Naughton's Notebook: "She will be very interesting when given a rating"
By Peter Naughton
Last Updated: Wed 20 May 2026
Peter Naughton's new column - Naughton's Notebook! The Racing TV presenter reveals the horses who caught his eye over the last week as he bids to identify winners in waiting. Make sure you add each horse to your Racing TV Tracker!
How many times have presenters and pundits in horse racing advised adding a horse to the notebook or tracker?
The phrase is uttered daily, yet I'd wager less than five per cent of punters keep a notebook, or add those horses to their trackers.
The viewer might make a mental note, only to watch in frustration as the horse wins without investment because the name wasn't diligently logged.
Naughton's Notebook does that job for you. I advise following those listed for two runs, unless otherwise stated. Horses are trained for specific races at various times, and catching them in the sweet spot when the handicap rating and/or ground conditions are ideal provides a significant edge.
If a horse is beaten for a reason when fancied by connections, an entry in the notebook is very often an indicator of imminent victory.
It's a privilege to be able to share Naughton's Notebook with Racing TV members, and here's to plenty of success. Enjoy!
The Racing TV Tracker is also an essential for racing fans, and you can add an unlimited number of your favourite horses.
Click here for more of Peter's free notebook horses
Trelissick
Race: Seventh in the Tattersalls £40,000 EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes at Windsor (Monday)
Trelissick had no chance after stumbling at the stalls in the 1m fillies' maiden at Windsor on Monday.
Callum Hutchinson's mount was slowly away but made headway from rear on the outer two-out.
The well-bred daughter of Kingman was beaten five lengths but would have been much closer with a better start.
She made a very promising debut when a close fourth behind the classy Langstone at Kempton last month, and will be very interesting when given a rating after one more outing.
Red Spells Danger
Race: First in the Sun's 'Save Our Bets' Handicap at Hamilton (Sunday)
Red Spells Danger made a mockery of an opening mark of 69 in the six-furlong three-year-old handicap at Hamilton on Sunday.
The improving son of Cotai Glory travelled strongly in midfield and made steady headway at halfway.
He was ridden to lead inside the final furlong and soon went clear of the well-fancied Marcellinus.
I noted him at Ayr when a close third to hot favourite Nobody Knows in a seven-furlong maiden and Red Spells Danger remains one to follow over six furlongs on any ground.
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Rock Opera
Race: Fourth in the Sky Bet For The Fans Handicap at Hamilton (Sunday)
Also at Hamilton, Rock Opera deserves credit for a very close fourth in the six furlong handicap.
The Fahey's visored six-year-old was in midfield and outpaced before halfway but rallied from over a furlong out.
He switched sharply right inside the final furlong and kept on well.
Rock Opera has come down the weights and was also unlucky at Thirsk last time, so deserves a change of fortune.
Solar Cooper
Race: First in the Mark Leather's 70th Birthday Handicap at Ripon (Sunday)
Across at Ripon, Solar Cooper benefited from first-time cheekpieces in the second division of the six furlong three-year-old handicap.
Mark Walford's son of Harry Angel made headway from midfield two-out and kept on well to win, with the promise of progress at a low level.
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Shah
Race: 11th in the Read Meg Nicholls' Blog At betmgm.co.uk Handicap at Newmarket (Saturday)
On Saturday, Shah ruined his chance by pulling very hard in the seven furlong handicap at Newmarket. George Boughey's four-year-old, who was returning from a huge absence of 585 days, was well backed from 10-1 into 9-2.
This was his first start after a wind operation and the quality son of Sea The Stars has been gelded since his last run.
Shah should exploit a mark in the 80s when settling off a strong pace.
The Bookkeeper
Race: Fourth in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai EBF Maiden Stakes at Salisbury (Thursday)
The Bookkeeper can build on a promising fourth in Thursday's five furlong maiden at Salisbury.
Richard Hughes' colt was hampered at the start and outpaced in rear two-out, but kept on inside the final furlong.
The Bookkeeper was a good buy at 38,000 euros, and the March foal by Sioux Nation was sold for 75,000 as a yearling.
The dam was a Listed seven-furlong winner and this colt's relatives won up to a mile and a quarter.
Expect plenty of improvement.
Startled & Daydreama
Race: First and second in the Conundrum HR Consulting Handicap at York (Wednesday)
On Wednesday at York, Startled can be marked up for success in the seven furlong three-year-old handicap.
Richard Hughes' son of Bated Breath was well drawn in stall three, but Saffie Osborne wisely wanted to settle him behind rivals.
The duo were badly hampered on the dog-leg over four-out and soon dropped to rear.
Switched right over two-out, Startled made headway before the furlong pole and was pushed along for a cosy victory over Daydreama; his third from as many starts in handicaps.
The winner will stay 1m and can surely defy another rise.
Daydreama was unfortunate to meet such a well-treated rival.
Tim Easterby's son of Dream Ahead was held up in rear but made steady headway over two-out and went second inside the last one hundred yards.
This was a good performance from a high draw and an improvement from his reappearance at Pontefract.
Scommessa Sicura
Race: Second in the Download The At The Races App Maiden Fillies' Stakes at Yarmouth (Wednesday)
The same afternoon, Scommessa Sicura made a highly pleasing start when splitting two market leaders in the six furlong fillies' maiden at Yarmouth.
The well-bred daughter of Cracksman was prominent but drifted left against the far rail over two-out and hung right before the furlong pole.
She was outpaced by fellow newcomer Silent Beauty but ahead of Dubai Charm, who had the benefit of a run.
Scommessa Sicura was a February foal and her price rose from 88,000 euros to 100,000 guineas as a yearling.
She's a half-sister to Stanhope Gardens, who was Group-placed over a mile as a juvenile.
The dam is a half-sister to St Leger runner-up Romsdal, so look out for her over further.
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