August 30 / 16.50 Thirsk

16.50

Good To Firm

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  • Prize money: £5234
  • 1m 6f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
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Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 113115 CD

Last run: 36 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
3yo whose form dipped somewhat when tried over 2m on latest outing but he is 4-4 on varied ground when racing over 1m6f this season, with the latest of those wins at Thirsk; subsequent 6lb rise looks a bit harsh and connections now reach for headgear, but he needs major respect in this field.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(10)

11th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 56y

Class 4

16:30 York

The Crafty Mole

9st 5lb

J: David Nolan

T: David O’Meara

Won at Newmarket (1m6f, good to firm) in August and at Ripon (2m, good) last month, appearing to idle in front on the second occasion having travelled extremely well; stayed on for fourth at Redcar (1m6f, good to soft) subsequently and the return to 2m could be a strong positive; major player.

9/1

4th

1

(2)

4th Oct 2025

Good

1m 5f 218y

Class 4

17:05 Redcar

The Crafty Mole

9st 12lb

J: David Nolan

T: David O’Meara

Won in Class 6 on soft and good to soft last year but withdrawn from good to soft on Thursday; first six wins were 1m6f, including at Newmarket this August, and he travelled much the best at Ripon (2m) one week ago before scraping home in front; up 3lb but return to 1m6f is clearly no disincentive and two of his wins last year were separated by only five days; player.

5/2

Form: -56244 BF

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Sole win (eight races) was an AW maiden last December; bang there over 1m4f at Goodwood (wandered in front) and Newbury this summer, before a lesser show (hung right in the closing stages) when tried in cheekpieces at Ripon on latest outing; now he's tongue tied first time and upped to 1m6f; capable but not the most straightforward.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

(6)

19th Sep 2024

Good

1m 6f 17y

Class 4

15:20 Yarmouth

Cool Legend

9st 3lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

led

9/4

2nd

4

(3)

30th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:50 Thirsk

Cool Legend

9st 4lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

made all, increased tempo then clear over 3f out, reduced lead from under 2f out, drifted right and bumped then jockey dropped whip inside final furlong, bumped rival inside final 110yds, kept on and all out, finished 1st, placed 2nd

7/2

4th

2

(6)

11th Aug 2024

Good

1m 4f 10y

Class 4

15:40 Ripon

Cool Legend

9st 9lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

held up in last, pushed along 4f out, switched right 3f out, no impression and edged left from 2f out

11/8

OUR TIP

4/1

Form: -81352 D

Last run: 48 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Very solid this summer, including his win at Catterick (good to firm) and close second at Chester (good to soft) on latest outing, which were both at about 1m6f; big chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

5

(7)

27th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 4

15:38 York

Gibside

9st 6lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Tim Easterby

Handles most surfaces and his eight wins include two here, latterly over 2m in 2024; last scored at Catterick (1m4f) off 3lb higher in October and after some lesser efforts this season he was much more competitive when third back there (1m6f) a fortnight ago; contender to step forward again and he's considered.

10/1

3rd

6

(3)

11th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 192y

Class 4

20:23 Catterick

Gibside

9st 0lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Two course wins, including this race off 8lb lower in 2024 (good to firm); highly tried and not been at his best this season but quite interesting down in grade.

10/1

10th

12

(4)

31st May 2026

Good

2m 0f 13y

Class 3

18:15 Thirsk

Gibside

8st 12lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

Strong finish from rear secured the Chester Plate (2m2f, good) last May off 3lb higher and he also won over 1m4f on soft at Catterick in October; needs to leave his four efforts this season a long way behind him, however.

20/1

20/1

Form: 552-80

Last run: 77 days

W: 9st 1lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
11-race maiden who has not beaten many in his five runs (first three over hurdles) for new stable; tried cheekpieces last time; best watched at present.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

7

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

15:17 Perth

Cosmic Soul

11st 8lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Patrick Neville

His hat-trick (2m1f-2m4f; good) has come at a cost mark-wise but it was all very straightforward last time at Sedgefield; something has clicked big time and he could deal with another 6lb.

100/30

1st

3

1st Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

16:40 Sedgefield

Cosmic Soul

11st 12lb

J: William Maggs

T: Patrick Neville

Kickstarted 2026 with a Flat success at Southwell and he's bagged back-to-back handicaps here since, readily landing the odds over C&D 13 days ago; hiked up 10lb now but thriving and still the one to beat.

11/8

Form: 41-483

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Signed off for Charlie Johnston with clearcut AW win on handicap debut last September; has run creditably over 1m4f for minor honours in two of his three races this season, third of seven at Ascot (good to firm) on latest, and should not be far away on this first crack at 1m6f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(5)

30th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:50 Thirsk

King Of The Plains

10st 3lb

J: P J McDonald

T: James Horton

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, towards rear with one circuit to go, outpaced and no impression from 2f out

4/1

3rd

3

(2)

26th Jul 2024

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 4

16:10 Ascot

King Of The Plains

10st 0lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: James Horton

took keen hold, raced in second, pressed leader over 3f out, briefly led over 2f out, no chance with winner from over 1f out, lost second final strides

8/1

8th

5

(5)

31st May 2024

Good To Soft

1m 3f 197y

Class 4

20:50 Doncaster

King Of The Plains

9st 6lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: James Horton

ducked right start, took keen hold, towards rear

5/1

Form: 2-5885

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Displayed staying potential in the mud last autumn but has not made any impact in his four handicaps this season, at up to 2m; visored on last two outings; 8lb lower than on reappearance but perhaps more interesting when it's rained again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(11)

10th Jun 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 3f 210y

16:43 Limerick

Peace Walk

9st 13lb

J: Hugo Tavares Oliveira

T: Eamonn O’Connell

Failed to prosper in handicaps after showing decent form at two; had dropped from an initial rating of 85 to 70 by the time of his final start for Charlie Johnston in 2024; gelded now; likely to need after a long absence.

25/1

9th

7

(12)

10th Oct 2024

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

13:40 Ayr

Peace Walk

9st 7lb

J: Archie Young

T: Charlie Johnston

Promising 2yo, winning at Beverley and then second over 1m on heavy ground at Ffos Las; campaigned over 1m4f+ with little success this year; dropped a long way in the weights and this shorter trip may help but there are risks involved.

14/1

5th

5

(2)

13th Sep 2024

Soft

1m 6f 87y

Class 4

16:30 Chester

Peace Walk

9st 3lb

J: Franny Norton

T: Charlie Johnston

prominent on inner, weakened 3f out

12/1

12/1

Form: 51/8-7

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Stays 2m4f over hurdles; respectable seventh of 12 at Sandown five weeks ago on first attempt at 1m6f, when returned to Flat, but needs to build on that; cheekpieces (tried only once in last seven starts, often before that) return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

22nd Jul 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:25 Worcester

Jaramillo

11st 11lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Warren Greatrex

Dual hurdle winner whose only win over fences (seven starts) came at the expense of two rivals at Newton Abbot in April 2025 (2m5f, good); last three runs, in particular, leave him with some questions to answer right now.

20/1

5th

1

22nd Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 4

15:05 Fontwell

Jaramillo

12st 1lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Won a three-runner contest at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) in April but beaten 61l when sixth of seven at Stratford (2m3f, good to firm) five weeks ago; still 6lb higher than his last win and needs to return to form.

8/1

4

18th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

2m 3f 98y

Class 2

15:57 Stratford

Jaramillo

11st 3lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Warren Greatrex

Came good over fences with easy win in three-runner contest at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) in April and stuck to his task pretty well when third of six at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) in June; a possible.

5/1

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Gibside

POSTDATA:

The Crafty Mole

NEWMARKET:

King Of The Plains

The Times:

The Crafty Mole

Daily Mail:

The Crafty Mole

The Sun:

The Crafty Mole

Daily Record:

The Crafty Mole

D Express:

King Of The Plains

Daily Mirror:

King Of The Plains

RP RATINGS:

Gibside

TOPSPEED:

Gibside

Telegraph:

Gibside

The Guardian:

Gibside

The Star:

Gibside