★  RECENT WINNERS · EVERY PICK LOGGED BEFORE THE OFF  —  Desert Charm Lingfield 11/8✓  ·  Glenna Windsor 13/8✓  ·  Secret Handsheikh Chepstow 4/1✓  ·  Claymore Windsor 3/1✓  ·  Ancient State Lingfield 7/4✓  ·  Jackabi Chepstow 5/2✓  ·  Hallandale Beach Chepstow 7/2✓  ·  A Daughters Love Chepstow 6/5✓  ·  Double Parked York 9/2✓  ·  Barnaby Rudge Newcastle (AW) 15/8✓  ·  Start Me Up Chester 4/1✓  ·  Align The Stars Newcastle (AW) 10/1✓  ·  Naana's Shadow York 3/1✓  ·  Stardom Glory Chester 11/8✓  ·  Booziebrunch Newmarket (July) 11/8✓  ·  Glenmalure Flyer Bangor-on-Dee 7/2✓  ·  Summer Island Curragh 11/4✓  ·  Prevalence Curragh 9/2✓  —  SEE EVERY RESULT — WINS & LOSSES →  —  ★  RECENT WINNERS · EVERY PICK LOGGED BEFORE THE OFF  —  Desert Charm Lingfield 11/8✓  ·  Glenna Windsor 13/8✓  ·  Secret Handsheikh Chepstow 4/1✓  ·  Claymore Windsor 3/1✓  ·  Ancient State Lingfield 7/4✓  ·  Jackabi Chepstow 5/2✓  ·  Hallandale Beach Chepstow 7/2✓  ·  A Daughters Love Chepstow 6/5✓  ·  Double Parked York 9/2✓  ·  Barnaby Rudge Newcastle (AW) 15/8✓  ·  Start Me Up Chester 4/1✓  ·  Align The Stars Newcastle (AW) 10/1✓  ·  Naana's Shadow York 3/1✓  ·  Stardom Glory Chester 11/8✓  ·  Booziebrunch Newmarket (July) 11/8✓  ·  Glenmalure Flyer Bangor-on-Dee 7/2✓  ·  Summer Island Curragh 11/4✓  ·  Prevalence Curragh 9/2✓  —  SEE EVERY RESULT — WINS & LOSSES →  —  

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Chepstow · 8:05pm

DragonBet Welsh Racing Festival 9th-11th October Handicap

Flat (Turf) 5f GOOD TO FIRM (Watered; 7.8) Class 6 4yo+ 6 runners
Solid read Secret Handsheikh is our pick, with Macarone the main danger.
This 5f class 6 sprint at Chepstow features a field of 6 runners on firm going, with a likely steady gallop controlled by the lone leader. Low draws are favoured at this track, with an impact value of 1.23, beating 50% of rivals on average. Secret Handsheikh is a fair favourite, but faces live dangers, notably Macarone, who is the only confirmed front-runner and acts on firm going. Macarone, along with Some Nightmare and Act Of Violence, poses a threat, having met trouble last time or boasting a positive trainer angle, such as dropping in class.
How it played out: Secret Handsheikh won. Our top composite read Secret Handsheikh finished 1st.
The key questions
How will the race be run?
Macarone is the only confirmed front-runner, so expect a steady gallop the leader can control — a powerful setup if left alone up front.
Does the draw matter?
Low draws are favoured over sprint at Chepstow (impact value 1.23, beating 50% of rivals on average).
Anyone well-treated?
Some Nightmare drops in class — often a positive trainer angle.
Who's the main danger?
Macarone is the chief threat to Secret Handsheikh, met trouble last time.
Pace map — who goes forward, who waits

Leads 1

3Macarone

Prominent 2

2Secret Handsheikh
1Act Of Violence

Mid-pack 0

—

Held up 3

4Some Nightmare
5Dragon God
6Captain Bentley

Pace confidence: 100%

Draw & pace bias — impact value >1.0 = favoured

Low draws are favoured over sprint at Chepstow (impact value 1.23, beating 50% of rivals on average).

Low draw

IV 1.23
50% rivals beaten · n=109

Mid draw

IV 0.86
48% rivals beaten · n=127

High draw

IV 1.1
51% rivals beaten · n=174
What the data likes (our composite read — not tips)
No. 1 read Secret Handsheikh Races prominently Finished 1
Stall 2 · Trainer John Gallagher · Jockey Joe Leavy

Going the right way — the form figures are on the climb. First-time visor could sharpen him up.

Ability rating
72 improving
recent best — career high 93 in 2021
This track
Trainer 15% · Jockey 9%
strike rate at Chepstow
Last time out
RPR 72
most recent run
Last 6 starts — oldest to most recent
31010387 last time ←
GroundHas won on firm — 1 from 24
DistanceHas won around 5f — 6 from 55
Course3 runs at the track without winning
FitnessQuick turnaround — back within 5 days
ConnectionsAt this course: trainer 15%, jockey 9%
DrawDrawn 2 (low third) — favoured here (impact value 1.23)
First-time visor
Weakened in the closing stages last time
2 Macarone Likely to lead Finished 5
Stall 3 · Trainer Grace Harris · Jockey Ben Ffrench Davis(5)

Going the right way — the form figures are on the climb. Met trouble in running last time, so he's better than that result looks.

Ability rating
58 improving
recent best — career high 72 in 2025
This track
Trainer 10% · Jockey 21%
strike rate at Chepstow
Last time out
RPR 58
most recent run
Last 6 starts — oldest to most recent
10941087 last time ←
GroundProven on firm — won 1 of 4
DistanceHas won around 5f — 2 from 13
Course2 runs at the track without winning
ConnectionsAt this course: trainer 10%, jockey 21%
DrawDrawn 3 (mid third) — a fair draw (impact value 0.86)
Met trouble in running last time — better than the bare result
3 Some Nightmare Held up, comes late Finished 3
Stall 4 · Trainer John O'Shea · Jockey William Carson

Going the right way — the form figures are on the climb. First-time blinkers could sharpen him up; drops in class, often a positive sign.

Ability rating
58 improving
recent best — career high 85 in 2022
This track
Trainer 12% · Jockey 8%
strike rate at Chepstow
Last time out
RPR 58
most recent run
Last 6 starts — oldest to most recent
384354 last time ←
GroundHas won on firm — 2 from 15
DistanceHas won around 5f — 4 from 39
CourseCourse winner — 2 from 9 here
ConnectionsAt this course: trainer 12%, jockey 8%
DrawDrawn 4 (mid third) — a fair draw (impact value 0.86)
First-time blinkersDrops in class (C5→C6)
Kept on last time — a stronger gallop or longer trip may suit
4 Act Of Violence Races prominently Finished 4
Stall 1 · Trainer Tony Carroll · Jockey Jack Doughty

Form has dipped a little of late, so needs to bounce back. Met trouble in running last time, so he's better than that result looks; the stable is in good heart at the track.

Ability rating
63 regressing
recent best — career high 82 in 2024
This track
Trainer 10% · Jockey 9%
strike rate at Chepstow
Last time out
RPR 46
most recent run
Last 6 starts — oldest to most recent
646968 last time ←
GroundYet to win on firm (0 from 3)
DistanceUnproven at 5f (0 from 2)
FitnessReturns from 156 days off the track
ConnectionsAt this course: trainer 10%, jockey 9%
DrawDrawn 1 (low third) — favoured here (impact value 1.23)
Stable hot (10/41, 24%)Long layoff (156d)
Met trouble in running last time — better than the bare result
5 Dragon God Held up, comes late Finished 2
Stall 5 · Trainer Tony Carroll · Jockey Rowan Scott

Holds solid claims on these figures. The stable is in good heart at the track.

Ability rating
59 steady
Racing Post Rating, recent form
This track
Trainer 10% · Jockey 7%
strike rate at Chepstow
Last time out
RPR 55
most recent run
Last 6 starts — oldest to most recent
893365 last time ←
GroundYet to win on firm (0 from 3)
DistanceUnproven at 5f (0 from 3)
Course1 run at the track without winning
ConnectionsAt this course: trainer 10%, jockey 7%
DrawDrawn 5 (high third) — a fair draw (impact value 1.1)
Stable hot (10/41, 24%)
Weakened in the closing stages last time
6 Captain Bentley Held up, comes late Finished 6
Stall 6 · Trainer Michael Mullineaux · Jockey Tyler Heard

Form has dipped a little of late, so needs to bounce back.

Ability rating
54 regressing
recent best — career high 66 in 2023
This track
Trainer 4% · Jockey 6%
strike rate at Chepstow
Last time out
RPR 19
most recent run
Last 6 starts — oldest to most recent
186101311 last time ←
GroundHas won on firm — 1 from 8
DistanceHas won around 5f — 1 from 20
CourseCourse winner — 1 from 3 here
FitnessBack from a long absence — 236 days off, fitness to prove
ConnectionsAt this course: trainer 4%, jockey 6%
DrawDrawn 6 (high third) — a fair draw (impact value 1.1)
Long layoff (236d)

Figures from results history (RPR/TS), pace from running-style history, connections from trainer/jockey stats, breeding from sire aptitude. Shrunk for small samples. Information only, not betting advice. 18+. BeGambleAware.org.