOURN:

Empirical

Daily Mail:

Empirical

The Star:

Empirical

Daily Record:

Empirical

NEWMARKET:

Magical Merlot

Telegraph:

Magical Merlot