The first week of September is traditionally one of the busiest periods for the yard. In 2025, there were 34 runners.
From eight runners in Class 2 and Class 3 handicaps at Ascot, Haydock and York across the Saturday and Sunday cards, there were six winners — happy days!
Given what has happened so far in 2026, that looks extremely unlikely to be matched this season, although it was good to see Pierian win the Class 4 Bath feature on Wednesday.
Thursday’s Runners
Thursday’s racing features 10 Somerville Lodge runners, with the majority seemingly reverting to Plan B or even Plan C in an attempt to achieve success.
The two older handicappers both fit that profile.
Time Loop — 17:24 Salisbury drops back in trip to 8f after failing to win in three runs this season over 10f and 12f.
At 17:00 Haydock, Sharp Move reappears just six days after finishing eighth of eight in a Class 4 handicap at Sandown, where he was a huge market drifter.
He has now been dropped to a mark of 78 and, in normal circumstances, would be under consideration as a betting proposition.
Given the record of the current crop of four-year-old handicappers, however, there is very little to suggest that either Time Loop or Sharp Move can reverse the significant losing trend and win for the first time this season.
No Bet Recommended
Time Loop and Sharp Move
Hoseki — A Significant Drop in Trip
Three-year-old handicappers racing at Class 2 and Class 3 level are a group of Somerville Lodge horses that have produced a strike rate this season on a par with, or better than, previous years.
The strike rate for runners sent off at 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the betting is 35%, the best figure since 37% in 2021. It is a category that has produced a strike rate of more than 30% in most years.
It looks significant that the three-time winner Hoseki is being dropped back to 10f after being beaten over 12f in the Shergar Cup last time out.
The race has a history of being dominated by three-year-old fillies, who have won five of the six renewals. Haggas has contested the race four times, winning it once and finishing in the first four on each of the other three occasions.
Hoseki will be the first Somerville Lodge runner to contest the race after being dropped in trip. It is a move that was not expected, but the ground at Haydock is likely to be testing and should put a premium on stamina.
This looks like a race planned to establish whether she has sufficient speed for 10f before deciding on her route towards a Black Type opportunity. She also has an ambitious entry in the Group 1 Champion Mares & Fillies Stakes at Ascot.
Tom Marquand is likely to lay up closer to the pace, and the filly can hopefully outstay — and perhaps outspeed — her rivals to become the first Somerville Lodge horse to record four wins this season, three of them in Class 3 handicaps. She is unproven on the ground and although there are only 7 runners over 10f I don’t like the draw in Stall 6, especially if there is no pace she could get caught wide. She is the best chance of success on the day and had she been on offer at 9/4 I would have backed her – but the general 5/4 is too short.
Hoseki — 16:25 Haydock No Bet Recommended
Southwell Pair Face Different Challenges
A couple of three-year-olds are sent to Southwell to contest handicaps at a lower level.
Luminaire chases her first victory of the season in the 18:40 Class 4 over a mile, while Al Maslool seeks a second victory of the season in the 17:35 Class 5 over 12f.
Both are ridden by the underrated Darragh Keenan.
Luminaire has finished second three times from five runs this year and unquestionably deserves to win a small race of this nature.
Unfortunately, as a hold-up horse, her draw in Stall 1 means she may have to be ridden for luck from the back of the field before attempting to work her way across to the favoured stands’ side rail.
There looks to be very little pace in the race and, once again, fortune may not be on her side.
Al Maslool takes his chance in a low-grade three-year-old contest. He is the most exposed runner in the field and looks to have a difficult task giving weight to the improving Grand Pier, who is likely to go off at a short price at the head of the market.
No Recommended Bet
Luminaire and Al Maslool
Two-Year-Olds — More Questions Than Answers
There are four two-year-olds due to run, three of them at Haydock Park.
Under Arrest — 14:05 Haydock
Diplomata — 15:17 Haydock
Sharadd — 15:52 Haydock
All three should be watched with the future in mind.
The most interesting juvenile is Perfect Strike, the yard’s only runner at Newcastle, in the 5f novice at 15:59.
He is likely to be at short odds to win but cannot be considered a betting opportunity given the high level of inconsistency currently being shown by the yard’s two-year-olds.
He was backed to win a much stronger race at Newbury over an extended 6f and is immediately dropped back to 5f less than a week later.
This looks like Plan B and hints at the frustration being experienced by the yard following the performance levels of its two-year-olds after their first outings.
No Bet Recommended
Albaydaa — Another Attempt to Reignite the Season
Finally, back at Salisbury, another cause of frustration, the three-year-old filly Albaydaa, aims to make amends for her disappointing York run in the 16:49 Class 2 handicap over 6f.
She is another highly rated horse from the yard to have gone backwards after a promising early part of the season.
Plan B is now being tried, with a drop back to 6f on soft ground. It looks a move made more in hope than expectation.
No Bet Recommended
Albaydaa
Chrysalis Consortium 
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