May 22 / 20.22 Pontefract

20.22

Good To Soft

WTJ Insurance Brokers 40th Anniversary Handicap

  • Prize money: £3402.1
  • 1m 4f 5y
  • Class 6
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
WTJ Insurance Brokers 40th Anniversary Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP
1st
3 (1)
Blondina

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £1.70

Form: /908-3

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 53

Form & Verdict
Modest maiden on the Flat in Ireland for Jim Bolger and showed little in three hurdles for current yard this year; last month's return to the Flat was much more encouraging though, keeping on strongly over 1m4f at Musselburgh, and she now has something to build on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

13

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

14:42 Perth

Blondina

10st 5lb

J: David Noonan

T: Adam Nicol

Showed no significant promise in her three qualifying races over hurdles in January-March but makes handicap hurdle debut from a basement mark and returns to this code after winning on the Flat (1m4f; RPR 61) last month; interesting.

5/1

1st

3

(1)

22nd May 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 5y

Class 6

20:22 Pontefract

Blondina

9st 4lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Adam Nicol

Modest maiden on the Flat in Ireland for Jim Bolger and showed little in three hurdles for current yard this year; last month's return to the Flat was much more encouraging though, keeping on strongly over 1m4f at Musselburgh, and she now has something to build on.

7/2

3rd

6

(4)

29th Apr 2026

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 6

14:40 Musselburgh

Blondina

8st 12lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Adam Nicol

Modest maiden on the Flat in Ireland for Jim Bolger and has shown little in three hurdles for current yard this year; best watched back on the Flat unless the betting suggests otherwise.

14/1

9/2

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 82112- CD BF

Last run: 309 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 53

Form & Verdict
Made all to win the corresponding race 12 months ago off a 6lb lower mark; followed up at Beverley in July and only just denied in his hat-trick bid when last seen 309 days ago; races off the same mark here and there should be more to come this year.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

(1)

8th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 218y

Class 6

16:57 Redcar

Dubai Venture

9st 8lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Tina Jackson

Three-time winner over 1m4f, most recently at Pontefract (good) last month; bumped into very well-handicapped rival when second at Thirsk (1m4f, good to firm) a fortnight ago and looks interesting over this new trip.

7/2

2nd

4

(5)

24th Jul 2026

Good

1m 4f 8y

Class 6

16:53 Thirsk

Dubai Venture

9st 2lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Tina Jackson

Low-mileage 5yo who made it 3-6 in 1m4f handicaps when justifying favouritism at Pontefract (1m4f, good) two weeks ago; up 4lb but that was a comfortable success and he's open to more progress at this trip; key player.

2/1

Form: 763273

Last run: 14 days

W: 8st 10lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 45

Form & Verdict
0-17 and he blows hot and cold but there have been some good runs in defeat on AW this year; finished behind Havachoc at Wolverhampton two weeks ago and may do so again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

9

(10)

7th Jul 2026

Good

1m 4f 5y

Class 6

15:48 Pontefract

Apache Eagle

9st 1lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Jessica Bedi

Has made the frame several times this year including when third of seven over C&D (good to soft) in May, but a record of 0-22 is hard to ignore.

16/1

4th

7

(1)

29th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 6

20:45 Kempton (AW)

Apache Eagle

8st 10lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Jessica Bedi

Handful of fair efforts in the spring but he's a longstanding maiden who's lost his way of late; again hung left at Hamilton last Thursday (ended up on the stands' rail) and running at another right-handed course would be a worry.

10/1

4th

7

(4)

25th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 6

18:00 Hamilton

Apache Eagle

10st 2lb

J: Miss Venetia Thompson

T: Jessica Bedi

Placed a few times this year but well beaten at Newcastle two starts ago and she hung badly left and unseated her rider at Ripon last Thursday; remains a maiden after 20 starts and others make greater appeal.

20/1

8/1

Form: 435533

Last run: 11 days

W: 8st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 45

Form & Verdict
0-22 but he arrives in good form, third in minor handicaps at Beverley and Catterick on his last two starts; more minor money could be forthcoming.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

(2)

20th Aug 2026

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

18:19 Newcastle (AW)

Muhib

9st 4lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Olly Williams

28-race maiden but he has been running with credit, finishing in the frame on his last eight starts; acts on AW and he makes more appeal than some.

13/2

3rd

5

(6)

4th Aug 2026

Good

1m 4f 13y

Class 6

16:15 Catterick

Muhib

9st 3lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Olly Williams

27-race maiden but he has been running well, including when a 8l second of seven behind Hansteen at Pontefract (1m4f, good to firm) 18 days ago; has a bit to find to reverse placings with that rival but holds each-way claims back into a handicap.

7/1

2nd

3

(5)

17th Jul 2026

Good

1m 4f 5y

Class 6

18:00 Pontefract

Muhib

9st 9lb

J: Joe Bradnam

T: Olly Williams

Is 0-26 but comes here in good form, third of 11 in C&D handicap ten days ago; needs considering dropping back into classified company.

9/2

10/1

Form: 231-26

Last run: 31 days

W: 8st 13lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 48

Form & Verdict
Not at her best over hurdles or here (extended 2m5f) last month; drop in trip can help but others appeal more for win purposes.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

10

28th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

19:15 Sedgefield

Lillistar

10st 11lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Micky Hammond

1-34; returns to hurdles (0-13) for the first time in a while; weakened in newly applied cheekpieces (now discarded) when fourth of nine on the Flat at Catterick (2m; 16-1) this month.

13/2

4th

7

(5)

4th Aug 2026

Good

1m 7f 189y

Class 6

15:15 Catterick

Lillistar

8st 10lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

Sole win from 33 starts came on the AW at Wolverhampton (around 2m) in October; well-held third on her last two starts, including over C&D in May, but cheekpieces may be able to help; each-way chance.

12/1

3rd

3

(3)

19th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 7f 217y

Class 6

14:58 Redcar

Lillistar

9st 1lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

Winless since a breakthrough victory at Wolverhampton (2m) in October but she got back on song with third of five in 2m Catterick handicap in May; not ruled out.

7/2

8/1

Form: 1-7719 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 57

Form & Verdict
Took a while to get off the mark but he has won three of his last seven starts (1m4f-1m6f); poor run over 2m at Southwell two weeks ago; capable of bouncing back now dropping in distance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

(2)

2nd Sep 2026

Soft

1m 3f 15y

Class 6

19:50 Hamilton

Hickton

9st 6lb

J: Zak Wheatley

T: Declan Carroll

1m6f win on AW in April; three heavy defeats have followed and others may have his measure this time.

16/1

5th

1

(11)

20th Aug 2026

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

18:19 Newcastle (AW)

Hickton

10st 0lb

J: Zak Wheatley

T: Declan Carroll

All three wins since September and he opened his AW account at Southwell (1m4f, Tapeta) in October; posted a career best when scoring at that track (1m6f) in April but he made no impact in two starts the following month; returns from three-month break.

11/1

6th

2

(7)

22nd May 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 5y

Class 6

20:22 Pontefract

Hickton

9st 8lb

J: Zak Wheatley

T: Declan Carroll

Took a while to get off the mark but he has won three of his last seven starts (1m4f-1m6f); poor run over 2m at Southwell two weeks ago; capable of bouncing back now dropping in distance.

8/1

Form: 8-8685 C

Last run: 22 days

W: 8st 10lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 45

Form & Verdict
Five wins at up to 9.4f; has form at 1m3f but suspicion there will be stronger stayers in the field.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

(3)

5th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 5y

Class 6

14:45 Pontefract

Anificas Beauty

10st 8lb

J: Miss Lauren Sanders

T: Peter Winks

1m course winner (stays 1m3f) who won back-to-back starts at Beverley (both 8.5f, sound surface) in May/June; below par here (1m, good) on her penultimate start but posted a better effort at Redcar (1m1f, good to firm) latest; needs another step back in the right direction.

14/1

5th

3

(6)

19th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 0y

Class 6

17:17 Redcar

Anificas Beauty

9st 7lb

J: Cian Horgan

T: Peter Winks

Bagged a pair of 8.5f Beverley handicaps this summer but she ran poorly in her hat-trick bid at Pontefract (1m) last time; she's the sort to bounce back though.

12/1

7th

1

(4)

29th Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 6y

Class 6

17:30 Pontefract

Anificas Beauty

9st 12lb

J: Cian Horgan

T: Peter Winks

Prevailed by 1l last time to complete a Beverley double; back in good form but she failed in two previous hat-trick attempts and was beaten off 2lb lower (finished fourth) in this race 12 months ago.

11/4

Non-runners

Havachoc

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £13.60
Straight Forecast £11.59
Tricast £60.59
Trifecta £89.40

Selections

Telegraph:

Havachoc

SPOTLIGHT:

Blondina

POSTDATA:

Hickton

The Times:

Dubai Venture

D Express:

Anificas Beauty

The Guardian:

Havachoc

Daily Mail:

Havachoc

The Sun:

Havachoc

The Star:

Havachoc

Daily Record:

Havachoc

RP RATINGS:

Blondina

Daily Mirror:

Blondina