Thursday, 16th July 2026
In ATC today….
I wasn’t impressed with race times in last week’s big handicaps….
…. perhaps the extreme heat impacted the way the races were run….
…. but I do have a couple of handicappers to move forward with….
Oh…. and sharp-eyed readers might recognize one of them….
Read on….
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I don’t know if it was the heat….
…. or if temperatures impacted how horses were ridden….
…. but not many of the £20k+ handicaps run at Newmarket, York, or Ascot leap off the page as form that will necessarily stand up in the coming weeks….
…. because those races were – by and large – run in times that don’t bolster confidence….
The Club 26 Heritage Handicap at Ascot is an exception….
Behike – my pick – was narrowly beaten and surely has more to offer having shown up so well in a valuable handicap on just his fourth run under rules….
…. but he’s obvious and a more interesting horse going forward – more off the radar – is Richard Hannon’s Fandom….
The 5yo finished 3/15 beaten just 0.75 lengths….
…. the official assessor has left his mark unchanged on 98….
…. and there’s a case to be made for improvement….
For a start, the ground was quick enough – he produced three of his five wins on a good surface….
…. fresh tactics helped – he was waited with on Saturday in contrast to recent races where he’s been made more use of….
…. and there’s a good chance a return to 6f will see him to better effect still….
Clearly he ran well over the minimum trip – producing a career-best RPR ….
…. but the 5f at Ascot is stiff, he did all his best work late, and extra yardage looks ideal….
It’s worth noting he won two valuable Listed races as a 3yo over the extended 5f trip – albeit in America….
…. and he might be an in-between sprinter – cut out for a race like the Portland at Doncaster….
Softer ground might prove problematic….
…. but if the weather holds and the rain stays away, September’s renewal might just provide an interesting set-up….
Whatever, on a mark of 98 – just 3lb above his winning mark at Thirsk in May – he’s in the game, not overly-exposed on turf in Britain, and going on to the Watch List….
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Mr Swivell ran well at York on Saturday behind The Lost King in the John Smith's Racing Handicap….
…. 1.25 lengths behind the winner but clear of the remainder….
He’s been working up a head of steam all summer – improving for each of his three runs on turf and logging a seasonal best on Saturday….
He’s up 3lb to 93 but that won’t put the lid on him….
…. he ran a cracker at Ascot last term off the same mark….
… only giving best to Shout – when conceding 2lb….
…. and let’s not forget that Shout went very close of 9lb higher next time out in the Balmoral….
Mr Swivell is interesting in the weeks ahead – but he’s an obvious enough spot….
…. more off-the-radar is the horse that finished fourth at 50s – Khafiz….
Sharp-eyed readers might recall I put him up for the Victoria Cup in May….
…. where he ran down the field before disappointing again at Doncaster in early June….
In the meantime, he’d moved yards – going from Edward Bethell to Roger Fell….
…. having previously moved from Roger Varian’s care….
Perhaps he’s a tough nut to crack….
…. but on Saturday – his first run for Fell – he produced an encouraging performance up at the mile….
He wouldn’t have been ‘at it’ having joined his new yard just five days earlier and sent off friendless in the market….
…. he was keen through the early fractions – holding the lead for the first five furlongs, before being headed in the sixth by the eventual winner….
…. but he stuck to his work and went through the line okay given the context….
He gave the impression that dropping back to 7f might be to his advantage….
…. and he’s been dropped 2lb – for what I would consider a positive performance – to a mark of 92….
Though he’s only won once in nine runs – a novice event at Doncaster on his second track appearance….
…. he’s got bits and pieces of form dotted about his record that suggest he’s potentially well-handicapped….
…. if his new handler can build on Saturday and extract a sweeter tune….
It’s a big if – for sure….
…. but a return to the kind of fettle that saw Khafiz run third to Rogue Diplomat at Doncaster last October….
…. beaten just a half-length conceding 4lbs….
…. would make him a big player in any of the showcase handicaps….
Having won the Royal Hunt Cup last month Rogue Diplomat is now rated 12lb higher than when he met Khafiz – who himself is 4lb lower….
That’s a big turnaround – and Saturday’s performance might just be the beginning of something….
…. and he goes on to the Watch List….
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That’s all for today….
Back tomorrow….
Meantime – contact me at – nick.pullen@spapublishinggroup.co.uk
Stay tuned….
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