On The Clock

Andrew Beyer, that doyen of USA handicappers, has written several books on speed figures, from the 1970’s best-selling classic ‘Picking Winners’ to the more recent ‘Beyer On Speed’. The former dealt primarily with the theory and methodology of producing figures in the quest to find a winning top-rated selection, whilst Beyer On Speed focused more on the interpretation of a horse’s performance, how a figure was earned, and what this might say about a horse’s individual profile. Amongst many a pearl of wisdom was the view that ‘the optimal way for a horse to run is to get clear, set a pace well within their capacity, to conserve energy and release it in the final stages of the race. The biggest figures are usually earned this way….. handicappers using speed figures should always look with a measure of skepticism on any figure earned whilst loose on the lead’.

And so to Artiste D’Ainay (110) winner of the Restricted at Charm Park.  Beforehand this looked a closely knit affair, the market marginally favouring the potential of the once-raced My Caraline over the other, more exposed runners, whose ceiling of ability appeared to have been established. Yet in the race itself Artiste D’Ainay exploded, jumping well in the lead, keeping on strongly to the line to finish almost twenty-five lengths to the good and registering a time figure some 13lbs better than his form rating . The question now is, will he repeat this?  His overall profile, just one previous win in 11 starts with a best figure of 101, suggests not . However, on the plus he is still just eight years of age, is clearly in good heart and goes well for Ellie Callwood. It will be fascinating to see whether he is able to ‘nick’ another small contest before the season is out.

More straightforward was the success of Dollanstown (112) at the Seavington. I had flagged his potential following his maiden win at Badbury Rings in February since when he has never finished out of the first two, beaten twice by the equally promising Carrillo. Both horses look ones to take into next season.

Earlier on the card Tiny Tetley (116) won a competitive Open on his second start between the flags, having unseated the time before. Rated 132 when winning at Haydock in April last year, he is well suited by a sound surface and should be able to follow-up.

This year’s Lady Dudley Cup lacked depth and proved easy pickings for Grace a Vous Enki (114) a thirteenth win in fourteen pointing starts. Elsewhere Regatta de Blanc’s (107) renaissance continued at Flete Park and Ask Elli (101) delivered, of sorts, dead-heating with Eileen’s Milan at Lower Machen – the two clocking figures a couple of pounds in advance of their form ratings.

 Here are the best figures for this coming weekend’s meetings:

GARTHORPE 25/04/2026

  2:35 THE FIVE YEARS OLD AND OVER CONDITIONS RACE (LEVEL 2), 3M: Cash Or Card (IRE) (114)

 3:10 THE MIXED OPEN RACE, 3M: Tag Man (IRE) (124) No Risk des Flos (FR) (118) Shentri (FR) (118) Fairly Famous (IRE) (116) Slipway (IRE) (115)

4:20 THE GARTHORPE MAIDEN RACE (NWFAA), 3M: Guseakie (IRE) (96)

 4:55 THE EIGHT YEARS AND OVER CONDITIONS RACE (LEVEL 3), FOR NOVICE RIDERS, 3M: Champagne Glory (IRE) (106) Getupearly (GB) (98)

PARHAM 25/04/2026

 2:00 THE INTERMEDIATE RACE, 3M: Creapapy (FR) (110) Shareyourbiscuits (GB) (104)

3:05 THE CONDITIONS RACE (LEVEL 2), FOR NOVICE RIDERS, 3M: Imperial Esprit (IRE) (110)

 3:40 THE MIXED OPEN RACE, 3M: Hugos New Horse (FR) (119) Empire de Maulde (FR) (118) Beat Box (FR) (117) Slipway (IRE) (115)

 4:15 THE OWNER-TRAINER CONDITIONS RACE (LEVEL 2), 3M: Creapapy (FR) (110) Petite Mike (IRE) (101) Commander of Ten (IRE) (96)

PUSK 25/04/2026

 2:00 THE NORTHERN AREA CONDITIONS RACE (LEVEL 2), 3M: Whatdeawant (IRE) (109) Townhill (IRE) (106)

3:00 THE LADIES OPEN RACE, 3M: Brandy McQueen (IRE) (123) Whatdeawant (IRE) (123) Townhill (IRE) (120)

4:00 THE MIXED OPEN RACE, 2M ABOUT 4F: Phantoms Cave (IRE) (117) Brandy McQueen (IRE) (116) Itwasfate (GB) (115) Deerstalker (IRE) (112)

 4:30 THE MAIDEN RACE, 3M: Claramount (IRE) (97)

WOODFORD 25/04/2026

2:50 THE PPORA CLUB MEMBERS INTERMEDIATE RACE, 3M: Talimar Pearl (FR) (111) Farfromaway (IRE) (108) Our Brother John (IRE) (108)

  4:00 THE MIXED OPEN RACE, 3M: Hugos New Horse (FR) (119) Yippee Ki Yay (IRE) (119) French Piece (GB) (115) Farnoge (GB) (110) Kauto No Risk (FR) (106)

 4:35 THE CONDITIONS RACE (LEVEL 2), 3M: Couer d’Alene (IRE) (111) Garde La Peche (FR) (109)

 5:10 THE MAIDEN RACE, 3M: Guseakie (IRE) (96) Paris Man (FR) (96)

STAFFORD CROSS 26/04/2026

 1:30 THE AXE VALE HUNT MEMBERS, SUBSCRIBERS & FARMERS RACE, 3M: Beacon Edge (IRE) (108) Al Gasparo (FR) (106)

 2:05 THE INTERMEDIATE RACE, 3M: Good Boy Eric (GB) (112) Talimar Pearl (FR) (111) Shareyourbiscuits (GB) (104)

 2:40 THE MIXED OPEN RACE, 3M: Histrionic (IRE) (129) Duc de Bourbon (FR) (122)

 3:15 THE TOTNES & BRIDGETOWN CONDITIONS RACE (LEVEL 2), 3M: Talimar Pearl (FR) (116) Histrionic (IRE) (112) Duc de Bourbon (FR) (110)

 3:50 THE RESTRICTED RACE, 3M: Follow My Order (IRE) (110) Emmas Wish (IRE) (99)

TABLEY 26/04/2026

 3:10 THE PPORA CLUB MEMBERS CONDITIONS RACE (LEVEL 1), 3M: Lavorante (IRE) (120) Loud And Proud (IRE) (113) Hugos New Horse (FR) (112)

 3:55 THE MIXED OPEN RACE, 2M ABOUT 4F: Barton Snow (IRE) (139) Gracchus de Balme (FR) (135) A Jet of Our Own (IRE) (126) Loud And Proud (IRE) (120)

 4:30 THE CONDITIONS RACE (LEVEL 2), 2M ABOUT 4F: Lavorante (IRE) (110)

 5:05 THE MAIDEN RACE, 2M ABOUT 4F: Guseakie (IRE) (96)