July 27 / 16.25 Pontefract

16.25

Good

Always Trying Racing Syndicate Handicap

  • Prize money: £5234
  • 0m 5f 3y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
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Always Trying Racing Syndicate Handicap

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £8.00
  • Place: £2.70

Form: 15-148 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 13lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Chance on his winning form at Beverley (5f, good; 3lb lower) in April but below that level since, especially last time; has to get back on track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

(9)

15th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 143y

Class 4

16:10 Doncaster

Brummell

9st 10lb

J: Sam James

T: Julie Camacho

Won three times over 5f in 2025; got back on track in first-time cheekpieces with fourth of ten in 6f Chester handicap in June; no forlorn hope off a 2lb lower mark here with headgear retained.

9/1

4th

4

(4)

13th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 6f 17y

Class 3

13:35 Chester

Brummell

8st 12lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Julie Camacho

Acts on good to soft and softer but his best form is at 5f and latest last of six at Haydock needs forgiving; cheekpieces go on after that; nothing wrong with this mark if they do have a positive effect, however.

10/1

2/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 254002 CD

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Second at Beverley last time in a 5f race he does well in and was perhaps unlucky not to have gone really close; well handicapped and does like a stiff finish.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

(3)

13th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

15:45 Beverley

Ventura Express

9st 5lb

J: David Nolan

T: Paul Midgley

Has drawn a blank since scoring over C&D in July 2024 but he's on a dangerous mark and latest keeping-on fourth of 17 at York (5f, good to firm) was encouraging with a return to a stiff 5f in mind (all six wins here and at Pontefract).

11/2

OUR TIP

3/1

Form: 552227 CD

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 13lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Six-time turf winner who has threatened further honours this year, with three successive seconds in 5f handicaps; dropped in from a tricky draw last time at Newcastle and ended up with too much to do; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

9

(7)

30th Aug 2026

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:15 Beverley

Elegant Erin

8st 13lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Paul Midgley

Positives include a penchant for soft ground and a C&D record that reads 1166126113; beaten in a Class 4 handicap last month though and she faces a stiff task in this company.

40/1

3rd

2

(6)

3rd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

19:02 Beverley

Elegant Erin

10st 0lb

J: Barry McHugh

T: Paul Midgley

Five wins and a second from nine attempts over C&D; ended 2025 in flying form and returned off a brutal mark as a consequence; handicapper relenting now and her third at Nottingham 13 days ago was a step back in the right direction; this should be run to suit and she's a strong contender.

5/1

3rd

1

(2)

20th Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 8y

Class 4

19:45 Nottingham

Elegant Erin

10st 4lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Paul Midgley

Eight-time turf winner including on fast and soft ground; ended last season with a good fourth in a Listed race at Ascot (5f) but she's been out of sorts in her four runs this year; on dangerous mark but she needs to get back on track.

10/1

Form: 390330 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Doesn't have the best of records at York so no surprise that he struggled there 15 days ago; respectable thirds before then and has a big run in him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

10

(2)

1st Sep 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:40 Ripon

Spirit Of Applause

9st 3lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Tim Easterby

C&D winner (September 2022); reliable in 2026, inching ever closer; beaten a nose by the in-form Mr Cool at Redcar (6f, good; 12-1) ten days ago; small 2lb rise, coupled with less favourable low draw, enough to further frustrate?

3/1

2nd

7

(2)

22nd Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 217y

Class 5

19:00 Redcar

Spirit Of Applause

9st 6lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

Reliable sort who comes here on the back of a good second of nine in 5f Pontefract handicap 17 days ago; can make his presence felt off the same mark.

5/1

2nd

3

(4)

5th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

16:15 Pontefract

Spirit Of Applause

9st 11lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Posted two good thirds at the start of last month (5f/5.6f, good to firm) before midfield finish in big-field Class 4 at York (6f, good to firm); the drop back in trip/grade can help and he could be in the mix.

11/2

Form: 053-50 D

Last run: 134 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Consistent rather than progressive for Richard Hannon; has finished last in two runs for this yard on either side of wind surgery; visor replaces cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(3)

14th Oct 2025

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

The Actor

9st 11lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Julie Camacho

Got back on track for his current yard when third of five in 6f Hamilton handicap in August; can make his presence felt from a slipping mark.

7/1

3rd

2

(3)

22nd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 6y

Class 4

19:35 Hamilton

The Actor

9st 9lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Julie Camacho

A fairly useful winning juvenile for Richard Hannon but he's yet to fire in three runs for his current yard, off four months before coming in fifth of six in 5f Pontefract handicap 26 days ago; he needs to take a big step forward.

9/1

5th

6

(2)

27th Jul 2025

Good

0m 5f 3y

Class 4

16:25 Pontefract

The Actor

9st 7lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Julie Camacho

Consistent rather than progressive for Richard Hannon; has finished last in two runs for this yard on either side of wind surgery; visor replaces cheekpieces.

20/1

Form: 3-6770 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Ran his best race of the year when upped to 6f at Hamilton last month but then trailed home at York having reportedly lost his action; can be hard to predict.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

12

(11)

16th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

16:02 Thirsk

Fuji Mountain

9st 3lb

J: Zak Wheatley

T: Declan Carroll

Without a victory since 2024 and he arrives well below par; reared and unseated rider at the start in 6f Wolverhampton handicap 15 days ago.

20/1

5

(3)

1st Jun 2026

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 5

21:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Fuji Mountain

9st 6lb

J: Zak Wheatley

T: Declan Carroll

Decent 2yo who proved hard to place last year and has again lacked consistency this spring; the blinkers come off as he makes his AW debut off a career-low mark and it's hard to know what to expect in truth.

14/1

7th

6

(4)

22nd May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

19:22 Pontefract

Fuji Mountain

9st 4lb

J: Harry Smith

T: Declan Carroll

Won twice at Chester as a 2yo; just missed out over C&D last month (blinkers first time) when finding only Betweenthesticks too strong; ran okay at Beverley next time and he was drawn wide when disappointing back there ten days ago; stable also run Changeofmind.

10/1

Non-runners

Bosh

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £24.90
Straight Forecast £25.47
Trifecta £70.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Ventura Express

RP RATINGS:

Elegant Erin

TOPSPEED:

Spirit Of Applause

The Star:

Bosh

The Times:

Spirit Of Applause

The Guardian:

Ventura Express

D Express:

Ventura Express

Daily Mirror:

Ventura Express

The Sun:

Ventura Express

Daily Record:

Ventura Express

POSTDATA:

Elegant Erin

Telegraph:

Elegant Erin