16:35 | Haydock | Saturday 26th September 2026

85 Expert View: Minor improvement from debut effort stepped up in trip beaten 8 1/4l in a novice here last time; bred for middle distances; still in need of major progress, probably needs another step up in distance.

Form Snapshot: Foaled 24 Apr. Dam won twice at 1m 3f and 1m 4f. Unplaced in both starts. Finished 8l behind Burning Up when fifth of 9 at 9-2 on his latest outing over this course and distance (soft) earlier this month.

2 (7)

Game Character 14

b c ; New Bay - Thread Of Silver

17/2 9.5

David Probert

H Palmer

Star rating: 4

53 2 9-2 -

D BF

98 Expert View: Confirmed debut level, but market expected better 4l third in a maiden at Doncaster most recent run; effective 7/8f, acts on good to soft and good; promise in first two starts, open to further improvement.

Form Snapshot: Foaled 14 Mar. Half-brother to Stitching Wheel, won at 1m 6f. Placed once in two starts. Third of 10 behind Al Jabbar beaten 4l at 5-2fav on his latest outing at Doncaster over 1m (good) earlier this month.

3 (6)

Hands To Yourself (IRE) 23

b c ; Camelot - Queen Boudica

6/4 2.5

H Crouch

M L W Bell

Star rating: 4

2 2 9-2 -

CD G Cl

104 Expert View: Very promising, but easily held runner-up beaten 1 1/4l in a novice here only start; effective 8f, acts on soft; knew job on debut, open to plenty of improvement.

Form Snapshot: Foaled 9 Feb. Half-brother to Baroque Artist, won at 7f. Beaten 1 1/4l by Burning Up when second of 9 at 14-1 on his racecourse debut over this course and distance (soft) earlier this month.

4 (2)

Impasto 22

b c ; Palace Pier - Tempera

13/8 2.63

P J McDonald

A M Balding

Star rating: 5

2 2 9-2 -

101 Expert View: Seemed to know job, ran to decent level runner-up beaten 3l in a maiden at Ascot only start; effective 7f on good; from top yard and holds Group 1 entry, should improve for 8f here.

Form Snapshot: Foaled 3 Mar. Half-brother to Samburu, won four times at 7f and 1m. Beaten 2 3/4l by San Jose when second of 11 at 10-3 on his racecourse debut at Ascot over 7f (good) earlier this month.

5 (3)

Nicamoo 12

b g ; Sergei Prokofiev - Delirium

200/1 201

S H James

D Loughnane

Star rating: 1

84 2 9-2 -

69 Expert View: Minor improvement from debut, but still never involved when fourth beaten 10l in a novice at Thirsk latest; hood first time; sire sprinter, dam 10f winner; plenty more needed now up in trip.

Form Snapshot: Foaled 20 Apr. Half-brother to Flash Rascal, won at 6f. Unplaced in both starts. Finished 10l behind Majestic Jude when last of 4 at 150-1 on his latest outing at Thirsk over 7f (good) earlier this month. He is wearing a hood for the first time.

6 (4)

River Glen (IRE)

b g ; Gleneagles - Enjoy Life

80/1 81

D Tudhope

R Menzies

Star rating: 1

2 9-2 -

70 Expert View: 20 Mar; 33,000 euros Gleneagles gelding; full-brother to Drummin Life, smart at 10f; dam useful from 6f to 7f; probably best watched on debut.

Form Snapshot: Foaled 20 Mar. Full brother to Drummin Life, won at 1m.

7 (1)

Royal Acclamation 18

b c ; Zarak - Maria Danilova

3/1 4

Toby Moore (7)

C Appleby

Star rating: 3

32 2 9-2 -

D G Cl

97 Expert View: Improved from debut switched to turf when second beaten a length in a maiden at Goodwood latest; trainer in form; effective 8f, could get further, acts on soft; proven in this conditions, chance for top connections.

Form Snapshot: Foaled 11 Mar. Half-brother to Blessed Honour, won at 1m 2f. Placed in both starts. Beaten 1l by Quicken Away when second of 7 at 11-1 on his latest outing at Goodwood over 1m (soft) earlier this month.

2025: (9 ran) Lost Boys ( 9 ) , Age 2 , Wgt 9-2 , SP 5/4 - H Crouch / D Menuisier

Forecast: 7/4 Impasto , 5/2 Game Character , 3/1 Royal Acclamation , 5/1 Hands To Yourself , 20/1 Dancing Dunes , 50/1 River Glen , 66/1 Nicamoo

Last Updated: 25 Sep 2026 18:55:23

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Form Icons

To give you a quick snapshot of each horse’s form we’ve introduced the following icons which represent the following:

CD Course & Distance
D Distance
C Course
Hcp Today’s Official Rating or Higher

G Going
HG Headgear
Cl Class
S Surface

Grey icons indicate horses that have been placed under those conditions.
Blue icons indicate horses that have won under those conditions.
Gold icons indicate horses with a 50% or better win record under those conditions.

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Other Information

BF Beaten favourite last time out
MM Horse is within the top 10 steamers for the day
MM Horse is within the top 10 drifters for the day
ATR Horse is being backed by one of our tipsters

90 Official Rating
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v/b/h Visor / Blinkers / Hood
es/ec Eye Shield / Eye Cover
p Cheek Pieces
t Tongue Strap

The following symbols sometimes appear alongside an Official Rating:

WS This horse received Wind Surgery prior to this run
WS2 This was the horse's second outing after receiving Wind Surgery

2 Horse is due to go xlb down in future race
2 Horse is due to go xlb up in future races

Bookies best price percentage = 118.06%

AT THE RACES is not liable for any services or information offered or provided by its bookmaker partners. Please note: Whilst every effort is made to ensure odds and information are up to date and correct, differences between these and actual odds/information available from bookmakers at time of placing a bet may occur. Read more

Verdict
Expert View Verdict

Verdict

Royal Acclamation is improving, finishing third at Lingfield and a length second at Goodwood on soft ground to Quicken Away, and the homebred Zarak colt should be a force to reckon with again. However, the winner that day was trained by Andrew Balding who sends IMPASTO here knowing exactly what is needed. Second at Ascot when looking as if the experience would do him good, the son of Palace Pier might go one better now. Hands To Yourself and Game Character are others for the shortlist.

Top Tip: Impasto (4)
Watch out for: Royal Acclamation (7)

IMPASTO made a promising debut when runner-up at Ascot and seemed to know his job that day. From Andrew Balding's top yard, where juveniles tend to come on from their first runs, and still entered in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy, he is bred to improve for this step up to 8f and can open his account for Juddmonte. Game Character has shown promise in both starts and remains open to further improvement for Hugo Palmer. 95,000gns Camelot colt Hands To Yourself was a promising runner-up on debut and can improve plenty for the experience.

1-2-3 Selections

Previous Winners

Year	Going	Ran	Winner	Draw	Age	Weight	OR	Form	Last run	Trainer (Distance)	Jockey	SP	Time
2025	Good to Soft	9	Lost Boys	9	2	9 2	-	33	21 days	D Menuisier (232 miles)	Hector Crouch	5/ 4	1:45.02
2024	Soft	6	One Eye Jack	2	2	9 2	-			H Palmer (42 miles)	Paul Mulrennan	9/ 2	1:50.45

Race Favourite Stats

Year	Favourite Finish Position	Winner Market Position
2025	1	1
2024	2	3

Race Record

Distance	Record Time
7f 212y	1:37.80