July 16 / 16.45 Thirsk

16.45

Good To Firm

Thirsk Sky Bet Summer Festival Day Friday 24th July Handicap

  • Prize money: £4710.6
  • 0m 7f 218y
  • Class 5
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Thirsk Sky Bet Summer Festival Day Friday 24th July Handicap

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £8.50
  • Place: £2.70

Form: 020906 CD

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
A three-time 7f/1m winner in 2025, including over this C&D; mainly below his best this season but he didn't run too badly when sixth at Beverley (7.5f, good to firm) 12 days ago; on a handy mark and now drops in grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(11)

15th Aug 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:55 Ripon

Capital Guarantee

9st 10lb

J: Mark Winn

T: David O’Meara

Back to winning ways at Thirsk (1m, good to firm) last month; only sixth off this mark at Redcar last Saturday but the fact he won this race off 2lb higher last year provides hope; draw could have been kinder.

16/1

6th

3

(10)

8th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 219y

Class 4

15:12 Redcar

Capital Guarantee

10st 1lb

J: Mark Winn

T: David O’Meara

Not quite at best this season but exploited some help from the handicapper when winning narrowly at Thirsk (1m, good to firm) last month and ought to remain competitive after going back up 4lb.

7/1

1st

1

(3)

16th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 218y

Class 5

16:45 Thirsk

Capital Guarantee

9st 9lb

J: Conor Whiteley

T: David O’Meara

A three-time 7f/1m winner in 2025, including over this C&D; mainly below his best this season but he didn't run too badly when sixth at Beverley (7.5f, good to firm) 12 days ago; on a handy mark and now drops in grade.

5/1

9/4

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 2-1132 CD

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Off the mark when winning at Southwell (1m, AW) in May and followed up over this C&D next time (good); has posted two good placed efforts since, the most recent at Chester (7.5f, soft) last month off a 2lb lower mark than today's, and makes the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(15)

14th Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 218y

Class 5

19:50 Thirsk

Military Leader

9st 7lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Phillip Makin

Consistent dual winner who coped well with the rise in class when pushing a well-handicapped winner all the way at Ayr six days ago (1m, good; goes on all surfaces); not ideally drawn out in 15 but plenty to like otherwise.

3/1

2nd

10

(8)

8th Aug 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

19:00 Ayr

Military Leader

8st 11lb

J: Sam James

T: Phillip Makin

Likeably consistent dual winner who won't mind what the weather does, with recent seconds at about 1m coming on soft and good to firm; pretty solid, other than this is a step up in class.

5/1

2nd

4

(1)

16th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 218y

Class 5

16:45 Thirsk

Military Leader

9st 4lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Phillip Makin

Off the mark when winning at Southwell (1m, AW) in May and followed up over this C&D next time (good); has posted two good placed efforts since, the most recent at Chester (7.5f, soft) last month off a 2lb lower mark than today's, and makes the shortlist.

9/4

7/2

Form: 062323 D

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Three-time winner, the most recent coming at Carlisle (1m, good to firm) in June 2024; placed in each of his last four starts, albeit he was below his best last time, and once again has an each-way chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(8)

19th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 173y

Class 5

17:30 Carlisle

Barley

10st 1lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Tim Easterby

C&D winner; on a losing run but he has run several good races in defeat this year, including here; more minor money on the cards.

8/1

4th

11

(3)

15th Aug 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:55 Ripon

Barley

9st 0lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Tim Easterby

Made the frame for the seventh consecutive time, albeit beaten 7l, when second of 14 at Redcar (1m, good to firm) a week ago; holds no secrets from the handicapper but ought to give another good account.

15/2

2nd

12

(4)

8th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 219y

Class 4

15:12 Redcar

Barley

9st 5lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Beaten under 1l when third of 15 at York (1m, good to firm) a fortnight ago and has now made the frame six consecutive times; holds no secrets from the handicapper but ought to give another good account.

8/1

15/8

Form: 546452 CD BF

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Two wins from 29 starts, with the most recent success coming in April over this C&D; had cheekpieces back on (retained) when runner-up at Pontefract (1m, good) nine days ago and holds good claims off the same mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

6

(1)

14th Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 218y

Class 5

19:50 Thirsk

Harswell Ruby

9st 6lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Roger Fell

One of two wins came over C&D (April); some good runs in the meantime and has a handy draw to work from.

12/1

4th

2

(7)

29th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 1y

Class 5

15:15 Redcar

Harswell Ruby

10st 0lb

J: Jack Callan

T: Roger Fell

Both wins have been over 1m but she did go close over this C&D last September (good to soft); ran well at Pontefract (1m, good) two starts ago but below her best at Thirsk (good to firm) two weeks ago; steps back up in trip.

7/2

4th

3

(6)

16th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 218y

Class 5

16:45 Thirsk

Harswell Ruby

9st 4lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Roger Fell

Two wins from 29 starts, with the most recent success coming in April over this C&D; had cheekpieces back on (retained) when runner-up at Pontefract (1m, good) nine days ago and holds good claims off the same mark.

15/8

OUR TIP

Form: 030508 D

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Sole win from 12 starts came in a Ripon novice in 2024 (1m, good); hasn't been the most consistent this season and he's been well beaten on his last two outings; down to a career-low mark but others are preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

11

(6)

14th Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 218y

Class 5

19:50 Thirsk

Degale

9st 1lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: David & Nicola Barron

Novice winner in 2024; his form has dipped quite markedly since a good run in defeat at Nottingham in May.

16/1

3rd

1

(3)

30th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 75y

Class 5

14:35 Nottingham

Degale

9st 9lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: David & Nicola Barron

Sole win from 13 starts came in a Ripon novice over 1m in 2024; best effort this term came when third of 11 over this C&D in May but he's been down the field on his last three starts; tongue-tie added.

7/1

5th

2

(5)

16th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 218y

Class 5

16:45 Thirsk

Degale

9st 6lb

J: William Pyle

T: David & Nicola Barron

Sole win from 12 starts came in a Ripon novice in 2024 (1m, good); hasn't been the most consistent this season and he's been well beaten on his last two outings; down to a career-low mark but others are preferred.

20/1

25/1

Form: 0-9576 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Won at Ripon (1m, soft; Barley was second) last July off a mark 8lb higher than today's but he's struggled since; others have stronger claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(3)

22nd Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 1y

Class 5

18:30 Redcar

Cosmos Raj

9st 9lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: David O’Meara

A three-time 1m winner in 2025 but yet to hit top form this season, finishing just fourth of six in 1m Pontefract handicap 17 days ago; on a falling mark but more is required.

10/1

4th

5

(2)

5th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 6y

Class 5

15:45 Pontefract

Cosmos Raj

8st 13lb

J: Conor Whiteley

T: David O’Meara

Multiple winner over 1m-1m2f; versatile regarding going; 12lb lower than his most recent win at Ripon 13 months ago; plenty to prove based on five of his six starts this season.

10/1

4th

2

(1)

1st Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 43y

Class 6

15:40 Doncaster

Cosmos Raj

9st 9lb

J: David Nolan

T: David O’Meara

Won at Ripon (1m, soft) last July off a mark 12lb higher than today's but he's struggled since; others have stronger claims.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £27.30
Straight Forecast £24.30
Trifecta £88.30

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Harswell Ruby

Telegraph:

Military Leader

SPOTLIGHT:

Capital Guarantee

POSTDATA:

Barley

The Times:

Harswell Ruby

The Guardian:

Harswell Ruby

Daily Mail:

Harswell Ruby

D Express:

Harswell Ruby

Daily Record:

Harswell Ruby

Daily Mirror:

Military Leader

The Sun:

Military Leader

The Star:

Military Leader

RP RATINGS:

Capital Guarantee