July 07 / 15.18 Pontefract

15.18

Good

Pontefract Park Silver Sprint Trophy Handicap

  • Prize money: £13400.4
  • 0m 6f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
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Pontefract Park Silver Sprint Trophy Handicap

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 406171 CD

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Has performed well in both starts over C&D, including a game success 16 days ago (good); much more exposed than his rivals, but still high on list from 3lb higher.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(1)

16th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 3y

Class 2

17:45 Pontefract

Badri

10st 0lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Michael Herrington

He couldn't get into it in a big field at Windsor (6f, good to firm) last Monday but he didn't enjoy an ideal passage and went there on a four-timer following three wins here (6f/5f, good/good to firm); this 9yo could play a leading role back at Pontefract.

5/1

13th

1

(16)

10th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 12y

Class 2

19:15 Windsor

Badri

9st 12lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Michael Herrington

C&D winner who has had a fantastic run this year, winning his last four races on good to firm ground, over 6f and 5f; at the age of nine he seems to be closing in on his best-ever form and he has won off a slightly higher mark than today's in the past; Oisin Murphy up for the first time; much respected.

11/2

1st

1

(5)

17th Jul 2026

Good

0m 5f 3y

Class 3

19:07 Pontefract

Badri

10st 2lb

J: Conor Whiteley

T: Michael Herrington

Arrives in fine form and bidding for a hat-trick following back-to-back 6f wins here, emphatically making all on latter occasion; has won over the minimum trip too so rates a big player under a 4lb penalty.

7/2

OUR TIP

4/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 13321/ D

Last run: 593 days

W: 9st 13lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Useful for Richard Fahey, winning five times the latest of which was a 7f handicap in Qatar in November 2024; makes his debut for his new yard (gelded in the meantime) and, like his stablemate The Strikin Viking, whether he is on a favourable mark remains to be seen; the choice of James Doyle, though, so interesting to see what the market says.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

20th

11

(28)

1st Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Goodwood

Garfield Shadow

9st 5lb

J: Harry Vigors

T: Hamad Al Jehani

Won five of his ten starts for Richard Fahey, notably a local Group 3 in Qatar in November 2024; absent for 593 days and gelded prior to his stable debut at Pontefract (6f, good) last month, a race in which he was caught out wide but plugged on for second behind the thriving easy winner; clearly retains ability but this will demand much more.

40/1

2nd

2

(6)

7th Jul 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:18 Pontefract

Garfield Shadow

9st 13lb

J: James Doyle

T: Hamad Al Jehani

Useful for Richard Fahey, winning five times the latest of which was a 7f handicap in Qatar in November 2024; makes his debut for his new yard (gelded in the meantime) and, like his stablemate The Strikin Viking, whether he is on a favourable mark remains to be seen; the choice of James Doyle, though, so interesting to see what the market says.

4/1

2nd

8

(2)

4th Oct 2024

Heavy

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

16:30 Ascot

Garfield Shadow

8st 13lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard Fahey

3yo who made it four wins from his six starts when scoring at Chester (6f, good) in July, and he's been a close third the next twice (6f/7f, good); won on debut on good to soft (unraced on softer); he could still have more to offer and may be in the shake-up this afternoon.

11/2

Form: -090U1 CD

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Bounced back from some lesser efforts when making all and scoring comfortably from a subsequent winner at Ripon (6f, good) 19 days ago; the visor may have helped and although similar tactics may not be so easy in this field, he doesn't have to lead; much respected from 6lb higher.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(15)

15th Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:25 Ripon

Dark Cloud Rising

8st 11lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Positives include a C&D record comprising a win and a second and he arrives in top form; whether he is quite well enough treated for a race of this nature remains to be seen though.

8/1

2nd

1

(6)

3rd Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

15:54 Ripon

Dark Cloud Rising

10st 0lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Stumbled/unseated in first-time visor (retained since) at Carlisle in May but posted a career-best when winning by 2l over C&D (good) in June, and he was denied a clear run when third of six at Pontefract (6f, good) subsequently; high on the list.

15/8

3rd

4

(1)

7th Jul 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:18 Pontefract

Dark Cloud Rising

9st 6lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Bounced back from some lesser efforts when making all and scoring comfortably from a subsequent winner at Ripon (6f, good) 19 days ago; the visor may have helped and although similar tactics may not be so easy in this field, he doesn't have to lead; much respected from 6lb higher.

11/8

Form: 0-0515 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 8st 13lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Responded well to first-time cheekpieces and a drop in the weights when winning at Ripon (6f, good) in May and beaten less than a length into fifth of 12 off this mark at York (6f, good) last month; shouldn't be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

(1)

28th Jul 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

17:55 Goodwood

Beaujolais Nouveau

9st 3lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Ben Haslam

First-time cheekpieces and a reduced mark when coming good again at Ripon (6f, good) in May and she was close up in Bintaryana's race at York next time; the latter form in particular raises hopes but she was off her game last time at Pontefract.

33/1

4th

6

(2)

7th Jul 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:18 Pontefract

Beaujolais Nouveau

8st 13lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Ben Haslam

Responded well to first-time cheekpieces and a drop in the weights when winning at Ripon (6f, good) in May and beaten less than a length into fifth of 12 off this mark at York (6f, good) last month; shouldn't be far away.

4/1

14/1

Form: -14050 D

Last run: 8 days

W: 9st 11lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Returned to his useful 2yo form when winning twice at Kempton (6f, AW) in the winter, but hasn't built on it and failed to beat a rival at Windsor (6f, good to firm) eight days ago; application of cheekpieces will need to bring about a resurgence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(4)

7th Jul 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:18 Pontefract

El Bodon

9st 11lb

J: George Wood

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Returned to his useful 2yo form when winning twice at Kempton (6f, AW) in the winter, but hasn't built on it and failed to beat a rival at Windsor (6f, good to firm) eight days ago; application of cheekpieces will need to bring about a resurgence.

14/1

10th

2

(2)

29th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 12y

Class 2

19:00 Windsor

El Bodon

10st 1lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Improved AW form over 6f last winter, but wasn't on his game when last seen on sand in April and he made it 0-11 on grass when beaten about 5l at Newmarket in May; may have his share of weight on balance of turf form.

14/1

5th

2

(6)

2nd May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

13:45 Newmarket

El Bodon

9st 11lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

0-11 on turf with his best efforts coming on slower than good; back up in the weights after a productive AW campaign and he has enough to prove back on turf, all the more so after his tame effort at Newcastle on Good Friday.

33/1

Form: 314-05 D

Last run: 143 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Has been on his travels, winning a Group 3 at Baden-Baden (6f, soft) last August but finishing unplaced at Woodbine, Meydan and Doha in the meantime; returns from another five months off and hard to know how well handicapped he is; stable also runs Garfield Shadow.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

(4)

2nd Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 1y

Class 2

15:52 Chester

The Strikin Viking

10st 2lb

J: Faleh Bughenaim

T: Hamad Al Jehani

Group 3 win in Germany (6f, soft) last August; not at his best this year but the handicapper is cutting him some slack; stamina for 7f, even around here, has to be taken on trust.

25/1

6th

1

(5)

7th Jul 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:18 Pontefract

The Strikin Viking

10st 2lb

J: Faleh Bughenaim

T: Hamad Al Jehani

Has been on his travels, winning a Group 3 at Baden-Baden (6f, soft) last August but finishing unplaced at Woodbine, Meydan and Doha in the meantime; returns from another five months off and hard to know how well handicapped he is; stable also runs Garfield Shadow.

10/1

7

(10)

3rd Aug 2025

Good

0m 6f 17y

Class 1

15:52 Chester

The Strikin Viking

9st 1lb

J: Faleh Bughenaim

T: Hamad Al Jehani

Solid start to his career comprised a maiden success and two close seconds at Group 2 level; not in anything like the same form since, comfortably held in warm 3yo handicap most recently; chance depends on whether first-time hood prompts a turnaround.

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £13.50
Straight Forecast £15.15
Trifecta £42.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Dark Cloud Rising

The Times:

Garfield Shadow

POSTDATA:

Badri

TOPSPEED:

Beaujolais Nouveau

RP RATINGS:

Dark Cloud Rising

The Guardian:

Dark Cloud Rising

D Express:

Dark Cloud Rising

Daily Mirror:

Dark Cloud Rising

Telegraph:

Garfield Shadow

Daily Mail:

Garfield Shadow

The Star:

Badri

Daily Record:

Badri