13:35 Haydock

Saturday 26 September 2026

All13:3514:1014:4015:1516:0016:3517:10

William Hill Epic Boosts Handicap

Off time: 13:35 | Winning time: 1m 45.38s

(1)

Cerulean Bay³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 104| C| D

4/1

Top-end handicapper who hasn't fired on either start since a cracking second in the Golden Mile at Glorious Goodwood. Does have a good record at this course, though, and looks well worth another chance with sights lowered.

Form: 584290

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(6)

Mister Winston¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: P J McDonald| T: A M Balding| OR: 100| D

10/1

Free-going sort. On the up when successful at Newmarket/Epsom prior to having excuses in the Hunt Cup/Golden Mile. Shaped as though back in reasonable form when beaten 5 lengths at Doncaster (1m) last time and handicapper has at least offered a 2-lb reprieve.

Form: 610078

(9)

Centigrade¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 100| D

5/1

Had some strong juvenile form prior to overcoming a 20-month absence in impressive style at Southwell in June. Never placed to justify favouritism in a well-contested York handicap before pulling away his chance in a listed event at Sandown latest. Remains well treated if putting it all together.

Form: 21/168

(4)

Eternal Force^p1³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Cieren Fallon| T: W J Haggas| OR: 96| CD

7/2

Capped a productive 3-y-o season with a hat-trick success over C&D (good to soft) last October. Below par both starts since going close in a tactical race at Hamilton in June. Lurking on a dangerous mark if return to this track/another change of headgear does the trick, though.

Form: 11-7267

(10)

Arctic Thunder²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: K Shoemark| T: E Walker| OR: 96| CD

7/1

Very much back on the up when completing a double over C&D (good to firm) last month. Seems unlikely to benefit from a strongly-run race on this occasion but still looked to be in good form when beaten 5¾ lengths in his hat-trick bid at Ascot subsequently.

Form: 768116

(2)

Commander's Intent¹⁵³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: George Scott| OR: 100| BF

18/1

Ended useful juvenile season on a high when runner-up in 7f listed event at Chantilly. Wasn't beaten far despite trailing the field in the Craven on return. Gelded since finishing third in German Group 3 in April and seemingly has plenty on at the weights on first start in open company.

Form: 1222-53

(8)

Checkandchallenge^v¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Callum Shepherd| T: W J Knight| OR: 96| D

22/1

Hasn't been seen to best effect on either start since finishing 4 lengths third in a solid York handicap in July. Given a chance by the handicapper following latest tardy start, though will need to be sharpened up by return of more severe headgear to end a long losing streak.

Form: 060300

(3)

Looka^h²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: S M Levey| T: M Botti| OR: 93| D

9/2

Down the field in the Solario on the back of his Kempton novice win last summer. Much improved for return to front-running tactics when landing a useful handicap at Kempton latest. Mixed messages regarding the strength of that form and has more on his plate up in grade here.

Form: 615-51

(7)

Desperate Dan¹⁰⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: George Wood| T: P W Chapple-Hyam| OR: 84| BF| D

14/1

Never looked like justifying support when bidding to land a third career heavy-ground handicap at Goodwood in June. Tendency to race freely gives pause on return from 3 months away, and he could be one for later in the autumn.

Form: 6141-96

Non-Runners

(5)

Godwinson⁵⁷

Weight: 9-6| Age: 6

T: J Channon J: David Probert

Forecasts

Eternal Force (7/2), Cerulean Bay (4/1), Looka (9/2), Centigrade (5/1), Arctic Thunder (7/1), Mister Winston (10/1), Godwinson (10/1), Desperate Dan (14/1), Commander's Intent (18/1), Checkandchallenge (22/1)

Golden Mile runner-up CERULEAN BAY often goes well at this track and is taken to resume winning ways with his sights slightly lowered. Centigrade and Eternal Force are feared for the excellent Beckett and Haggas yards respectively, with both 4-y-os looking well treated on their best form.