18:30 Newbury

Wednesday 26 August 2026

All16:1016:4517:2017:5518:3019:0019:30

Gracelands Handicap (Str)

Off time: 18:30 | Winning time: 1m 36.13s

(8)

Best Rate¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: S C Cronin⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 87| D

10/1

Won back-to-back handicaps at Ascot and Pontefract in July before solid third of 5 from career-high mark at Sandown later that month. Run of good form halted at Ripon 11 days ago so needs to bounce back quickly. Has struck up a good relationship with this apprentice so may do so.

Form: 241135

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(3)

Cloud Forest²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: H Crouch| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 83| BF

11/2

Improved on debut form when second of 6 in novice at Leicester (1¼m) last month but sent off odds on and found it hard conceding 9 lb to a good prospect when filling that same position at Kempton (11f) 3 weeks ago (wandered badly over 1f out). Drops down to 1m for this handicap debut

Form: 622

(13)

Distinct Spirit¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Ebrahim Nader| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 83| D

14/1

Has taken his form up a notch in recent weeks, landing back-to-back handicaps at Ffos Las and Lingfield. Ran at least as well in defeat in a more competitive event when second of 11 at Haydock (7f, good to firm) just under 3 weeks ago and is now forced up in grade.

Form: U-33112

(6)

Princess Rascal⁷⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Kaiya Fraser| T: Oliver Cole| OR: 82

14/1

Landed Salisbury maiden and handicap at Newmarket in 2025. Unable to land a blow on her return at Salisbury in May and it was a similar story at Chester the following month. Drops back in trip and handicapper given her a squeak back from 11 weeks off.

Form: 2614-45

(1)

Zatsgood^p,t¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Billy Loughnane| T: G Boughey| OR: 82| D

6/1

Made a winning handicap bow at Lingfield in May. Edged out at Newcastle by one that has already followed up last month and split a pair of younger rivals in filling the same position when second of 7 at this course (7f, good to firm) 12 days ago. In the mix again.

Form: 417322

(7)

Marlborough Place⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Taryn Langley⁽⁵⁾| T: A Wintle| OR: 80| D

125/1

Won second time up in Limerick maiden last summer. Matched Irish form under a penalty when beaten 2 lengths in Kempton novice in February and shaped as if better for the run after 4 months off on handicap debut at Ffos Las in June. Hard to fancy having been off another 10 weeks.

Form: 31-45

(12)

River Card³²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Tom Marquand| T: B J Meehan| OR: 86| D

10/1

Confirmed debut promise when winning 5-runner Ascot maiden last September. Ran poorly pitched back into another valuable sales race at Longchamp the following month and hasn't been seen since. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 210-

(4)

Walson's Law¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 79| C| D

11/1

Doubled his tally when successful in a similar course handicap last summer. Has made the frame 3 of his 5 starts this season, including when fourth of 7 at this course (7f, good to firm, 9/2) 12 days ago. Just 1 lb above his last winning mark but will probably find a couple too strong again.

Form: 6-30044

(2)

Abundant²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: S M Levey| T: T Ward| OR: 80| D

7/4

Got off the mark at Southwell in October and in good form in handicaps this season, doing more than enough from a difficult draw in first-time cheekpieces to suggest he's still in top form when fifth of 19 at Goodwood (1m, good to firm) last month. Headgear quickly discarded.

Form: 21-4335

(11)

Home Hero^v¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Luke Catton⁽³⁾| T: H Palmer| OR: 80| D

33/1

Visored and much improved to get off the mark in 1m handicap at Sandown last month. Not seen to best effect next time but quickly back on the up when winning 6-runner handicap at Haydock (1m, good to firm) 18 days ago, an awkward head carriage not stopping him. 6 lb higher but he's progressive.

Form: 389151

(10)

Accademia⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: K Shoemark| T: E Walker| OR: 78| CD

9/2

All the sharper for reappearance when winning handicap at Doncaster (7f) early last month and followed up in 10-runner handicap over C&D (firm) just under 6 weeks ago, value extra considering the position she came from in a race that was far from truly run. Can complete the hat-trick.

Form: 744-511

(9)

Tribal Rhythm^p1⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Rob Hornby| T: D J Coakley| OR: 72

80/1

Encouraging second on 1m Bath reappearance in April but disappointing on both subsequent starts, shaping as if better for the run after 11 weeks off at Windsor last month. Needs first-time cheekpieces to spark a revival.

Form: 060-278

Non-Runners

(5)

Electric Dreams²⁷

Weight: 9-10| Age: 3

T: J R Fanshawe J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Abundant (7/4), Accademia (9/2), Cloud Forest (11/2), Zatsgood (6/1), River Card (10/1), Best Rate (10/1), Walson's Law (11/1), Distinct Spirit (14/1), Princess Rascal (14/1), Electric Dreams (14/1), Home Hero (33/1), Tribal Rhythm (80/1), Marlborough Place (125/1)

ACCADEMIA is a filly on the up and having been value extra considering the position she came from in a race that was far from truly run over C&D last month, Ed Walker's charge is fancied to bring up the hat-trick. Zatsgood's best form has come on all-weather, but he looks a major threat in this, with the progressive Home Hero taken to edge out Walson's Law for minor honours.