July 30 / 14.38 Thirsk

14.38

Good To Soft

William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap

  • Prize money: £5076
  • 1m 4f 8y
  • Class 5
  • 10 runners
RTV
View Course
William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

14/1 (Won)

  • Win: £19.00
  • Place: £3.40

Form: /5932- C

Last run: 301 days

W: 10st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Two 1m6f wins at Haydock in autumn 2020; just as good when ending 2021 with placed efforts here (2m) and at Redcar (1m6f) but goes down in trip on his reappearance and a watching brief is the percentage call after ten months off; regular hood also missing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

(8)

18th May 2026

Good

1m 6f 32y

Class 5

15:30 Carlisle

Billy No Mates

8st 7lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Michael Dods

Rallied for third of six at Redcar (1m6f, good) on seasonal debut and remains well handicapped on historical data; just no certainty to step forward, being a veteran who hasn't won since 2023.

14/1

3rd

3

(6)

7th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 218y

Class 5

18:20 Redcar

Billy No Mates

9st 3lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Michael Dods

A veteran who is without a win since September 2023; good weights chance on last season's best but he ended the year with a modest effort; handles good ground but rarely seen on a faster surface.

7/1

9th

3

(4)

18th Nov 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 6

15:45 Newcastle (AW)

Billy No Mates

9st 13lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: Michael Dods

Made the frame, albeit quite comfortably held, over C&D on belated return to AW last time; the 9yo's losing run is mounting up but he remains well treated on plenty of turf form.

14/1

7/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 432524 BF

Last run: 19 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Nine-race maiden but she has gone close on a couple of occasions, including over C&D; latest fourth at Ayr (1m2f, good) respectable; ought to be in the shake-up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

18:10 Cartmel

Belle Of Annandale

11st 6lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: R Mike Smith

Very well treated on some of last year's form for Adrian Keatley and seems versatile ground-wise but has not been firing on all cylinders in recent months.

14/1

9

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

18:10 Cartmel

Belle Of Annandale

11st 6lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: R Mike Smith

Very well treated on some of last year's form for Adrian Keatley and seems versatile ground-wise but has not been firing on all cylinders in recent months.

14/1

8

15th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

15:21 Perth

Belle Of Annandale

10st 5lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: R Mike Smith

Won a 2m maiden here and a 1m7f novice at Musselburgh in 2023; bit disappointing in handicaps at up to 3m last season but well handicapped as a result.

12/1

5/2

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 7-1102 D BF

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Kicked off this season with last-gasp wins in handicaps at Redcar (1m2f, soft) and Musselburgh (12.5f, good); bounced back quickly from a flop at Doncaster when chasing home the progressive Southcombe (won at Ascot and fourth at Glorious Goodwood since) at Haydock (11.5f, soft) last month; the third in that Haydock contest also shaped well (met trouble) when third at Sandown on Thursday; big player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(2)

6th Oct 2022

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

13:15 Ayr

Hilts

9st 11lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

midfield, shaken up under 3f out, kept on to lead inside final furlong, won going away

4/1

10th

10

(9)

15th Sep 2022

Good

1m 4f 5y

Class 4

15:27 Pontefract

Hilts

9st 2lb

J: Jack Garritty

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

took keen hold, held up in rear, ridden and no impression from over 2f out, heavily eased (jockey said gelding was never travelling; trainer's rep said the gelding scoped dirty)

4/1

3rd

7

(1)

30th Jul 2022

Good To Soft

1m 4f 8y

Class 5

14:38 Thirsk

Hilts

9st 4lb

J: Jack Garritty

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

prominent, ridden and outpaced over 3f out, rallied over 1f out, stayed on

5/2

16/1

Form: 53/5-4 D

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 5lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Not the force of old over jumps but still pretty useful; weakened to finish well-held fourth of five on his return to the Flat at Sandown (1m6f, good to firm) ten days ago; dropped 3lb but it's not enough to tempt for last year's winning yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

5th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 4

14:10 Musselburgh

Nietzsche

11st 10lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Brian Ellison

Four-time hurdle winner who is well treated on jumps form as recent as April, and he won on the Flat in September; however, he finished down the field on the Flat the next twice and it was the same story back over hurdles at Cheltenham in November; needs to get back on track.

7/1

14th

12

11th Nov 2022

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 3

13:10 Cheltenham

Nietzsche

11st 8lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Brian Ellison

Won the 2018 Greatwood at this meeting; first Flat win for six years came when edging home in September; major backward steps in that sphere in his two starts since, which dents confidence in him, but he is very well handicapped judged on plenty of hurdles and chase form, including from last term; cheekpieces (last worn in March) return.

10/1

15th

8

(14)

22nd Oct 2022

Good To Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

16:50 Newbury

Nietzsche

10st 11lb

J: Mr Matt Brown

T: Brian Ellison

held up in rear, raced wide home turn, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and outpaced 3f out, struggling from over 2f out, tailed off

7/1

OUR TIP

14/1

Form: 20-4

Last run: 42 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
RPRs in the low 70s on two of his three runs; first run for new yard when 3l last of four at Haydock (extended 1m3f, good to firm) six weeks ago; unexposed for handicap debut; one to keep an eye on in the betting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(8)

30th Jul 2022

Good To Soft

1m 4f 8y

Class 5

14:38 Thirsk

Mutawaarid

10st 0lb

J: Paul Hanagan

T: Iain Jardine

held up in midfield, shaken up and headway over 3f out, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, rallied over 1f out, kept on

14/1

Form: 3-6424 BF

Last run: 35 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
1m nursery winner on soft last September; creditable efforts at around this trip when second at Newbury (good to soft) and fourth at Chester (good) last month; another who is likely to be competitive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

26th Oct 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 130y

13:05 Wexford

Greatness Awaits

10st 11lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Cian Collins

Got his fifth hurdles win when beating subsequent Galway festival winner Winning Smut at Killarney in July (2m7f, yielding to soft); beaten 25l apiece in his two chase starts; makes handicap chase debut and chance on his best hurdles form but hasn't shown that yet over fences.

18/1

5th

2

8th Sep 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 2f 54y

18:22 Galway

Greatness Awaits

11st 12lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Cian Collins

Flat winner and very experienced hurdler; gaining his fifth hurdles win, and seventh in all, when taking a 2m7f Killarney handicap in July; remote fourth on chasing debut over a staying trip at Ballinrobe.

25/1

3

25th Aug 2025

Good

2m 7f 65y

19:43 Ballinrobe

Greatness Awaits

11st 12lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Cian Collins

Heavily-raced 6yo was gaining his fifth win hurdling when taking 2m7f Killarney handicap last month; never counted at Galway however since; Flat-bred tries fences here.

10/1

9/2

Form: 9-55

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
The most encouraging of his three qualifying runs was when fifth in what is likely to turn out to be a decent 1m4f novice at Doncaster (good) 29 days ago; he should have more to offer in handicaps for good stable; market support would look significant.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

(6)

14th Mar 2026

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 4

20:00 Southwell (AW)

Matched

8st 13lb

J: Oisin McSweeney

T: Ruth Jefferson

Improved for the step up to 2m/switch to AW/blinkers when winning at Lingfield in August 2022 (off this mark); absent since finishing fourth of eight at Kempton one month later; gelded during his 1,284-day absence; hard to recommend on first run for a new stable.

25/1

4th

1

(3)

7th Sep 2022

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 5

20:30 Kempton (AW)

Matched

9st 11lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

took keen hold, prominent, ridden over 2f out, lost third and no extra inside final furlong

5/2

1st

8

(5)

20th Aug 2022

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 5

19:50 Lingfield (AW)

Matched

9st 4lb

J: Dougie Costello

T: Ralph Beckett

held up in midfield, switched right and headway over 6f out, led over 5f out, shaken up and went clear from over 1f out, ridden out (trainer's rep said, regarding the apparent improvement in form, colt benefitted from a step up in trip and the application of first time blinkers)

16/1

Form: 6065

Last run: 29 days

W: 8st 9lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
Not disgraced when fifth on her 1m4f Beverley handicap debut (good) 29 days ago but it wasn't a promising enough effort to make her of interest here; Hilts has to be considered very much the stable first string.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

28th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

17:05 Worcester

Scottish Dancer

11st 8lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tim Reed

1-16 over hurdles and lost his way in this discipline when trained in Ireland; however, he's back on track for new yard having finished first and second in 1m6f/2m Flat handicaps this month; could be on a handy mark back over jumps.

5/1

2nd

1

(2)

17th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:17 Ripon

Scottish Dancer

10st 0lb

J: Millie Wonnacott

T: Tim Reed

Lost his way in Ireland last year as a hurdler but, having first Flat run since June 2023, made a winning start from the front for new yard in handicap at Thirsk (1m6f, good to firm) 15 days ago; the big outsider of five that day and dictated a slow pace, but he's gone back up by just 2lb and the return to 2m may well suit him; major player in bid to win a second time under Millie Wonnacott.

9/2

1st

3

(5)

2nd May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

15:15 Thirsk

Scottish Dancer

9st 6lb

J: Millie Wonnacott

T: Tim Reed

Dual Flat winner at up to 2m for Keith Dalgleish in early summer 2023; consistent in handicap hurdles in Ireland in 2024, including a 2m6f win, but lost his way badly there last year; back on the Flat for a new yard after 196 days off with a fair bit to prove.

20/1

Form: 32-382

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Not straightforward (can flash tail and hang under pressure) but she's still fairly low mileage and latest second at Ripon (1m4f, good) was a step back in the right direction; one to consider under Spencer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(2)

5th Oct 2022

Good To Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

14:40 Nottingham

Auntie Margaret

9st 5lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Charlie & Mark Johnston

took keen hold, led, increased tempo 3f out, ridden and faced challenge over 2f out, headed 1f out, no extra final 110yds

11/2

1st

7

(8)

6th Sep 2022

Good To Firm

1m 3f 179y

Class 5

15:50 Leicester

Auntie Margaret

9st 7lb

J: Franny Norton

T: Charlie & Mark Johnston

made virtually all, shaken up over 2f out, pushed along and flashed tail repeatedly from over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, hung left towards finish, kept on

16/1

4

(9)

8th Aug 2022

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 5

13:45 Wolverhampton (AW)

Auntie Margaret

9st 8lb

J: Franny Norton

T: Charlie & Mark Johnston

Bounced back with a creditable second in Ripon handicap (1m4f, good) last month but she added another major blip to her profile when tailed off at Thirsk last time; that took her record to 0-7 and others are more convincing.

8/1

Form: 248-23 D BF

Last run: 64 days

W: 10st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Two wins over this trip at Epsom under Thomas Greatrex last summer; returned to action with a good second over 1m2f at Nottingham in May but not in the same form when third of four at Chepstow later that month; a two-month break since suggests something may have come to light and he's capable of bouncing back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

2nd Jul 2024

Good To Firm

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

18:10 Stratford

Amalfi Bay

11st 6lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

midfield, towards rear with one circuit to go, headway when not fluent 2 out

4/1

4th

6

12th Jun 2024

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

16:43 Fontwell

Amalfi Bay

11st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

Fair Flat performer (stayed at least 1m6f); promise in maiden/novice hurdles last year and possibly found soft ground against him when pulled up on handicap hurdle debut; back on track when returned to a better surface with a close second at Stratford (2m3f, good) last month; shouldn't be far away off a small rise.

2/1

2nd

5

9th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

19:50 Stratford

Amalfi Bay

11st 1lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Anthony Honeyball

Useful on the Flat for the Charltons; promise in maiden/novice hurdles last year and perhaps found soft ground against him when pulled up on handicap hurdle debut ten weeks ago; may fare better returned to drying ground.

7/2

Non-runners

Amalfi Bay

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £118.70
Straight Forecast £97.77
Tricast £166.13
Trifecta £379.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Hilts

POSTDATA:

Belle Of Annandale

Daily Mirror:

Matched

Daily Express:

Mutawaarid

Daily Mail:

Belle Of Annandale

RP Ratings:

Hilts

The Times:

Hilts

Telegraph:

Hilts

The Guardian:

Hilts

The Star:

Hilts

Daily Record:

Hilts