Things to note on Friday: Nicky Richards’ hot form and Gavin Cromwell runners at Ayr
4 hours ago
NEWBURY
17 April 2026
Friday 17th April
Yellow underlined races have a myracing selection
cityam.com Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 3) Racecard
- Channel:
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good
- Runners
- 8
- Type
- Flat
- Surface
- Turf
- Stalls
- Inside
- Weather
- Light rain
Selection
Selection
Selected At
Classical Allusion
Selected at:
2/1
Classical Allusion showed a good attitude to win a Southwell maiden in September and the second has boosted that form by winning since. Second to Constitution Hill at Kempton after that, the switch to handicaps should suit and the new trip looks like a positive.
Bookmaker
Offer
Best Odds
Bet Here
2/1
-
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Racecard
No.(Draw)
Runner
Best Odds
Cold Recent Form Trainer - 2 wins from 47 in the last 14 days (4%)
Always behind at Kempton three weeks ago but should be benefited from that run
1003-8
Age: 5
Weight: 9-10
OR: 96
Days: 20
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Mar 26 | Kem Kempton (AW) | 16f St/Slw | 2Hc | 9-9 p | 8/9 | Align The Stars (9L) | 9/1 | 97 | 94 |
| 6 Dec 25 | San Sandown | 23.5f Sft | 2HcH | 10-13 p | 6/7 | Kikijo (68L) | 11/2 | 127 | 69 |
| 15 Nov 25 | Chl Cheltenham | 21f Sft | 3HcH | 10-8 p | 1/10 | Give Him A Chance (4¾L) | 33/1 | 119 | 125 |
| 25 Sep 25 | Nmk Newmarket | 16f Gd | L | 9-5 p | 3/7 | Miss Alpilles (5½L) | 33/1 | 97 | 99 |
| 28 Jun 25 | Ncs Newcastle (AW) | 16.5f St | 2Hc | 8-12 p | 10/20 | Spirit Mixer (9L) | 40/1 | 98 | 97 |
| 17 Jun 25 | Asc Ascot | 14f GF | 2Hc | 9-5 p | 11/16 | French Master (7¾L) | 28/1 | 98 | 98 |
D
Distance Winner - Won before at this distance
Ended last year in storming form trick and not disgraced in January latest; not dismissed
4111-6
Age: 8
Weight: 9-6
OR: 92
Days: 91
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jan 26 | Ncs Newcastle (AW) | 16.5f St | 2Hc | 9-5 | 6/11 | Duke Of Oxford (9¼L) | 12/1 | 92 | 91 |
| 12 Dec 25 | Sth Southwell (AW) | 16.5f St | 2Hc | 9-3 | 1/9 | Alrazeen (nk) | 7/2C | 89 | 97 |
| 29 Oct 25 | Not Nottingham | 14f Sft | 3Hc | 9-12 | 1/6 | Personal Best (1¾L) | 9/1 | 84 | 95 |
| 3 Oct 25 | Asc Ascot | 16f GS | 3Hc | 9-6 | 1/6 | Double Meaning (1½L) | 13/2 | 80 | 90 |
| 25 Jul 25 | Asc Ascot | 16f Gd | 3Hc | 9-12 | 4/6 | Many Men (4L) | 11/1 | 82 | 86 |
| 4 Jun 25 | War Warwick | 16f Gd | 4HcHM | 11-2 | 3/5 | Soleil d'Arizona (6L) | 3/1 | 103 | 98 |
Hot Recent Form Jockey - 7 wins from 21 in the last 14 days (33%)
2m2f Cesarewitch (10-1) did not work out; gelded since and could still have more to offer
11650-
Age: 4
Weight: 9-1
OR: 89
Days: 188
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Oct 25 | Nmk Newmarket | 18f GF | 2Hc | 8-2 | 13/19 | Beylerbeyi (17½L) | 10/1 | 91 | 88 |
| 6 Sep 25 | Hay Haydock | 14f Gd | 23yHc | 8-12 | 5/10 | Valiancy (5¼L) | 11/4F | 90 | 95 |
| 23 Aug 25 | Yor York | 14f GF | 23yHc | 9-6 | 6/12 | Tarriance (5¼L) | 17/2 | 90 | 94 |
| 24 Jul 25 | Yar Yarmouth | 14f Sft | 3Hc | 8-9 | 1/9 | Miller Spirit (1L) | 7/2 | 87 | 97 |
| 5 Jul 25 | Hay Haydock | 14f Gd | 23yHc | 8-11 | 1/10 | Novelista (shd) | 9/1 | 82 | 92 |
| 7 Jun 25 | Don Doncaster | 14.5f Gd | 23yHc | 9-0 | 6/10 | Many Men (4¾L) | 4/1 | 83 | 87 |
Won debut; kept superstar hurdler Constitution Hill up to his work at Kempton (1m4f, AW)
1-2
Age: 4
Weight: 8-11
OR: 85
Days: 23
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Mar 26 | Kem Kempton (AW) | 12f St/Slw | 3Nv | 9-11 | 2/8 | Constitution Hill (2L) | 5/1 | - | 86 |
| 27 Sep 25 | Sth Southwell (AW) | 12f St | 5Md | 9-7 | 1/9 | Aajej (¾L) | 10/1 | - | 78 |
September win latest; 3lb rise is far less concerning than his move away from soft/heavy
4/421-
Age: 6
Weight: 8-10
OR: 82
Days: 220
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Sep 25 | Ffo Ffos Las | 14f Hy | 4Hc | 9-10 | 1/6 | Mighty Bandit (2¼L) | 2/1 | 79 | 90 |
| 29 Jun 25 | Ffo Ffos Las | 14f Sft | 4Hc | 10-1 | 2/8 | Personal Best (1L) | 10/1 | 78 | 85 |
| 5 Jun 25 | Cfd Chelmsford (AW) | 13.5f St | 4Hc | 9-8 | 4/5 | Dancingwithmyself (1½L) | 6/1 | 79 | 85 |
| 4 Oct 24 | Asc Ascot | 16f Sft | 3Hc | 9-6 | 4/7 | Hutchence (5L) | 5/2J | 80 | 82 |
| 28 Sep 24 | Rip Ripon | 16f Sft | 4Hc | 9-9 | 2/7 | Merrijig (10L) | 9/4J | 80 | 79 |
| 22 Jun 24 | Asc Ascot | 21.5f GF | 2 | 9-3 | PU/9 | Uxmal () | 40/1 | 80 | - |
Peak efforts on last two AW starts; chance on that but needs to improve his turf form
63102-
Age: 5
Weight: 8-10
OR: 82
Days: 135
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Dec 25 | Kem Kempton (AW) | 16f St/Slw | 2Hc | 8-13 b | 2/12 | Duke Of Oxford (1½L) | 5/1 | 81 | 89 |
| 11 Oct 25 | Nmk Newmarket | 18f GF | 2Hc | 8-2 b | 16/19 | Beylerbeyi (49L) | 33/1 | 82 | 46 |
| 6 Sep 25 | Kem Kempton (AW) | 16f St/Slw | 4Hc | 10-0 b | 1/9 | Cock And Bull (3L) | 2/1F | 75 | 85 |
| 24 Jul 25 | Yar Yarmouth | 14f Sft | 3Hc | 8-8 b | 3/9 | Pole Star (1¼L) | 16/1 | 75 | 82 |
| 28 Jun 25 | Ncs Newcastle (AW) | 16.5f St | 2Hc | 9-1 b | 6/19 | Savrola (2¼L) | 14/1 | 76 | 82 |
| 28 May 25 | Kem Kempton (AW) | 16f St/Slw | 5Hc | 9-8 b1 | 1/11 | Kingdom Of Stars (½L) | 7/1 | 71 | 80 |
D
2 x Distance Winner - Won 2 times before at this distance
Major questions to answer regarding the ground and what he's currently capable of
3/94-9
Age: 9
Weight: 8-7
OR: 79
Days: 44
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Mar 26 | Sth Southwell (AW) | 18.5f St | 4Hc | 10-2 p | 9/10 | Arc Zoosve (45L) | 40/1 | 82 | 39 |
| 15 Oct 25 | Not Nottingham | 16f Gd | 4Hc | 10-2 p | 4/8 | St Mawes (5½L) | 33/1 | 84 | 86 |
| 8 Jun 25 | Goo Goodwood | 16f Sft | 3Hc | 9-2 p | 9/9 | Aggagio (18L) | 16/1 | 87 | 72 |
| 12 May 23 | Chs Chester | 18.5f Sft | 2Hc | 8-6 p | 3/16 | Metier (1L) | 11/4F | 88 | 98 |
| 21 Apr 23 | Nby Newbury | 16.5f Sft | 2Hc | 9-5 p | 2/10 | Novel Legend (6L) | 7/1 | 88 | 96 |
| 8 Oct 22 | Nmk Newmarket | 18f Gd | 2Hc | 8-6 p | 11/21 | Run For Oscar (10½L) | 14/1 | 85 | 85 |
D
2 x Distance Winner - Won 2 times before at this distance
Three AW wins in the last six months but none of his turf form matches today's mark
91-148
Age: 5
Weight: 8-5
OR: 77
Days: 14
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Apr 26 | Lin Lingfield (AW) | 16f St | 4Hc | 9-3 | 8/14 | Arc Zoosve (11L) | 22/1 | 78 | 70 |
| 27 Feb 26 | Wol Wolverhampton (AW) | 12f St | 4Hc | 9-4 | 4/6 | Pride Of Donegal (5¾L) | 7/2 | 78 | 77 |
| 2 Feb 26 | Wol Wolverhampton (AW) | 16.5f St | 5Hc | 9-8 | 1/9 | Sneaky Blinder (¾L) | 10/11F | 74 | 82 |
| 30 Dec 25 | Wol Wolverhampton (AW) | 14f St | 5Hc | 9-9 | 1/8 | Circuit Breaker (1L) | 2/1F | 71 | 81 |
| 3 Dec 25 | Kem Kempton (AW) | 16f St/Slw | 2Hc | 8-4 | 9/12 | Duke Of Oxford (6½L) | 9/1 | 72 | 73 |
| 8 Nov 25 | Wol Wolverhampton (AW) | 14f St | 4Hc | 8-10 | 3/10 | Artisan Dancer (¾L) | 6/1 | 72 | 79 |
Verdict
Pole Star is not passed over lightly but faces a fascinating rival in the twice-raced handicap debutant CLASSICAL ALLUSION.
Classical Allusion
Betting Forecast:
2/1 Classical Allusion,
11/4 Pole Star,
9/2 Caprelo,
11/2 Maxident,
7/1 Blazeon Five,
14/1 Lavender Hill Mob,
25/1 Francesco Baracca,
33/1 Call My Bluff
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