15:10 Newbury
Saturday 18 April 2026
All13:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:55
Win Unique Experiences At OLBG Prizes Spring Cup Handicap (Str)
- 4YO plus  |  Class 2  |  1m  |  26 Runners  |  Turf
Cloth number
Odds
Star rating
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Hasn't got his head in front since landing a listed contest at Newmarket in November 2023 and, though very talented when on-song, he is opposable off this mark on what will be just his second start in a handicap.
|
Won twice at 2 yrs and didn't do much wrong switched to handicaps last term, culminating in a clear-cut success at Newmarket (1m, good). Gelded since and while he resumes on a 10 lb higher mark and in a tougher race, this 4-y-o has to enter calculations.
|
Got the better of Urban Lion in this race on his reappearance last term and largely progressive thereafter, also winning at Ascot during the summer and posted plenty of good efforts in defeat in handicaps/listed company. On the downside, he's now 13 lb higher than when winning this 12 months ago.
|
Four-time winner in France, including twice at Chantilly last spring. However, he failed to fire in listed company when last seen in November and is on a tough-looking mark for this handicap/stable debut.
|
Enjoyed a good 2025 campaign, winning 1m handicaps either side of a near-miss at the hands of Ebt's Guard in this race 12 months ago. Further progress when narrowly seeing off Rogue Diplomat and 19 others on return in the Lincoln and should remain competitive following a 4 lb rise.
|
Smart at best for William Haggas but last win was back in July 2024 and he largely struggled during a stint in Australia last year. Resumes on a workable mark for new yard but others make more appeal all the same.
|
Gelded following 2-y-o campaign and progressed last season, winning 4 times, including a major handicap at the York Ebor meeting. Failed to get competitive final 2 starts of that campaign but appeals as the type to kick on again as a 4-y-o and resumes with his top yard in flying form.
|
Dual winner for Aidan O'Brien and shaped well on first start for Dylan Cunha when runner-up in a Wolverhampton handicap in November. However, it's been downhill since and was never a threat on sole start for James Ferguson at Kempton last month. Opposable starting out for another new yard here.
|
Resumed his progression with a big-field handicap win at Ascot (1m, good to soft) in September. Solid fourth of 20 in the Balmoral there the following month and wasn't seen to best effect when ninth in the Lincoln. Likely to come on for that and he's a serious contender.
|
Winner of 3 of his 9 starts in France, most recently landing a 1m Deauville handicap last summer. Solid for €90,000 in November and while he should pay his way for new connections, this is a tough starting point.
|
Ended 2025 with a handicap 4-timer over 7f, with the last 2 legs gained at Doncaster. Returned to Town Moor with a very close second to Urban Lion in the Lincoln 3 weeks ago and it's not hard to envisage this progressive type running another big race.
|
Lightly-raced for his age and produced a pretty smart effort when landing the Golden Gates Stakes at Royal Ascot on the final run of a truncated 2024 campaign. However, he was a long way below his best in a handful of appearances last year and now finds himself with a bit to prove.
|
Smart at his best but, save for a close third in 1m Sandown handicap in July, he didn't show much last season and it's probably best to look elsewhere.
|
Found just one too good on 3 occasions in competitive handicaps last year, most notably in a valuable race at the Curragh in September. The efforts in question were all at around 1¼m, though, and he struggled on sole attempt over this trip in 2025.
|
Change of tactics worked a treat when snapping a losing run in valuable 1m Sandown handicap in July. Fine second followed in the 7f International Stakes at Ascot but signed off last season on a downer and he's 6 lb higher compared to when finishing third in this race 12 months ago.
|
Runner-up on 3 occasions in handicaps last term, including at the big Goodwood meeting in August when coming home 1½ lengths ahead of the re-opposing Linwood. Checked out rather tamely on his reappearance in Ireland but it wouldn't be a surprise to see him bounce back here with Ryan Moore booked.
|
Readily accounted for Shout and 7 others in a 3-y-o handicap at this meeting last year and did little wrong in defeat thereafter, including when beaten a length into third in the 7f Doncaster handicap won by Rogue Diplomat. Gelded during the winter and he's a handicapper to follow this season.
|
More of a force on the all-weather nowadays and, having struggled at Yarmouth when last seen on turf in July, he's probably worth taking on here.
|
Back on the up when cosily landing a significant York handicap for Edward Bethell last spring but held back by slow starts in his 2 subsequent starts in 2025 and the percentage call is to look elsewhere on this occasion. Debut for new yard.
|
Quirky but talented performer who has won 4 times from 11 starts on the all-weather. Yet to taste success from 13 runs on turf but didn't disgrace himself in major handicaps at Ascot and Doncaster last season and each-way squeak with James Doyle doing the steering.
|
Curragh 2-y-o maiden winner on debut for Aidan O'Brien and performed with credit both starts in pattern company for that yard in 2024. However, he has failed to beat a rival home in 3 starts for present connections and probably best watched back from a 10-month absence. Hood applied.
|
Wide-margin winner of 7f novice here (soft) on sole start at 2 yrs and placed both runs switched to handicaps in second half of last season, latterly chasing home a progressive type over this C&D (again on soft ground). Still has low mileage and will be a threat, particularly if rain arrives.
|
Reliable operator who made the frame in a trio of 1m Kempton handicaps in October and resumed with a good second in another over the same C&D 3 weeks ago. However, he remains 5 lb above his last winning mark and it could be that some of these are better treated.
|
Successful over 7f here as a 2-y-o and added to his tally in 1m Nottingham handicap last summer. Wasn't disgraced in 3 subsequent starts but doesn't appear to be the stable first-string here judged on jockey bookings.
|
Bagged the Carlisle Bell off this mark last season but form gradually tailed off thereafter (gelded since latest start in September) and Urban Lion is the stable No 1.
|
Hit a purple patch last summer, during which he got his head in front at Yarmouth, and looked better than ever when landing a 16-runner Doncaster handicap (7f, good to soft) on return. 4 lb rise not the end of the world but this demands a new career-best performance.
|
Forecasts
Back In Black (6/1), Rogue Diplomat (15/2), Urban Lion (8/1), Shout (8/1), Whip Cracker (10/1), Linwood (10/1), Classic (10/1), Fifth Column (10/1), Ebt's Guard (14/1), Stem (14/1), Hand Of God (16/1), Jimmy Speaking (20/1), Cogitate (20/1), Tony Montana (20/1), Oliver Show (20/1), Old Cock (25/1), Checkandchallenge (25/1), Al Mubhir (25/1), Hot Cash (25/1), Ancient Rome (33/1), Serengeti (33/1), Boyfriend (50/1), Nikovo (50/1), Ozat (50/1), Nizam (50/1), Samuel Colt (66/1)
The last 5 renewals of this have been won by 4-y-os and BACK IN BLACK spearheads an appealing group of candidates of that age this time round. He readily outpointed Shout over 7f here on his 2025 reappearance and, like many from his yard, he is likely to continue to improve with age. If the ground eases the lightly-raced Stem will be of strong interest, while the aforementioned Shout, Fifth Column and Whip Cracker are all shortlisted, along with Lincoln 1-2 Urban Lion and Rogue Diplomat.
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £36,078.002nd: £16,919.003rd: £8,463.004th: £4,228.005th: £2,114.006th: £1,057.00
MOST READ RACING
Follow & Track
Your favourite horses, jockeys and trainers with My StableLog in
Discover Sporting Life Plus benefits
