Wednesday 7th January 2026
2.35 Lingfield: Win £250,000 With BetMGM’s Golden Goals Handicap (Class 6)
Selection number one on Wednesday is the William Knight-trained ATHENIAN SPIRIT, who’s set to be ridden by Callum Shepherd in the 2.35 at Lingfield. He showed significant improvement on his penultimate outing at Wolverhampton when finishing a length and a half second of twelve behind Calypose Breeze, and he lost nothing in defeat at Newcastle either last time out when finishing sixth, when perhaps not seeing out his race at that track. This course could be more up his street, and he should have more to offer within handicap company off this mark.
ATHENIAN SPIRIT – 5/1 (Each-Way)
5.00 Kempton: Try Unibet’s Supportboosts Handicap (Class 6)
It’s over to Kempton for the second selection of the day, and this comes within the 5.00, which is a Class 6 handicap over six furlongs. The one who looks very solid here is ESPONA BAY, who represents the team of Michael Bell and Oisin Murphy. He hasn’t been seen since finishing second of twelve and a length and a half behind American Flight here in October. That form is strong, considering that rival has since won twice again, and was rated 70 following his most recent success. Michael Bell’s charge will contest this particular affair off just a pound higher mark than that latest run, and should prove a big player.
ESPONA BAY – 15/8 (Win) (NB)
5.30 Kempton: Unibet/EBF Restricted Novice Stakes (Class 4)
The best bet of the day comes from the 5.30 at Kempton, and the Richard Hughes-trained FREE YOUR SPIRIT, who’s the mount of seven-pound claimer Donagh Murphy. He was sent off the 1/3 favourite on his racecourse debut at Lingfield over a mile; however, couldn’t justify his skinny price on that occasion. Next time out at Wolverhampton, he made no mistake, winning impressively by three lengths under Billy Loughnane, and there should be plenty of improvement still to come from this Starman colt. Notably, Murphy’s seven-pound claim will also be a huge plus for him here, and a very bold showing is likely.
FREE YOUR SPIRIT – Evs (Win) (NAP)
6.30 Kempton: Try Unibet’s New Smartview Racecards Handicap (Class 2)
Concluding the selections for Wednesday will be POPMASTER in the 6.30 at Kempton, which is a competitive Class 2 handicap over seven furlongs. Set to be ridden by the champion jockey Oisin Murphy, Ed Walker’s eight-year-old is no stranger to competitive handicaps and has plenty of very solid form at this level, and higher. It’s been a long time in between drinks for him when it comes to winning, with his last success coming within a Listed contest at Newbury back in 2023. However, he should be competitive at a minimum off his current mark of 94, and the drop back down to seven furlongs looks the correct move here, considering he hasn’t been finishing his races off over a mile as of late. He’s also got course form of 11234 around here, and has never been beaten by more than a length and three-quarters.
POPMASTER – 11/2 (Each-Way)
