The market favourite sits top of the ratings and is the only runner with three straight top-three finishes, including a win just 64 days ago at Wolverhampton. At just three years old with only five races under his belt, he's inexperienced but clearly improving, and has a proven trainer-jockey partnership (57 wins together). The low draw at 1 suits him, though data from just five races means there's less proven form than some rivals.
C. Whiteley(5)
·
D. O'Meara
· 3yo
· 9st 5lb
· OR 72
Form
18
Good Value
Won 0 of last 5
TrackLab Insight
Hasn't won in seven races yet, but this three-year-old is getting desperately close—placed in five of those outings with two second-place finishes by tiny margins (0.3L and 0.5L). The pattern suggests a breakthrough is near, though he hasn't raced for 39 days, which is longer than most in this field and could rust the edge. He's rated third-best here on raw ability, so timing is everything.
Won at this course & distanceWon 1 of last 5Won here 1 timeLoves this ground (33% win rate)Won at this distance 1 time
TrackLab Insight
The most experienced horse here by a distance—50 races versus a field average of 19—and he's the only runner with course-and-distance winning form plus the best record on standard ground (4 wins from 12). However, he's an eight-year-old showing a worrying pattern: poor form on standard-to-slow ground and just one win in eleven starts on undulating tracks like this one, suggesting his best days may be behind him.
Has won over this course and distanceBest record on this ground (4 from 12)Best record at this trip (1 from 4)Most experienced (50 runs, field avg 19)
Trainer Quotes
Sep 2025
"He's a great old horse. He's won for us every year since we've had him. This year he's been having a few wind issues and it's possibly made him a bit cute. But he's a great old stick and won again at Doncaster in June. He's probably better on the all-weather, as his mark reflects. 17-09-25"
Won at this course & distanceWon 1 of last 5Won here 2 timesLoves this ground (25% win rate)Won at this distance 1 time
TrackLab Insight
Won here over this distance not long ago (44 days), which is the only proven course-and-distance winner in this field and a genuine edge. Recent form has dipped to fourth place last time out, but he sits just below Faeberon in the ratings and has a solid 16% win record across his 25 races. The draw at 3 is helpful, though his poor record on good ground is a concern for normal conditions.
The least experienced runner here with just four career races and no wins or places to show, most recently finishing fourth at Wolverhampton 14 days ago. While he's trained by Sir Mark Prescott (a top-class yard with a strong record), the form line reads as inconsistent and he hasn't earned his place among these rivals on actual racetrack performance. The draw at 2 is helpful but not enough to overcome the thin credentials.
Wearing cheekpiecesWon 0 of last 5Raced here beforeHas won on this ground
TrackLab Insight
The lowest-rated horse in the field who's also been struggling—just one third-place finish in his last six races and hasn't won since December at Newcastle. His 6% career win rate (3 from 47) is well below the field standard, and he shows a critical weakness on standard-to-slow ground (0 wins from 5), which should matter here. The only positive is a recent third at this very track 25 days ago.
One of the more successful in the field (3 career wins)
A three-year-old winless from seven races but with four places on the board, including a near-miss in Class 3 at Kempton (beaten just 0.1L). The recent 11th at Galway reads as a blip rather than a true reflection; before that he was mixing Class 3 company and running respectably. Data is limited and inconsistent, making him a speculative option at 14.5 odds.
How do odds work?The first number is what you win, the second is what you bet. So 5/2 means you win £5 for every £2. 4/1 means you win £4 for every £1. The bigger the first number, the less likely bookmakers think the horse will win — but the more you'd win if it does.