Spotlight

Unraced as a juvenile but now boasts 3-6 record, winning his first two and back on the scoresheet when making all at Leicester (1m4f, good to soft) in October; bumped into a quite well-regarded sort when second at Goodwood (1m6f, good) a fortnight ago and this unexposed 4yo looks a big contender to build on that encouraging return.

Comment

Boasts 3-6 record; unexposed and looks a big contender to build on his encouraging return

Quotes

Spotlight

Acts on soft; can make the running; won six (four over hurdles, two on Flat) of seven starts in a golden spell last February-October, including over C&D in September in both the Jump Jockeys Derby (soft) and Apprentices' Derby (good); recent run over 2m at Goodwood should have teed him up nicely for what could be a plan from last year's winning yard; considered.

Comment

Dual C&D winner; recent run over 2m should have teed him up nicely for this; considered

Stable Tour

"He really got things together over hurdles last winter and finished the season well when winning under top weight at Sandown on finals day. As expected, he was well handicapped back on the Flat, winning twice at Epsom over the summer and he might yet go for the November Handicap. He's a big horse who was always going to do better with time, and his quality got him through when winning from the front at Cheltenham on Saturday. He'll be better than that over hurdles, and there's a Grade 3 for four-year-olds at Fairyhouse at the end of November to consider, although the Gerry Feilden at Newbury is more likely. Beyond that, what was the Betfair Hurdle in February is the sort of stiff test he wants and the County Hurdle might suit him at the end of the season. He's a proper horse to run over hurdles. 28-10-25"

Quotes

Spotlight

Won on soft (1m) as a 2yo; gelded after just two starts last year (included 1m2f win) and he scored off 5lb lower on AW in February; various excuses in three subsequent outings when he frequently looked as though this step back up in trip is well worth another go; respected.

Comment

Various excuses last three starts and looks like this trip is worth a go again; respected

Quotes

Spotlight

Housed in a stable that rarely misidentifies its geese as swans, so the fact he's been highly tried on occasions is interesting; 1-14 record is therefore frustrating but the win did come here as a juvenile (8.5f, heavy) and he gets first-time cheekpieces today; suspicion he's capable of a big run with Warren Fentiman an unusual booking for the yard.

Comment

Sole win came here (8.5f, heavy); cheekpieces go on and he may be capable of a big run

Spotlight

Finished fifth in this last year and it was just his second visit to Epsom when impressively landing the five-runner Great Metropolitan over C&D (good) in April; 4lb rise (arguably could have been worse) pushes him into uncharted territory but he has won on good to soft and is a player under Billy Loughnane.

Comment

Impressed over C&D (good) in April; 4lb rise arguably could have been worse; player

Quotes

Spotlight

Extraordinarily consistent sort who is yet to finish out of the frame in 15 starts and his profile isn't short of improvement either; stays this trip, acts on good to soft (unraced on soft) and he also ran well on his only visit here; very likeable and should go well again.

Comment

Not out of the frame in 15 starts; acts on good to soft and ran well on sole visit here

Stable Tour

"He's a very lovely horse. I was pleased with his run at Glorious Goodwood, where he stepped up in trip and was third behind Push The Limit. He's a slow-maturing type who has a bit of scope and is still only a baby. I think he's better over 1m2f and 1m4f with a bit of give in the ground. 20-08-25"

Spotlight

Previously susceptible to the odd stinker but he's 2-2 since being gelded, scoring at Southwell (AW) in April and Hamilton (again 1m3f, good) three weeks ago; 8lb rise in a much tougher contest demands more but maybe he's putting it all together now.

Comment

2-2 since being gelded; 8lb rise demands more but maybe he's putting it all together now

Spotlight

The second runner for local trainer George Baker and this one has an enviable 3-4 record here, having picked up two Ladies' Derbys (2024 and 2025) in addition to the Amateurs' Derby last year when trained by Ben Brookhouse; not discounted on that score but this is a good bit hotter than those events; refitted tongue-tie could be a plus.

Comment

Won three "Derbys" over C&D; not discounted on that score but this is a good bit hotter

Stable Tour

"He's a recent recruit and we've given him a wind operation. He'll go juvenile hurdling and then have a season or two on the Flat. He's a nice horse and I was working at Ian's [Williams] when he was a two-year-old. He's strengthened up a lot but still has a lot more growing to do. I like him and he should be winning in both codes. 30-11-23"

Quotes

Medical History

Spotlight

Lightly raced 4yo who has swiftly found his feet for this yard; built on a big run in novice here (8.5f, good) in April by going unbeaten in his three handicaps (1m2f and 11.5f, good/good to firm), penalised on the last two occasions; now bumped up markedly in grade (2lb wrong) and softer ground would pose a query but there's no telling where this improvement will end up.

Comment

Lightly raced and unbeaten in three handicaps; ground a possible query but he's on a roll

Spotlight

Won 23-runner November Handicap (1m4f, soft) in 2024 and he's 2-3 here (1m2f and 1m4f) including a win on good to soft last September; those are the clear positives but he's been poor in three starts at 1m2f (snow/AW/good) this year; has a tempting mark if he can stage a revival, so needs a market check.

Comment

2-3 here but poor this year; tempting mark if he can stage a revival; market check needed

Quotes

Spotlight

Track regular who finished third in this race (good to soft) in 2024 and stayed on from the rear to be fourth in last year's edition; also won last season's Great Metropolitan over C&D (good) and got back in the winning groove when taking Newmarket handicap three weeks ago; latter success puts him on a career-high mark but he's unlikely to be far away.

Comment

Goes well here and won at Newmarket latest; career-high mark but unlikely to be far away

Quotes

Spotlight

Prolific 8yo who gained his 11th success when taking 1m4f Ripon handicap (good) in April; got a 2lb nudge after that and received a further 3lb rise after finishing fifth in 2m Group 2 in Germany four weeks ago; while that's not ideal, he's won off higher marks and won't mind how the ground is riding.

Comment

Edging up the weights again but has won off higher and won't mind how the ground is riding

Stable Tour

"He ran a career best on his last start when narrowly second, which is quite a good effort considering he's a six-year-old. He's been pretty consistent considering how much he's run and he might go for a break now, have one run before Royal Ascot, and he'll go for the Copper Horse Handicap. He deserves a chance to run at a meeting like that and going back in trip there would suit him. 29-03-24"

Quotes

Spotlight

Locally trained runner who offered something to work on when seventh of 13 at Kempton (1m4f, AW) on his British return ten days ago; also has form on good to soft but latest effort still leaves him with work to do and he finished tailed off in the 2023 running of this.

Comment

Not disgraced latest but that still leaves work to do; tailed off in the 2023 renewal

Stable Tour

"He is new to us. He's a seven-year-old and is rated 97. He's done a couple of nice pieces of work. He was a winner at Meydan in the spring and has been bought by a syndicate with the express purpose of having a bit of Bahrain fun. He clearly doesn't mind good to firm ground. He cost 28,000gns and hopefully he'll give his owners a lot of fun - everything about him that we've seen tells me he'll be well suited to that gig over there. He's one I'm quite excited about, even though he's a seven-year-old. He's showing me that a mark of 97 is not unrealistic - and 97 means you're competitive in Bahrain. 15-10-25"

Quotes

Spotlight

He hasn't won since August 2024 but ran some fine races in defeat last season, including when second of 14 at Glorious Goodwood (1m6f, good to soft) in August; those efforts have ensured his mark is holding up, however, and he makes his comeback over a trip probably short of his best these days.

Comment

No win last term but ran some fine races; returns over a trip probably short of his best

Quotes

Spotlight

Often a front-runner; 3-7 on AW but he's 0-4 on turf and latest third to Elsass at Hamilton (1m3f, good) was no more than respectable; untested on good to soft or worse but his pedigree may given some encouragement, as his dam is closely related to outstanding performer Enable whose 15 wins included the 2017 Oaks over C&D and four of her Group 1 wins were on softer than good.

Comment

0-4 on turf and latest third (1m3f, good) was just respectable; softer ground a query

Spotlight

Heavy-ground romp at Salisbury (had been gelded) in September and second at Newbury (also 1m2f, soft) the following month give him a shot; however, he left Roger Teal after two runs over hurdles and will need to improve upon his two starts for new yard this spring; 5lb out of the handicap.

Comment

Will need to improve upon his two starts for new yard this spring; 5lb out of the handicap

Medical History

Spotlight

1m4f AW Listed winner (also acts on good to soft and softer) for the Gosdens but he left that yard under a cloud in the autumn; rediscovered some form at 1m2f on AW this winter but he's been below par on his last three starts; soft ground would enhance his cause but others are more solid.

Comment

Below par on last three starts; soft ground would enhance his cause, but others more solid

Quotes