June 16 / 13.50 York

13.50

Good To Firm

Andy Thornton Hospitality Furniture Apprentice Handicap

  • Prize money: £10468
  • 1m 2f 56y
  • Class 4
  • 10 runners
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Andy Thornton Hospitality Furniture Apprentice Handicap

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £9.10
  • Place: £2.60

Form: 76-821

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Made it tenth time lucky when leading towards the finish in 1m Thirsk handicap (good to firm) 11 days ago; below par in three previous attempts at 1m2f, but heavy ground may have been against him on two of those occasions and he shapes as if he'll stay this far; visored first time; carries 5lb penalty (new mark due to be 2lb lower).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(5)

23rd Jun 2023

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 5

18:40 Musselburgh

Menelaus

9st 11lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Michael & David Easterby

sweating, slowly into stride, in touch with leaders, prominent in chasing group after 2f

13/8

1st

7

(9)

16th Jun 2023

Good To Firm

1m 2f 56y

Class 4

13:50 York

Menelaus

9st 7lb

J: Connor Planas

T: Michael & David Easterby

took keen hold, midfield, pushed along over 2f out, soon ridden and headway, went second 1f out, kept on well to lead inside final furlong, won going away

5/1

1st

4

(9)

5th Jun 2023

Good To Firm

0m 7f 218y

Class 5

15:30 Thirsk

Menelaus

9st 7lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

Nine-race maiden; back in much better form with close second over C&D (good) last month, proving suited by the return to a sound surface; respected off just 2lb higher in this similar event.

11/4

8/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 114-02 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Four wins (1m2f, good/good to firm) from his eight turf starts last year; all the better for his reappearance when second of six over 1m2f at Doncaster 13 days ago; should be in the shake-up under Harry Davies.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

(11)

4th Nov 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 6

15:32 Kempton (AW)

Pledge Of Honour

9st 13lb

J: Liam Keniry

T: Dean Ivory

dwelt start, held up in last, outpaced 3f out, never on terms

20/1

8th

3

(11)

4th Nov 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 6

15:32 Kempton (AW)

Pledge Of Honour

9st 13lb

J: Liam Keniry

T: Dean Ivory

dwelt start, held up in last, outpaced 3f out, never on terms

20/1

7th

6

(9)

24th Oct 2024

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 5

20:30 Southwell (AW)

Pledge Of Honour

9st 8lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Dean Ivory

Ended losing run when successful in 1m2f handicap at Windsor in July; well held since and 0-13 on AW as opposed to 6-28 on turf.

16/1

11/4

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 23-231

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Form of his recent breakthrough success at Pontefract (1m, good to firm) has been boosted by the subsequent victories of the second and third; bred to stay this trip and can make light of a 3lb rise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

14th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 4

13:51 Market Rasen

Westernesse

11st 4lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Bought for 20,000gns out of the O'Meara yard for which he won three times at up to 1m2f; made a quiet stable debut at Chester but was no doubt bought with hurdling in mind.

9/1

1

(9)

13th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 4

17:05 Chester

Westernesse

11st 9lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Bought for 20,000gns out of the O'Meara yard for which he won three times, the latest over 1m2f at Ripon in June; well held at York since then; unraced over this far which is a worry.

10/1

16/1

Form: 841037

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
All wins over 1m but showed 1m2f is within range when third on Newcstle's AW last month; only sixth to the reopposing Showmedemoney at Ripon (1m2f again) since, though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

(8)

4th Oct 2024

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

19:30 Newcastle (AW)

Dougies Dream

9st 0lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Nigel Tinkler

slowly away, in rear, ran in snatches

16/1

7th

2

(11)

3rd Sep 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

20:15 Newcastle (AW)

Dougies Dream

9st 11lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Nigel Tinkler

Two of his four wins have come over C&D and although his losing run is up to 12, he is 7lb lower than when last successful; one for the shortlist returned here.

15/2

Form: 30-385 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Back to the mark he won off at Ayr last summer and acquitted himself well when not beaten far into fifth in the Class 2 Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar (1m2f, good to firm) 18 days ago; enters the reckoning.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(6)

6th Aug 2025

Good

1m 2f 5y

Class 6

14:30 Pontefract

Highwaygrey

10st 9lb

J: Mrs Emily Roberts

T: Tim Easterby

Needs to be delivered late off a strong pace to be at his best and it's not worked out for him this season, including in three races at Pontefract where he has a good record; continues to creep down the weights.

11/2

4th

4

(5)

15th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

1m 1f 207y

Class 6

15:30 Beverley

Highwaygrey

9st 13lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Tim Easterby

9yo who has been a grand servant to the yard with nine wins but he's not so good as he once was; needs to be delivered late off a strong pace to be at his best; now on a career-low mark and others preferred.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 33-759 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 10st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Often front-runner; operating below his best so far in 2023 but came good at a similar time last year and he's back on a good mark if staging a revival.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

(1)

7th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 0f 6y

Class 4

15:40 Pontefract

Jean Baptiste

9st 5lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Roger Fell & Sean Murray

Runner-up on his first two starts this season (1m2f, good/AW) but down the field on his three runs since and needs to get back on track.

15/2

7th

4

(1)

7th Jul 2024

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 4

16:45 Ayr

Jean Baptiste

10st 0lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Roger Fell & Sean Murray

led, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out

16/1

6/1

Form: 353114 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Three wins at Class 6 level this year and showed he can be competitive in a higher grade when fourth of 19 in 1m2f Newbury Class 3 (good) four weeks ago; runs off 2lb lower here; should get involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(2)

20th May 2026

Good To Soft

1m 2f 23y

Class 5

18:40 Yarmouth

Solanna

9st 7lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: John Butler

Nine wins to his name, including C&D, and just 1lb higher than for March's narrow Kempton success (1m3f); two creditable efforts have followed but he could use the ground drying out if he is to add to his tally.

9/2

3rd

2

(2)

26th Apr 2026

Good

1m 2f 50y

Class 5

17:55 Nottingham

Solanna

9st 8lb

J: David Egan

T: John Butler

Ridden by Rossa Ryan (now on Kurios Lady) on last two starts, prevailing narrowly at Kempton (1m3f) before a close fourth at Southwell (1m3f); they were on AW and he ran only once on turf last year, when a respectable third off this mark at Haydock (1m2f, good) last July but he needs better than that.

7/2

10/1

Form: -40033 C

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Back to the mark he defied at Nottingham last summer and arrives on the back of creditable placed efforts at Beverley and Ripon; this former course scorer has each-way claims again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(2)

27th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 100y

Class 6

16:15 Beverley

Poets Dawn

9st 13lb

J: Jake Dickson

T: Tim Easterby

Rolled back the years with a front-running 1m2f win at Ripon ten days ago; only has a 4lb penalty to deal with and Jake Dickson is good value for his 7lb claim; unlikely to get a soft time of things up front though.

9/4

1st

10

(1)

17th May 2026

Good

1m 1f 170y

Class 5

15:17 Ripon

Poets Dawn

8st 13lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Tim Easterby

Grand veteran striving to maintain his record of winning at least once every year since 2017; not the force of old and although he is down to a career-low mark, this looks a tad too competitive for him nowadays.

14/1

Form: 159331 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Third success when battling well to shade a tight finish at Ripon (1m2f, good) 26 days ago; nudged up 3lb to a career-high mark and more will be needed to follow up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

(10)

1st Jun 2026

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 6

14:07 Lingfield (AW)

Showmedemoney

9st 1lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Craig Benton

Goes back to the blinkers worn for both Newcastle wins, latterly off 3lb lower, for Iain Jardine in the winter but again no sign of the usual tongue-tie; big price and well held for his new yard on turf a few weeks ago.

20/1

8th

9

(13)

11th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

17:12 Windsor

Showmedemoney

10st 4lb

J: Miss Taryn Cole

T: Craig Benton

Won twice over 1m at Newcastle for Iain Jardine over the winter; down the field at Lingfield on his stable debut three weeks ago; up in trip and usual tongue-tie absent; cheekpieces the headgear of choice.

20/1

9th

3

(6)

20th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 6

14:21 Lingfield (AW)

Showmedemoney

11st 0lb

J: Miss Taryn Cole

T: Craig Benton

In excellent form for Iain Jardine this winter, signing off with 1m Newcastle win in February; more is needed for his new yard off a 4lb higher mark.

13/2

Form: 85-624

Last run: 33 days

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Sole win when sent over to Galway (1m4f, soft) last July; this year's efforts have been respectable but below par on his previous attempt on good to firm.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

1

(1)

27th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 3

20:30 Kempton (AW)

Aqwaam

9st 9lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Ian Williams

Four wins (three on AW at 1m6f and 2m) and was last seen finishing third in the 2024 Cesarewitch; has gone well over this shorter trip but can only be considered if market vibes are positive.

14/1

3rd

13

(22)

12th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 2f 0y

Class 2

15:40 Newmarket

Aqwaam

8st 9lb

J: Trevor Whelan

T: Ian Williams

Reached new heights during a pretty busy AW campaign prior to his creditable and none-too-lucky sixth in the 2m2f Chester Cup in May when last seen (finished lame); that was on good to firm and easily his best turf form, but he won on soft in 2022; withdrawn twice last month; on the Chester Cup evidence he could still be capable of better.

28/1

Non-runners

Aqwaam

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £48.30
Straight Forecast £44.48
Tricast £111.87
Trifecta £170.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Westernesse

Daily Mail:

Pledge Of Honour

D Express:

Highwaygrey

TOPSPEED:

Menelaus

NEWMARKET:

Solanna

POSTDATA:

Poet's Dawn

RP RATINGS:

Westernesse

The Times:

Westernesse

Telegraph:

Westernesse

The Guardian:

Westernesse

Daily Mirror:

Westernesse

Daily Record:

Westernesse

The Sun:

Pledge Of Honour

The Star:

Highwaygrey