August 14 / 15.35 Pontefract

15.35

Good To Firm

William Hill Pick Your Places Handicap

  • Prize money: £7560
  • 1m 0f 6y
  • Class 3
  • 4 runners
RTV
View Course
William Hill Pick Your Places Handicap

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

8/13 (Won)

  • Win: £1.91

Form: 221-71 D

Last run: 45 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Improved for his reappearance run when winning in a small field at Yarmouth (1m, good) last time out in June, narrowly beating one who went one better next time; gelded since and he could be just the type to continue to improve for Sir Michael Stoute, who won this race last year.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

(11)

21st Aug 2022

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

18:12 Sandown

Ikhtiraaq

9st 10lb

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Sir Michael Stoute

held up in midfield, pushed along when edged right and switched left over 2f out, headway over 1f out, ridden and made strong challenge when went second inside final furlong, kept on

3/1

1st

2

(1)

14th Aug 2022

Good To Firm

1m 0f 6y

Class 3

15:35 Pontefract

Ikhtiraaq

9st 6lb

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Sir Michael Stoute

made all, set steady pace, shaken up and increased tempo over 1f out, ridden briefly inside final furlong, pushed out final 110yds, comfortably

8/13

Form: 15-752 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Won three times last year (including under Mohammed Tabti) and, having been gelded, he was second of four behind a progressive Godolphin winner at Windsor (1m, good to firm) three weeks ago; wears first-time cheekpieces and could be in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 4

16:40 Plumpton

Sanitiser

11st 2lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Doing surprisingly well over fences as he's not bred for them; he might just be a shade high in the weights now after his hat-trick bid came up shy in a three-runner race but he must still have some sort of chance on ground he handles.

3/1

2nd

4

23rd Mar 2026

Good

1m 7f 149y

Class 4

15:47 Wincanton

Sanitiser

11st 2lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Not bred for fences but has collected small-field chase wins on soft ground at Plumpton (2m1f) and Fontwell (2m2f) in recent weeks, and may be even better suited by the forecast good ground on this hat-trick attempt.

4/5

1st

3

14th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 1f 165y

Class 4

16:20 Fontwell

Sanitiser

11st 4lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Plenty of short-priced defeats to go with his sole win over hurdles; ended a losing run when winning over fences at Plumpton (2m1f, soft) last time, off a 4lb lower mark, but needs to build on that against a couple of progressive rivals.

3/1

OUR TIP
3rd
3 (4)
Gorak

9/2

Form: 721-05 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Won a novice at Ayr (1m, good to firm) on final 2yo start but he's finished held in handicaps on his two outings this year and has to raise his game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(6)

23rd Aug 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

14:05 Goodwood

Gorak

9st 0lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Charlie Fellowes

Best form this season when placed twice at Haydock, including latest start; still on a workable mark but continues on a long losing sequence, which makes him a similar type to Billyjoh.

16/1

3

(2)

9th Aug 2025

Good

0m 7f 37y

Class 3

16:10 Haydock

Gorak

9st 13lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Charlie Fellowes

Record over C&D includes a success in May 2023 and solid second on reappearance this term; disappointing favourite here on penultimate start and losing run is mounting up; best form certainly gives him a good chance off current mark back down in grade.

7/1

11

(1)

12th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

14:50 Newmarket (July)

Gorak

9st 4lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Charlie Fellowes

Disappointing favourite at Haydock last Saturday, extending his long losing sequence; beaten twice in this contest (seventh in 2023, well held in 2024) and can be opposed.

33/1

Form: 2-7031

Last run: 11 days

W: 8st 11lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

9

(15)

29th Sep 2022

Standard

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

20:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Alooqaal

9st 9lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Michael Appleby

always towards rear

12/1

5th

7

(7)

26th Aug 2022

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:10 Newmarket (July)

Alooqaal

9st 3lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Michael Appleby

held up in rear, shaken up over 2f out, never on terms

7/1

Non-runners

Alooqaal

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.40
Straight Forecast £3.11
Trifecta £1.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Ikhtiraaq

TOPSPEED:

Sanitiser

RP Ratings:

Alooqaal

Daily Express:

Alooqaal

Daily Mirror:

Alooqaal

The Sun:

Alooqaal

NEWMARKET:

Ikhtiraaq

The Times:

Ikhtiraaq

The Star:

Ikhtiraaq

Daily Record:

Ikhtiraaq

POSTDATA:

Sanitiser

LAMBOURN:

Sanitiser

Telegraph:

Sanitiser

Daily Mail:

Sanitiser