Phoenix Of Dreams makes his handicap debut for the Coral Racing Club this evening in the Class 4 Apprentice Handicap (17:15) over seven furlongs at Chepstow.

Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track with the team and Phoenix Of Dreams' lucky owners for the day across our social channels on X (@coral) and Instagram (@coralofficial).

Raceday LIVE Preview

Phoenix Of Dreams makes his handicap debut this evening at Chepstow, following three promising runs in maiden and novice company prior to today that resulted in him being given an opening mark of 78.

He's shown steady improvement over the course of those three performances, firstly finishing fourth on debut in a race won by the Michael Stoute-trained Never So Brave, who is now rated 101 following his sixth place finish in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. In his second appearance, the club's three-year-old gelding went one better when finishing third at Catterick, and he went one better again in his last race, finishing second behind the well supported Coppull Hull Lane, who is now rated 83.


Phoenix Of Dreams in the parade ring on debut at Thirsk

Following that third race, trainers John and Sean Quinn told us that they believed that Phoenix Of Dreams' opening handicap mark was a fair one, and that they were confident that he'll be capable of winning races off of that mark.

There were several recent races that the Quinns had in mind for Phoenix Of Dreams' handicap debut, but a combination of some very competitive fields and unsuitable ground saw them avoid them and opt for today's contest at Chepstow. In his latest update, Sean alluded to today's race being preferable due in part to it being an apprentice race, meaning that our three-year-old would escape a penalty if he were to win today and could be turned out to run again soon after.

Phoenix Of Dreams' Owners for the Day

As winners of the Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Phoenix Of Dreams' run at Chepstow this afternoon.

Each winner, along with a guest of their choosing, will receive free entry to Chepstow Racecourse, including exclusive access to Owners & Trainers areas. They'll have the opportunity to meet Phoenix Of Dreams and the Quinn team, plus get to head into the parade ring before the race begins to be amongst all the other owners, trainers and jockeys. And last but by no means least, each winner will get to take home an equal 10% split of any prize money won by Phoenix Of Dreams.

Today's Class 5 contest is worth £9,500 in total, with the winner set to scoop £4,972.30 for their lucky owners.

2nd: £2,333.20 | 3rd: £1,165.65 | 4th: £583.30 | 5th: £290.70

WATCH: Raceday Message from Sean Quinn

Trainer and Jockey Statistics

John and Sean Quinn have been in modest form lately, scoring once this week and landing a further two places. Their victory came on Monday at Wolverhampton, the same day that they got a second place finish at Ripon. Phoenix Of Dreams is set to be the training duo's first runner at Chepstow of the year, having not sent a horse to South Wales so far this year from their North Yorkshire base of operations. It hasn't been a course that John Quinn has frequented in his long and storied career. He's only ever sent 33 runners to Chepstow, returning with two winners and a further 10 in finishing in second and third.

The Quinn team are the furthest travellers to head to Chepstow this evening from their base in Yorkshire (226 miles).

Gianluca Sanna takes the reins today, marking the first time he's ridden a Coral Racing Club runner on the track. The apprentice would normally receive a five pound allowance, however that won't apply in today's conditional race. In the UK this year, he's only ridden for one other trainer, Jason Ward, and his only victory of the season so far was for John and Sean Quinn. Today will also mark the first time that Gianluca has ridden at Chepstow, having never been there in his 223 career rides so far.

At The Races | Verdict

A chance is taken on PHOENIX OF DREAMS who has shaped with promise in each of his three appearances in maiden/novice company and now starts handicap life off a fair-looking mark of 78. Devious Devan has been knocking on the door and will likely be in the shake-up once again, while Sub Thirteen warrants respect having won three of his last four outings.

Today's opposition

 

• Sub Thirteen carries bottom weight into the race, but has gone up eight pounds this season, having recorded all three of his career wins since April. All of his wins have come over distances between five and six furlongs, and this marks the first time he's stepped up to seven furlongs since March. Jack Doughty rides today.
  
  
• Miss Information has only won once in her eight career runs to date, and that came over six furlongs in a Class 3 race at Ascot. Baz Lewis takes the reins this evening and claims seven pounds off of the filly's back.
  
  
• Devious Devan is one of two horses carrying top weight in this contest, and he's shown some promise in his last three runs, finishing third once and second twice. Liam Wright takes over riding duties at Chepstow.

   17:15 CHEPSTOW – LATEST BETTING HERE   

We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 17:15 to watch Phoenix Of Dreams' next run for the club live on the Coral Sports app.