16.55
Good To FirmVirgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap
- Prize money: £13085
- 0m 5f 0y
- Class 2
- 8 runners
Runners: 8 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Light rain
Form: -39114 D BF
Last run: 21 days
W: 10st 0lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 97
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 6 (11) |
8th Aug 2026 Good To Firm 0m 5f 0y Class 2 |
9st 11lb |
Made good progress last season and he has improved again this year, finishing third of 17 over C&D on his reappearance and winning at Ffos Las (5f, good) and C&D (good to firm) on his last two starts; up another 5lb but foolish to think he has reached his ceiling. |
6/1 |
|
1st 6 (6) |
25th Jul 2026 Good To Firm 0m 5f 0y Class 2 |
9st 4lb |
Two C&D runs have seen him make the frame in big-field events; easily saw off four rivals in a handicap at Ffos Las (5f, good) 26 days ago; the combination of a 7lb rise and considerably more demanding opposition could scupper a follow up. |
6/1 |
Form: -31360 CD
Last run: 10 days
W: 9st 13lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 96
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
20th 6 (1) |
19th Aug 2026 Good 0m 5f 89y Class 2 |
9st 6lb |
Better than ever this year following a gelding operation, winning at Goodwood (5f, good) in May and running with credit at Epsom (the Dash) and Glorious Goodwood since; should give his running but might find one or two better treated today. |
8/1 |
|
6th 3 (5) |
28th Jul 2026 Good 0m 5f 0y Class 2 |
9st 6lb |
Progressive front-runner who was denied late on in the Dash at Epsom (5f, good to soft; has won on good to firm) in early June; he'll give backers a run for their money but could again be picked off where it matters. |
6/1 |
Form: 604530 D
Last run: 7 days
W: 9st 12lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 95
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
16th 12 (14) |
22nd Aug 2026 Good To Soft 0m 6f 0y Class 2 |
9st 4lb |
Back in top form for David O'Meara this summer, running well twice at Glorious Goodwood and again when third of 21 here (5.4f, good) on Wednesday; tanked through Wednesday's race but didn't see it out quite so well as the front two; the worry today is that further rain has fallen and he is ideally suited by good to firm. |
10/1 |
|
3rd 9 (4) |
19th Aug 2026 Good 0m 5f 89y Class 2 |
9st 4lb |
He has performed with credit in all three York runs; two fine runs at Glorious Goodwood, notably in the Stewards' Cup in which he would have gone very close to winning granted a clear run at a crucial stage; races off the same mark and has a big run in him. |
6/1 |
Form: 096045 D BF
Last run: 21 days
W: 9st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 95
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 1 (1) |
8th Aug 2026 Good To Firm 0m 5f 0y Class 3 |
10st 0lb |
Free-going front-runner; no longer the force of old but ran big race when fourth of 23 at Glorious Goodwood (5f, good) last week; 1lb lower here and could be hard to catch if in similar form again. |
13/8 |
|
4th 5 (7) |
28th Jul 2026 Good 0m 5f 0y Class 2 |
9st 4lb |
Front-runner; 3lb lower than for his runaway win at Haydock last September (5f, good) but hasn't got a lot going in his last four races and was tailed off in Epsom's Dash, in which he was second in 2024; others preferred. |
25/1 |
Form: -14120 CD
Last run: 10 days
W: 9st 11lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 94
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11th 12 (12) |
19th Aug 2026 Good 0m 5f 89y Class 2 |
9st 3lb |
On the up for new trainer this year, winning 5f handicaps at Yarmouth and Southwell before a fine second at Glorious Goodwood (5f, good) three weeks ago, hitting the front 110 yards from home but picked off late on by a thriving opponent; 3lb rise asks a stiffer question. |
10/1 |
|
2nd 10 (6) |
28th Jul 2026 Good 0m 5f 0y Class 2 |
9st 0lb |
Last season went well and so too this current campaign for new trainer with 5f wins on good to soft (handles faster) and Tapeta; may not have reached his ceiling just yet and has been third and first in his two runs here. |
12/1 |
Form: 708604 D
Last run: 13 days
W: 9st 6lb
5 yo Colt
OR: 89
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 5 (3) |
16th Aug 2026 Good To Firm 0m 5f 3y Class 2 |
9st 5lb |
His mark continues to fall and there were promising signs at Newcastle (5f, AW) in June; however, two lesser runs have followed and he has to turn things around in a first-time visor (has worn cheekpieces/blinkers this term). |
6/1 |
|
12 (10) |
8th Aug 2026 Good To Firm 0m 5f 0y Class 2 |
9st 4lb
|
|
12/1 |
Form: 720519 D
Last run: 32 days
W: 9st 5lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 88
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 20 (15) |
28th Jul 2026 Good 0m 5f 0y Class 2 |
8st 10lb |
Ex-French; didn't get the best of runs when pipped by Seven Questions here in May and overcame some bother in running to go one better at Doncaster last time (5f, good to firm); 4lb rise is fair and this sort of race should suit his style. |
20/1 |
|
1st 2 (2) |
3rd Jul 2026 Good To Firm 0m 5f 3y Class 3 |
9st 11lb |
0-10 since arriving from France but twice finished runner-up in the spring (5f, good) and he was a close fifth in a tight finish at Hamilton (5f, good to firm) last week; might not be far away. |
4/1 |
Form: 147154 CD
Last run: 19 days
W: 9st 1lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 84
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 13 (7) |
10th Aug 2026 Good To Firm 0m 6f 12y Class 2 |
8st 11lb |
Multiple wins include two over 5f for new yard this year, the first under Myla Coppins and the second on this track; did win once over 6f back in 2022 but it's a long time since he played a part over this trip. |
16/1 |
|
5th 2 (7) |
1st Jul 2026 Good 0m 6f 3y Class 4 |
10st 4lb |
Hit the ground running for this yard, his Ripon win in April backed up by arguably unlucky fourth at Goodwood the following month; not beaten far in the Dash here next time and led on the line at Windsor (again 5f, good to firm) last Monday; 4lb penalty to overcome and his best has come at 5f, but he's still considered. |
7/2 |
Betting Forcast
7/2 All Ways Glamorous, 11/2 Lexington Blitz, 5/1 Toca Madera, 8/1 Democracy Dilemma, 5/1 Naanas Sparkle, 8/1 Kylian, 11/2 Dyonisos, 8/1 Dream Composer
Verdict
A few of these could have done with a clearer run in a big field over this C&D last time, not least Naana’s Sparkle who was only just touched off. He ran out of steam at York since but makes plenty of appeal on the earlier run and can be the main danger to DYONISOS. The latter didn’t have much luck with his run here last time but he had impressed at Doncaster the time before and any change in the going will not trouble him. Lexington Blitz attempts to come back from a poor run but is another with strong C&D form while All Ways Glamorous and Dream Composer are others to consider.[Emily Weber]
Selections
TOPSPEED:
Toca MaderaRP RATINGS:
Democracy DilemmaThe Sun:
Naana's SparkleThe Times:
Lexington BlitzNEWMARKET:
Democracy DilemmaDaily Mail:
Democracy Dilemma