Roly Poly Events Race Of Hope Handicap Stakes
| Pos | Horse / Form | Age/Wgt | Jockey / Trainer | OR | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 |
4y 142 lbs |
Kieran Shoemark Michael Bell |
65 | 16/1 | |
| 2 |
8y 142 lbs |
Zoe Lewis(7) Thomas Faulkner |
65 | – | |
| 🥈 2nd |
8y 142 lbs |
Taylor Fisher John & Rhys Flint |
65 | 15/8F | |
| 6 |
8y 140 lbs |
Gina Mangan John Berry |
63 | 4/1 | |
| 7 |
5y 134 lbs |
Rossa Ryan Robert Stephens |
57 | 14/1 | |
| 5 |
6y 132 lbs |
Ryan Kavanagh(3) Ian Williams |
55 | 7/1 | |
| 🥇 1st |
3y 120 lbs |
Stevie Donohoe James Horton |
54 | 9/4 | |
| 🥉 3rd |
3y 114 lbs |
Kieran O'Neill Tom Ward |
45 | 33/1 |
Merrijig shares the joint-highest rating in this eight-runner Class 6 staying contest at Ffos Las over sixteen furlongs on good ground, and is preferred over the equally-rated Lusaka on the strength of a progressive profile that suggests there may be more to come. Golden Flame, two pounds adrift, and Simiyann, six pounds back, represent the chief threats and cannot be discounted in a competitive little heat at this level. Confidence is modest, but the progressive case for Merrijig edges it ahead on balance, and the selection is Merrijig.
SIMIYANN is one I really like the handicapping angle on. He is a massive 14lb below the mark of 69 he won from in May 2025, he has won at Ffos Las and Ryan Kavanagh takes another 3lb off.
The first-time headgear could be the little spark he needs and, again, there is not loads of obvious pace in the race. If the headgear wakes him up, he is very well treated on old form. 6/1 looks fair.
VERDICT: SIMIYANN 6/1