Gamble Responsibly At BetMGM "Hands And Heels" Apprentice Handicap (Part Of Racing Excellence)
Course: Newmarket
Date: 16th May 2026
Distance: 7f (7f)
Type: Flat
Going: Good
Class: Class 5
Prize: £5,154
Runners: 7
CleverPunts Performance Stats
Bookies Hate Clever Punts
They don’t love informed punters
Register free and see what the sharper lads are looking at.
Be CleverRunners (8)
Quick Link
Wrydcroft
4yo b Gelding (GB)Connections
Jockey: Matthew Lloyd Slater
Trainer: Pam Sly
Thorney, Cambs
Owner: G Libson And Mrs P Sly
Breeding
Sire: Territories (IRE)
Dam: Vernatti (GB)
Damsire: Teofilo (IRE)
Breeder: M H Sly & Mrs P M Sly
Ratings & Stats
Spotlight
Made it four out of five in handicaps when prevailing in a big field at Doncaster (7f, good to firm); this lightly raced 4yo is clearly progressive and should be a tough nut to crack.
Comment
Prolific since moving into handicaps and should be a tough nut to crack
Quotes
"I'm pleased Wrydcroft ran well because I always thought he was okay. We've had difficulty getting him handicapped, and I had to run him over a mile on his last start, which I knew was too far, but you have to do it. It's a jump to find three-year-old maidens unless I want to go to Hamilton or Ffos Las, and that's an awfully long way for us to go to just have one in a maiden. He's been a bit of a slow learner but Kieran O'Neill, who has ridden him, said he'll be a really nice horse. I knew he wanted a bit of give in the ground because all those bred out of Speciosa want that. Hopefully, he'll go up four or five pounds and he should be somewhere in the mid-60s once he gets himself organised - Pam Sly, trainer."
2025-09-22 - LeicesterRace History for Wrydcroft
Tex
5yo gr Gelding (FR)Connections
Jockey: Kyle McHugh
Trainer: George Baker
Epsom Downs, Surrey
Owner: George Baker Racing International
Breeding
Sire: Dark Angel (IRE)
Dam: Sudu Queen (GER)
Damsire: Invincible Spirit (IRE)
Breeder: China Horse Club International
Ratings & Stats
Spotlight
0-9 but consistent last year and may well have made a winning reappearance at Leicester (7f, good to firm) last Saturday but for blowing the start (hasn't tended to be an issue in the past); key player.
Comment
0-9 but may well have won at Leicester on reappearance but for blowing the start
Stable Tour
"He's a really cool horse. He was a big, raw baby and will improve again for another winter on his back. We've had horses historically who have come to the fore aged five, six or seven, and a lot of that is down to patient owners. He just wasn't able to do it as a young horse - a couple of times he hit the front but couldn't go on to win. We've tweaked his wind because it was just something we thought he could benefit from. He won't run again this year, but will be out early next year as he doesn't mind a bit of cut. I'll have him ready and hopefully he'll be a horse for Doncaster and beyond throughout the spring. 15-10-25"
Race History for Tex
Mickey Mongoose
6yo b Gelding (GB)Connections
Jockey: Jake Dickson
Trainer: Olly Williams
Market Rasen, Lincs
Owner: Danny Ablott Olly Williams
Breeding
Sire: Lope De Vega (IRE)
Dam: Midnight Crossing (IRE)
Damsire: Dark Angel (IRE)
Breeder: Pursuit Of Success Llc
Ratings & Stats
Spotlight
Blew the start at Leicester last month when making it 1-18 on turf; however, he won at Southwell (7f, AW) in February and was back on the scoresheet there (7f) last Thursday, and is not ruled out today.
Comment
Won at Southwell last week; better strike-rate on turf than AW but he's not ruled out
Medical History
Wind Surgery (2022-12-16)Previous Trainers
- Charlie Johnston (until 2023-08-10)
- Charlie & Mark Johnston (until 2023-03-28)
Previous Owners
- Paul Dean (until 2023-08-10)
Race History for Mickey Mongoose
Cherry Cobbler
4yo ch Gelding (GB)Connections
Jockey: Chloe Lyons(8)
Trainer: Stuart Williams
Newmarket, Suffolk
Owner: B Piper & D Cobill
Breeding
Sire: Zoustar (AUS)
Dam: Foxcatcher (GB)
Damsire: Foxwedge (AUS)
Breeder: Whitsbury Manor Stud
Ratings & Stats
Spotlight
Went close off 9lb higher on handicap debut at Chelmsford (6f, AW) last October but his form has gone the wrong way subsequently and he was well beaten at Haydock last month when wearing this headgear combination.
Comment
Down in the weights but form has gone wrong way since his promising handicap debut
Race History for Cherry Cobbler
African Spirit
5yo b Gelding (IRE)Connections
Jockey: Jude Fernandes(5)
Trainer: Ian Williams
Alvechurch, Worcs
Owner: Mrs S J Brookhouse
Breeding
Sire: Showcasing (GB)
Dam: African Skies (GB)
Damsire: Johannesburg (USA)
Breeder: Framont Ltd & R S Cockerill
Ratings & Stats
Spotlight
Promising start to his career and he's tumbled down the weights, but for good reason; makes stable debut following a long absence and a major turnaround is necessary.
Comment
He's tumbled down the weights but for good reason; returns from a long absence
Medical History
Wind Surgery (2024-11-11)Previous Trainers
- B F Brookhouse (until 2026-05-11)
Previous Owners
- Ian Williams (until 2026-05-12)
- Mrs S J Brookhouse (until 2026-05-11)
- R S Brookhouse (until 2023-09-24)
Race History for African Spirit
Fancy Dancer
4yo gr Filly (GB)Connections
Jockey: Alfie Redman
Trainer: Hayley Burton
Newmarket, Suffolk
Owner: Ruby Red Racing & Hayley Burton
Breeding
Sire: Dandy Man (IRE)
Dam: Bedouin Dancer (IRE)
Damsire: Pivotal (GB)
Breeder: Plantation Stud
Ratings & Stats
Spotlight
Three wins last May-August (5f-6f, including on good/firm) and she's 2lb below her last winning mark; however, she hasn't been at the top of her game on her last five starts, the latest in December.
Comment
Below last August's last winning mark but not at the top of her game on last five starts
Previous Trainers
- Ollie Sangster (until 2025-12-02)
Previous Owners
- Spiritedracing,Dbramhill&mrs Bv Sangster (until 2025-12-02)
- O R J Sangster (until 2024-10-29)
- Spiritedracing,Dbramhill&mrs Bv Sangster (until 2024-05-07)
- O R J Sangster (until 2024-02-28)
Race History for Fancy Dancer
Regal Guest
4yo b Gelding (IRE)Connections
Jockey: Joe Bradnam
Trainer: George Margarson
Newmarket, Suffolk
Owner: John Guest Racing
Breeding
Sire: Kodiac (GB)
Dam: Odyssee (FR)
Damsire: Teofilo (IRE)
Breeder: Tom Radley
Ratings & Stats
Spotlight
Promising second at Kempton (7f, AW) last March on his second start; remains very lightly raced but he's been beaten a long way in both handicaps, which came last June (6f, good) and this February (7f, AW).
Comment
Promising second last March on second start but beaten a long way in both handicaps
Race History for Regal Guest
Non Runners:
Dashing Donkey