16:12 Wetherby

Thursday 4 June 2026

All14:1214:4215:1215:4216:1216:4217:1517:50

Malvern Castle And Compass Hospitality Handicap

Off time: 16:12 | Winning time: 2m 6.47s

(7)

Ciao Capo²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 63| D

11/10

Made it 2 wins from his previous 3 starts when scoring with a bit in hand at Beverley (1¼m) last time, despite having been left with a lot to do after meeting trouble, and he's fancied to defy a 3 lb rise with more still to offer over this distance.

Form: 0641-41

(1)

Rogue Desire^t1⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: D Egan| T: Jack Morland| OR: 63

22/1

Finished third in a 7f Salisbury maiden on debut but is best not judged on her final start for Jack Jones in late-April. Tongue strap on first time for handicap/stable debut and she's certainly worth a go over this significantly longer trip (dam French 1½m winner).

Form: 3-57

(2)

Stepanov¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: E Bethell| OR: 63

5/2

Expensive yearling who still looked to be learning with third of 11 on handicap bow at Nottingham last time. Should continue to go the right way with experience and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him in the mix here.

Form: 6-243

(3)

Sovereign Bright³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Cieren Fallon| T: C Johnston| OR: 62

14/1

Looked less than straightforward when running no sort of race on return to turf at Musselburgh in late-April, but she did at least finish third in this grade on the all-weather on her penultimate start.

Form: 735-330

(5)

Skirt Around³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Oisin Murphy| T: P A Kirby| OR: 62

18/1

American-bred filly who failed to improve for the switch to handicaps (on the back of a breathing operation) when last of 8 at Newcastle on her return, though the booking of Oisin Murphy suggests she's probably thought capable of better.

Form: 643-8

(6)

Haltonwood^t¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Jonny Peate| T: I Furtado| OR: 60

16/1

Sottsass gelding looked a hard ride when fourth of 14 on handicap debut at Doncaster. That represented a step forward, though, and he's expected to stay this longer trip.

Form: 5494

(4)

Dalamara²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: A Mullen| T: B Haslam| OR: 58

9/2

A winner on handicap debut at Newcastle over the winter, she ran creditably to finish second behind a handicap blot at Ripon (1m) last time, and her pedigree/run style suggest this longer trip will benefit.

Form: 4771-42

Non-Runners

(9)

India Gold²⁰

Weight: 9-9| Age: 3

T: Miss Gay Kelleway J: Shane Gray

(8)

Riddikulus²⁷

Weight: 8-6| Age: 3

T: Grant Tuer J: Cam Hardie

Forecasts

Ciao Capo (11/10), Stepanov (5/2), Dalamara (9/2), Sovereign Bright (14/1), Haltonwood (16/1), India Gold (16/1), Riddikulus (16/1), Skirt Around (18/1), Rogue Desire (22/1)

CIAO CAPO remains unexposed over this sort of trip and can follow up his Beverley success. Stepanov is in good hands to progress and could feature prominently on just his second start in a handicap, while Skirt Around looks interesting with Oisin Murphy taking over.