17:55 Newmarket

Saturday 2 May 2026

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3516:1016:4517:2017:55

National Stud Handicap

4YO plus | Class 3 | 1m | 16 Runners | Turf

(15)

Skipper¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: James Doyle| T: H Al Jehani| OR: 90| D

Winner in Qatar on debut for A. de Mieulle in January last year. Didn't kick on in 3 subsequent outings of the campaign (raced in France the final 2), but after 8 months off he made a successful start for current trainer in handicap at Redcar 12 days ago. Respected.

Form: 7/1556-1

(5)

Mr Professor³¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: D Egan| T: K P De Foy| OR: 90| D

Winner of the Lincoln on 2024 return before losing his way. Raced only 3 times last season but showed better signs, hampered late on when sixth of 10 at Newcastle on final outing in June. Now below last winning mark on first run since leaving Raphael Freire and this is a marked drop in grade.

Form: 000/056-

(4)

Man Of La Mancha²¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 89| C| D

Had been shaping better than the result prior to doubling his tally at Sandown (1m) last summer. Improved again when following up over 9f at this course in September and he's not taken lightly on return from 7 months off.

Form: 332411-

(7)

Advancing⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Hollie Doyle| T: M Botti| OR: 89| D

Landed a gamble on debut for this yard at Wolverhampton in December and showed a good turn of foot to score at Kempton in March. However, below form back at Wolverhampton last time and has done most of his racing on all-weather.

Form: 61-4410

(11)

Zryan²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 87| D

Gained a second win of the winter when scoring at Newcastle (1¼m) in January and ran well next 2 outings. Found things tougher upped in grade, though, when eleventh of 14 at the same C&D on Good Friday.

Form: 2-01260

(9)

Cogitate¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: K Shoemark| T: C Hills| OR: 87| D

Gained a first handicap success at Salisbury last spring and returned to that form when making the frame in 4 consecutive starts at Kempton, the latest when runner-up in March on return. Not discredited back up in grade when mid-field at Newbury 2 weeks ago.

Form: 7242-20

(13)

Earl Of Rochester²⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: George Wood| T: T Kent| OR: 87| BF

Promising third in Wood Ditton here in 2024. Left behind last season's reappearance when second in a Kempton novice in August, before again finding one too good in a Windsor maiden (1¼m). Off 8 months ahead of first run since leaving John & Thady Gosden. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 3/422-

(2)

Sterling Knight¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: R L Moore| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 86| D

Gained reward for his consistency in 2025 when bagging 7f handicap at Doncaster in July but yet to fire in 3 starts this year, seventh of 10 over this C&D 18 days ago. Has eased in the weights as a result, though others more persuasive at present.

Form: 240-607

(14)

I Still Have Faith^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Marco Ghiani| T: S C Williams| OR: 86| C| D

Making second start for current yard, proved at least as good as ever when runner-up at Southwell (7f) in February. Not in the same form next time, but with tongue strap fitted he got back on the up when narrowly denied at Lingfield (1m) in April.

Form: 20-8262

(6)

Carron^t,p1³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Billy Loughnane| T: G Boughey| OR: 86| D

3-time winner in 2025 for Charles Hills and, having had excuses first 3 starts for new yard, recorded a game success at Newcastle in March. Below form in Spring Mile at Doncaster last time, though may have been unsuited by softer going. Cheekpieces added.

Form: 17-3610

(16)

Twisting Physics¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Edward Greatrex| T: Oliver Cole| OR: 85| D

Southwell novice winner (1m) on second outing and improved form in 2 starts last season, battling well for success on handicap debut at Newbury (7f) in June. After 10 months off, shaped well when sixth of 14 upped to 1¼m back at Newbury 2 weeks ago. Major player.

Form: 41/21-6

(10)

Footwork¹⁹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: P J McDonald| T: C Johnston| OR: 85| D

Much improved on second try over 1m when scoring readily at Haydock last spring. Ran well after 5 months off when third at Kempton in October, though disappointed back at Kempton on final outing of the campaign.

Form: 31/5139-

(12)

Classic Encounter^p³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Tom Marquand| T: G Boughey| OR: 85| D

Successful at Redcar and York last season, whilst he also ran well in 3 visits to this track including when third in race won by Man of La Mancha in September. Met trouble in running in Spring Mile at Doncaster on return, so he could fare better with cheekpieces back on.

Form: 14603-7

(1)

Spanish Voice^t⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 83| BF| C

Winner of 1¼m novice at this course sole outing in 2025, before completing a simple task at Lingfield on return from 10 months off in February. Has raced too freely in 2 handicaps since, but he's an interesting contender dropped back in trip.

Form: 3/1-187

(3)

Final Night²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Ray Dawson| T: J Butler| OR: 79| BF| D

Took a step forward when opening account at Kempton (1m) in October and has won 3 times over the same C&D since, with latest success in March. However, found run of good form coming to a halt when sixth of 9 there on latest outing.

Form: 311-316

(8)

Slipper Time²¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Nicola Currie| T: H Candy| OR: 78

Off the mark at Salisbury in August last year and progressed again on handicap debut when third at Newbury (7f) next time. Ran poorly upped to 1m when last seen at Kempton in October, though he should stay this far if settling better.

Form: 34130-

Forecasts

Man Of La Mancha (9/2), Skipper (6/1), I Still Have Faith (7/1), Spanish Voice (10/1), Earl Of Rochester (10/1), Twisting Physics (10/1), Advancing (14/1), Carron (14/1), Classic Encounter (14/1), Final Night (14/1), Sterling Knight (14/1), Mr Professor (16/1), Cogitate (16/1), Slipper Time (16/1), Footwork (20/1), Zryan (20/1)

TWISTING PHYSICS caught the eye in a competitive race at Newbury on his reappearance, form boosted by the winner scoring again since, and he is taken to provide his yard with back-to-back victories in this contest. Heading the list of dangers is Man of La Mancha who bids for a hat-trick on his return, with Skipper and Carron others to consider.