June 21 / 15.35 Pontefract

15.35

Good

Moor Top Farm Shop Hemsworth Pontefract Cup Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

  • Prize money: £5154
  • 2m 2f 2y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
RTV
View Course
Moor Top Farm Shop Hemsworth Pontefract Cup Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.63
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 461-43 BF

Last run: 8 days

W: 8st 12lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
On his fourth trainer; 1m3f Flat and 2m hurdle winner in Ireland for Gavin Cromwell last autumn; on the premises recently for new yard at Hamilton (1m3f, good) and York (1m4f amateurs, good); cheekpieces (worn on two of last three starts) are replaced with a visor; staying trips on the Flat may now be worth exploring, so he needs a second look.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(4)

1st Aug 2026

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 4

19:00 Hamilton

Secret Force

10st 0lb

J: Mikey Sheehy

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

2-5 since joining this yard, winning at Pontefract (2m2f, good; first-time visor) in June and over hurdles at Cartmel a fortnight ago; clearly in good heart, but this may not be far enough for him now.

6/1

1st

5

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 3

15:10 Cartmel

Secret Force

11st 7lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Won a juvenile hurdle for Gavin Cromwell at Punchestown (2m, good to yielding) in October and was also on target in 2m2f Flat marathon for new stable in June; still unexposed over jumps; no surprise if he features.

10/1

7th

2

(10)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 56y

Class 4

16:20 York

Secret Force

9st 7lb

J: Mikey Sheehy

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Sole run on good to firm was last July when tailed off in a novice race; staying-on third here (1m4f) this June and he knuckled down well to score over 2m2f at Pontefract (also on good) eight days later; that win was the first time he'd worn this headgear combination and his first go at a staying trip on the Flat; up 4lb but probably has more to offer and he's a big player if he goes on the ground.

9/4

6/4

  • Place: £1.20

Form: -22111 C

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Unraced on firmer than good; seconds were becoming a habit before the cheekpieces went on and he won at Southwell (1m6f, AW), Ripon (2m, good) and Pontefract (2m1f, good to soft) on last three outings; latest (after five days off) saw him assert by about 4l in the final 1f and the four-timer may well be beckoning despite 5lb rise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(6)

21st Jun 2026

Good

2m 2f 2y

Class 4

15:35 Pontefract

Trojan Soldier

9st 2lb

J: Jack Garritty

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

Unraced on firmer than good; seconds were becoming a habit before the cheekpieces went on and he won at Southwell (1m6f, AW), Ripon (2m, good) and Pontefract (2m1f, good to soft) on last three outings; latest (after five days off) saw him assert by about 4l in the final 1f and the four-timer may well be beckoning despite 5lb rise.

6/4

1st

4

(2)

22nd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 27y

Class 4

19:52 Pontefract

Trojan Soldier

8st 13lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

Improved for a step up in trip and then cheekpieces, getting off the mark at Southwell (1m6f) last month and following up at Ripon on Sunday (2m, good); escapes a penalty for that win and today's further rise in distance could spark additional progress; possible he could do with the ground drying out a bit but he's on the up and should make a bold bid to complete his hat-trick.

2/1

1st

3

(1)

17th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:17 Ripon

Trojan Soldier

9st 12lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

Runner-up in four of his first five handicaps before finally cracking it in a four-runner race at Southwell (1m6f, AW) in April; that was in first-time cheekpieces (retained) but by just a nose, leading on the post; stays 2m and he's a player if transferring this year's improvement back to turf.

7/2

Form: 738365

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 10lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Very busy and he's had his share of wins, including four over 2m in 2025, but that's been mostly on AW which has dominated his career; best turf ratings two and three runs back before tailed off (might have overdone it up front) at Goodwood latest; again has just four rivals today but others are preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(4)

5th Jul 2026

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 3

17:55 Southwell (AW)

Sax Appeal

9st 9lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Charlie Johnston

Eight-time AW winner, including thrice at Southwell; close third in the Northumberland Vase at Newcastle last weekend when returned to this sphere; back up 2lb but takes a drop back in grade; solid chance.

7/2

3rd

6

(2)

27th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

14:40 Newcastle (AW)

Sax Appeal

9st 10lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Charlie Johnston

Very busy and he's had his share of wins, including four (one here) over 2m in 2025; AW has dominated his career; three of his last four turf starts were respectable and he's edging down the weights, so not entirely dismissed.

25/1

OUR TIP

Form: /D4576-

Last run: 285 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
1m2f Flat winner (soft) but has made the track only five times since that success in October 2023 and was right out of form on last two outings last year; changed hands and left Andrew Balding before well beaten in a maiden hurdle one month ago; a recent positive sign is lacking.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(2)

21st Jun 2026

Good

2m 2f 2y

Class 4

15:35 Pontefract

Anzac Day

9st 5lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

1m2f Flat winner (soft) but has made the track only five times since that success in October 2023 and was right out of form on last two outings last year; changed hands and left Andrew Balding before well beaten in a maiden hurdle one month ago; a recent positive sign is lacking.

12/1

5th

1

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

18:41 Worcester

Anzac Day

11st 4lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

1m2f Flat winner (soft) but has only made the track four times since that success for Andrew Balding in October 2023; has changed hands since beaten a distance at Ffos Las last September; looks best watched unless market vibes are strong.

6/1

Form: 6223-8

Last run: 121 days

W: 8st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Sole Flat win (31 attempts) was debut in 2020; had two hurdle wins (2m5f and 2m4f) in 2025 and there have been bits of chase form in recent months; visor returning instead of blinkers might possibly help, but there are more likely candidates.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

(4)

21st Jun 2026

Good

2m 2f 2y

Class 4

15:35 Pontefract

Isle Of Sark

8st 10lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Micky Hammond

Sole Flat win (31 attempts) was debut in 2020; had two hurdle wins (2m5f and 2m4f) in 2025 and there have been bits of chase form in recent months; visor returning instead of blinkers might possibly help, but there are more likely candidates.

16/1

3rd

2

3rd Jun 2026

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

15:30 Newton Abbot

Isle Of Sark

11st 9lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Micky Hammond

Flat/hurdles winner; ran encouragingly on his return to chasing but has failed to back up that effort in two starts since, taking record in this sphere to 0-8; admittedly well treated on best form.

10/1

5th

1

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

16:30 Cartmel

Isle Of Sark

12st 0lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Micky Hammond

Posted best effort for these connections when third at Sedgefield in April (2m5f, good), before appearing to find it harder work last time; mixed record over stayers' trips, and would appreciate the ground drying out.

10/1

Non-runners

Treasure Islands

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.00
Straight Forecast £4.06
Trifecta £7.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Trojan Soldier

The Sun:

Treasure Islands

TOPSPEED:

Secret Force

WEST COUNTRY:

Anzac Day

RP RATINGS:

Trojan Soldier

POSTDATA:

Trojan Soldier

The Times:

Trojan Soldier

Telegraph:

Trojan Soldier

D Express:

Trojan Soldier

Daily Mirror:

Trojan Soldier

The Star:

Trojan Soldier

Daily Record:

Trojan Soldier