July 27 / 16.25 Pontefract

16.25

Good

Always Trying Racing Syndicate Handicap

  • Prize money: £5234
  • 0m 5f 3y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
RTV
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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

6th

2

(6)

21st May 2026

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

17:13 Haydock

Brummell

9st 9lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Julie Camacho

Two wins last summer (5f, good/good to firm) and didn't see out 6f when third of six on recent reappearance at Doncaster (6f, good to firm); has run well on slow ground in the past and he's a key player back down to 5f.

4/1

3rd

5

(4)

2nd May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 2y

Class 3

18:27 Doncaster

Brummell

9st 5lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Julie Camacho

Often inclined to pull hard over this trip in the past and was kept to 5f last year, when winning three times; undergone wind surgery since last seen six months ago and will need to settle in tonight's small field if he's to have a chance off this mark.

16/1

7th

1

(6)

1st Nov 2025

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

17:45 Newcastle (AW)

Brummell

9st 11lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Julie Camacho

C&D winner; three turf victories this year, the latest in a Class 3 at Hamilton in August; disappointing back at Hamilton in September when soft ground shouldn't have been an excuse; the latest run raises a question now.

4/1

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

4th

2

(10)

22nd May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

19:22 Pontefract

Ventura Express

9st 9lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Paul Midgley

Four of his six wins have come over C&D, including the corresponding race in 2024; drew a blank in 2025 but retains ability and he has run some solid races in defeat this year too, keeping on for fourth at Beverley 18 days ago; drops in class but he has the widest stall to contend with.

8/1

4th

7

(6)

4th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

16:15 Beverley

Ventura Express

9st 0lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Paul Midgley

9yo who is on an 18-race losing run; good second over C&D last July (good to firm) and is now 3lb lower.

10/1

5th

4

(1)

23rd Apr 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

14:52 Beverley

Ventura Express

9st 7lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Paul Midgley

Has won two of three C&D starts (good and good to firm), the latest in July 2024; went very close to breaking the losing run when involved in a tight finish on Southwell AW in March; convincing claims.

9/2

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

12th

6

(8)

23rd May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

14:40 York

Elegant Erin

9st 8lb

J: Barry McHugh

T: Paul Midgley

Ended 2025 in top form, winning twice at Beverley (5f, soft), but she has looked rusty on both her starts this year; absent another seven weeks since her last run and probably best watched.

50/1

9th

5

(6)

7th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 3y

Class 2

15:57 Pontefract

Elegant Erin

9st 2lb

J: David Nolan

T: Paul Midgley

In great form on soft ground last autumn but was punished by the assessor for a Listed effort that possibly flatters her; never figured in AW event two months ago; current mark seems difficult.

20/1

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

9

(5)

24th Oct 2025

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 4

17:55 Southwell (AW)

Spirit Of Applause

8st 11lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Tim Easterby

Ended a 15-race losing run when scoring by a head over C&D last month; only midfield under his penalty at Nottingham (6f, good to soft) next time, but each-way claims back here.

6/1

7th

10

(1)

2nd Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 6f 18y

Class 2

15:35 Nottingham

Spirit Of Applause

8st 11lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Tim Easterby

First win for 11 months when leading towards the finish at Southwell (5f, AW) 11 days ago; carries a 5lb penalty and has yet to win back to back in his 43-race career.

10/1

13

(14)

21st Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 4f 214y

Class 5

17:07 Southwell (AW)

Spirit Of Applause

9st 3lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Tim Easterby

Did well on AW in late 2024, including a Newcastle win and two runner-up finishes over C&D; 0-12 in 2025 but has dropped a long way in the weights and returns to AW off a 13lb lower mark than when sixth in a C&D Class 4 in April; considered.

12/1

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

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

8th

1

(10)

12th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:00 Beverley

Fuji Mountain

9st 9lb

J: Zak Wheatley

T: Declan Carroll

Close second at Pontefract and respectable fourth over C&D since wearing blinkers; losing run is mounting up but he again has frame possibilities in the retained headgear.

8/1

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