Today / 17.45 Chepstow

17.45

Good To Soft

DragonBet Handicap

  • Prize money: £3768.48
  • 1m 2f 0y
  • Class 6
  • 6 runners
SKY
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DragonBet Handicap

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

Form: 055921 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
Has done well in two starts since joining this yard, dead-heating at Brighton (1m2f, good to firm) a week ago; clearly in good form just now, but has a 5lb penalty to carry and softening ground will pose a question.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(6)

24th Aug 2026

Good

1m 1f 207y

Class 6

16:00 Brighton

Liberate

9st 9lb

J: George Wood

T: Jim & Suzi Best

Goodwood novice winner for James Horton last spring who tumbled down the weights in Ireland this season; solid in the market for her new yard at Newmarket on Friday and that was a step back in the right direction.

5/1

2nd

1

(2)

21st Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

15:45 Newmarket (July)

Liberate

9st 11lb

J: George Wood

T: Jim & Suzi Best

Won a Goodwood novice (1m2f, good) for James Horton last May but she's generally struggled in handicaps since including in in Ireland this season; record is now 1-13 and she has something to prove for another new yard; cheekpieces worn last time are removed.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 3-3343 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
Goes well on slow ground as she showed when winning easily at Windsor (1m2f, soft) in July last year, the last time she contested a 0-65; has continued to run well since then including when third of ten at Kempton (1m3f, AW) three weeks ago (winner has gone in again since); respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

(10)

10th Aug 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 5

16:30 Kempton (AW)

Ghost Story

10st 0lb

J: David Egan

T: John Butler

Dual 1m2f winner on ground slower than good; has performed just okay since returning from a break and whether she wants quite this far is open to debate.

8/1

4th

4

(2)

14th Jul 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 5

16:53 Wolverhampton (AW)

Ghost Story

9st 8lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: John Butler

Lighty raced for her age and made quite promising seasonal debut when third at Lingfield (1m2f) in April but ought to have been well suited by the good to soft turf when below that form at Ffos Las (1m4f; favourite) last month and has a point to prove here.

6/1

Form: 787325 CD

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 61

Form & Verdict
No win on turf since successful over C&D (good to firm) in July 2024; losing run up to 12, but 4lb below his last winning mark and has won on soft ground; shortlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(6)

12th Aug 2026

Good

1m 3f 209y

Class 6

18:10 Ffos Las

Meet Me In Meraki

10st 2lb

J: J F Egan

T: David Evans

Placed here (1m2f, good) in June, after a break, and not discredited when second of four over C&D (good) last month; remains well handicapped on some of his winter AW form and can make his presence felt again.

4/1

Form: 386762 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 60

Form & Verdict
Comes good at this time of year and back to form when second of six over C&D (good to firm) this month (winner has gone in again since); races off the same mark, but soft ground would be a concern.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

(6)

9th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

17:01 Chepstow

Stipulation

8st 13lb

J: George Wood

T: Mark Loughnane

Had a prolonged consistent spell until showing a dip in his form this spring/summer; well treated if getting back to his peak but others are preferred on recent evidence.

10/1

6th

3

(3)

28th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 207y

Class 6

13:35 Beverley

Stipulation

11st 0lb

J: Mr Jack Loughnane

T: Mark Loughnane

Won twice last season, first time over this trip on good to firm at Yarmouth; hasn't done as well this term; now back on last winning mark.

14/1

Form: 5-7565 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 9st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 58

Form & Verdict
Seven of his eight wins have come at Ffos Las and the ground can't be too soft for him, with five of those successes coming on heavy; back off last winning mark and although unplaced in four visits here, he can't be dismissed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

(7)

23rd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

20:48 Newbury

Zambezi Magic

10st 2lb

J: Miss Jessica Llewellyn

T: Bernard Llewellyn & Robert Williams

Gained his last four wins on heavy ground at Ffos Las (1m-1m2f); handles fast ground but is yet to strike form after three runs this season and might still be too high in the weights.

25/1

6th

6

(6)

23rd Jun 2026

Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

17:10 Ffos Las

Zambezi Magic

9st 1lb

J: Charlie Tucker

T: Bernard Llewellyn

Loves it here and loves the mud, so this dry spell has done him no favours; probably one for another day.

14/1

Form: 9-6395

Last run: 81 days

W: 8st 12lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 54

Form & Verdict
Irish challenger who is 0-10 under rules and finished well beaten on her hurdles debut last time, but her previous close fifth of 17 on the Flat at Leopardstown (1m1f, soft) makes her of interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

11

8th Aug 2026

Good

2m 0f 190y

14:15 Wexford

Staywitherjohnny

10st 8lb

J: Kevin Healy

T: Ciaran Murphy

0-9 on the Flat and rated just 54; not bred to make a jumper and is probably best watched on hurdling debut.

28/1

Betting Forcast

7/2 Liberate, 3/1 Ghost Story, 4/1 Meet Me In Meraki, 9/2 Stipulation, 8/1 Zambezi Magic, 5/1 Staywitherjohnny

Verdict

Irish challenger Staywitherjohnny is of interest on her close fifth of 17 at Leopardstown in June, while C&D winner Meet Me In Meraki (second choice) and Zambezi Magic have both dropped to favourable marks. The vote, however, goes to GHOST STORY (nap) who drops back into a 0-65 for the first time since winning easily on soft ground at Windsor in July last year.[David Bellingham]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Ghost Story

Telegraph:

Liberate

The Times:

Stipulation

POSTDATA:

Meet Me In Meraki

The Guardian:

Stipulation

Daily Mirror:

Stipulation

D Express:

Liberate

The Sun:

Liberate

Daily Record:

Liberate

RP RATINGS:

Ghost Story

NEWMARKET:

Ghost Story

Daily Mail:

Ghost Story

The Star:

Ghost Story

WEST COUNTRY:

Meet Me In Meraki