May 11 / 15.50 Haydock

15.50

Good

Pertemps Network Spring Trophy Stakes (Listed Race)

  • Prize money: £28355
  • 0m 6f 212y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
Pertemps Network Spring Trophy Stakes (Listed Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £7.00
  • Place: £2.80

Form: 5406-1 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Winless last year for Johnny Murtagh but made an immediate impact for his new yard with a convincing success in conditions event at Thirsk (7f, soft; unraced on firmer than good) three weeks ago; that was a personal best on the ratings and he was competitive in Group 1s as a 2yo; could take another step forward.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

25th

9

(3)

21st Jun 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

Shartash

9st 5lb

J: James Doyle

T: Archie Watson

Thereabouts in 6f Group races in France and Ireland last summer, including on good to firm, and has shed a few pounds with his mark since; hampered on last two AW starts and not discounted back on turf in first-time cheekpieces for yard that won this with 22-1 shot Saint Lawrence (also runs today) in 2023.

16/1

10th

4

(2)

6th Apr 2025

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 2

16:55 Southwell (AW)

Shartash

9st 8lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Archie Watson

Two 7f wins last spring, including Listed; made a promising seasonal/handicap debut when third at Lingfield in February (6f) but he was disappointing over C&D last month, awkward leaving the stalls but unable to make up any ground in the straight; dropped another 2lb; more appealing over further.

10/1

10th

4

(2)

6th Apr 2025

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 2

16:55 Southwell (AW)

Shartash

9st 8lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Archie Watson

Two 7f wins last spring, including Listed; made a promising seasonal/handicap debut when third at Lingfield in February (6f) but he was disappointing over C&D last month, awkward leaving the stalls but unable to make up any ground in the straight; dropped another 2lb; more appealing over further.

10/1

9/2

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 3904-4 CD

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 10lb

8 yo Horse

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
The oldest in the field by some way; has won a Group 2 and two Group 3s over 7f, including on this course; not disgraced in Sandown Group 2 on reappearance and now drops to a Listed race for the first time since 2021, so he's respected even though a losing sequence is beginning to mount up; often leads.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

3

(1)

11th Oct 2024

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

Pogo

9st 5lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Charles Hills

prominent towards far side

33/1

8th

3

(2)

14th Sep 2024

Good

0m 7f 6y

Class 1

15:00 Doncaster

Pogo

9st 6lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Charles Hills

8yo who ran creditably in the frame in 7f Group 3s at Haydock and Newmarket in June but was below par when fifth (2l behind Kinross) in the Lennox at Goodwood last time; fully exposed and would be a surprise winner.

25/1

5th

6

(3)

30th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Goodwood

Pogo

9st 6lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Charles Hills

Front-runner who was a short head behind Kinross when third in this race two years ago; his enthusiasm appears to remain intact at the age of eight, but his losing run is up to 12 and he finished just over 2l behind Noble Dynasty when fourth of five in a Group 3 on the Newmarket July Course last month; unlikely to gain an uncontested lead here and has a bit to find in any case.

25/1

Form: 3410-5 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Finished a head behind Pogo in 1m Group 2 at Sandown two weeks ago but 7f is more his trip and he may well come on plenty for that run; led inside the final 1f when winning the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury last August and a repeat of that form would make him a leading contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

2

(14)

27th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 14y

Class 2

13:40 Newcastle (AW)

Witch Hunter

9st 7lb

J: John Fahy

T: Richard Hannon

Now 5lb lower than for his 1m win here in January and there have been excuses for several of his defeats since; plausible outsider.

20/1

19th

30

(3)

17th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

Witch Hunter

9st 0lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Richard Hannon

Defied a 5lb higher mark in the 7f handicap at this meeting three years ago and scored over 1m on AW in January; has lost his form, most recently finishing last in the Newbury event won by Classic; further Royal Ascot glory looks unlikely.

50/1

Form: 17152-

Last run: 210 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Refused to race on his first two outings but things have improved markedly since, and he ended last season with a fine second in a Newmarket Group 3 (1m1f, soft); however, he could find this trip on the sharp side after seven months off and others have more obvious claims on the ratings.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(7)

17th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 212y

Class 3

15:05 Haydock

Silver Sword

10st 0lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Dylan Cunha

Gained last success off just 1lb lower at Meydan in March; hasn't scored on home soil for over two years but ran respectably in competitive field at York (1m) last Friday; possibilities back down in grade.

13/2

5th

13

(16)

10th Oct 2025

Good

0m 7f 192y

Class 2

13:30 York

Silver Sword

8st 8lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Dylan Cunha

Failed to kick on after big-field handicap win at Meydan (1m, good to firm) in March but returned from a break in the Cambridgeshire (1m1f, good to firm) a fortnight ago and was denied a clear run when finishing an encouraging 11th of 23; he may be able to build on that performance.

16/1

11th

20

(1)

27th Sep 2025

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 2

15:40 Newmarket

Silver Sword

8st 8lb

J: J F Egan

T: Dylan Cunha

Won a big-field handicap at Meydan (1m, good to firm) in March; however, didn't really threaten in Britain on his next three starts in April and May, and returns from a break today; others are more appealing.

40/1

2/1

Form: 1181-1 CD

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Hard to fault and he made it four wins from five attempts when making a winning reappearance in 15-runner handicap at Newmarket (7f, good; 100-30 favourite) three weeks ago; looks well worth his place in this higher grade and he's high on the list again with further improvement on the cards.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

(11)

27th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

14:10 Newcastle (AW)

Poet Master

9st 5lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Won a Group 2 in Ireland in July 2024; not added to that success since but he has run well in two of his three starts this time round, latterly finishing third of eight in a Group 3 at Epsom (7f, good to soft); drops in trip for his AW debut.

10/1

3rd

6

(6)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 3y

Class 1

13:30 Epsom

Poet Master

9st 2lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Group 2 winner at the Curragh (7f, good) in July 2024 and runner-up in two 7f Group races last autumn (very soft/good); not at his best on his two runs this season but each-way claims if back on song today.

9/1

5th

9

(3)

9th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 212y

Class 1

15:40 Haydock

Poet Master

9st 10lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

7f specialist, a Group 2 winner in July 2024; below best when finding Myal just too strong in conditions event at Thirsk (7f, good; 15-8 favourite) on return; may build on that but he's 4lb worse off with that rival here.

13/2

Form: 3118- D

Last run: 210 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Absent since finishing last in soft-ground Dewhurst on final 2yo outing; progressive on good/firmer otherwise and won the Acomb at York (7f) the time before; improvement required but he receives weight from his older rivals and may not have reached his ceiling after just four outings.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(3)

1st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

16:10 Thirsk

Indian Run

9st 12lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Julie Camacho

Dropped into Class 3 at Windsor (6f, good to firm) 16 days ago and ran a good race for second, edging left in the closing stages but keeping on well regardless; still has handicapping scope up 1lb.

7/2

2nd

6

(3)

15th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 6f 12y

Class 3

19:00 Windsor

Indian Run

9st 4lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Julie Camacho

Well handicapped on last spring's Newmarket/Newbury form; down the field in both runs this year but he was awkward at the start on his reappearance and not well drawn at York last time; unwise to underestimate him now he drops in class.

14/1

9th

18

(12)

13th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:55 York

Indian Run

8st 11lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Julie Camacho

Not beaten far at Newmarket (6f, good) and Newbury (6f, good to firm) last May and he's well handicapped on that form; however, below best on final two starts last season and likewise on recent reappearance at Newmarket.

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £30.20
Straight Forecast £32.00
Trifecta £97.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Poet Master

The Star:

Indian Run

RP RATINGS:

Witch Hunter

NEWMARKET:

Silver Sword

Daily Mirror:

Shartash

Daily Mail:

Pogo

Daily Record:

Indian Run

TOPSPEED:

Poet Master

The Times:

Poet Master

Telegraph:

Poet Master

The Guardian:

Poet Master

D Express:

Poet Master

The Sun:

Poet Master

POSTDATA:

Witch Hunter