July 21 / 19.50 Pontefract

19.50

Good To Soft

John Winter & Co 60th Birthday Handicap

  • Prize money: £15462
  • 0m 5f 3y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
RTV
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John Winter & Co 60th Birthday Handicap

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.00
  • Place: £2.50

Form: 690871 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 8st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
9yo who was winning at York for the seventh time when making all in a big field last Friday (5f, good to soft); runs off just 1lb higher today (penalised 4lb, but he was due a 3lb drop after York) and he ran well here in April on his sole previous course visit; can make another bold bid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

(2)

31st May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

16:45 Thirsk

Copper Knight

9st 5lb

J: Jake Dickson

T: Tim Easterby

Grand old veteran who can be forgiven his defeat in a Class 2 at York last time, having won at this level the time before at Beverley (2lb lower); had 119 races and yet this is his first visit here.

16/1

18th

18

(4)

14th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

14:20 York

Copper Knight

8st 6lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Tim Easterby

Hugely admirable 12yo whose seven York wins include this race in 2019 and 2021, and he built upon last month's reappearance second at Ripon (5f, good) to win at Beverley (5f, good to soft) ten days ago; however, there's a suspicion he may find a big-field Class 2 such as this too hot nowadays.

20/1

1st

4

(2)

4th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

16:15 Beverley

Copper Knight

9st 3lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Legendary 12yo who has won 18 of his 117 races; fine second at Ripon on reappearance (5f, good), rain will help and although yet to win in four runs here, wouldn't rule him out.

13/2

9/2

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 331-95 CD

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 1lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Won four times last season (soft/good to firm, including C&D) and came from the rear for 2l fifth of 18 at York (5f, good to soft) last Friday on her second start of the year; in calculations at this stiffer track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

6

(8)

23rd May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

14:40 York

Elegant Erin

9st 8lb

J: Barry McHugh

T: Paul Midgley

Ended 2025 in top form, winning twice at Beverley (5f, soft), but she has looked rusty on both her starts this year; absent another seven weeks since her last run and probably best watched.

50/1

9th

5

(6)

7th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 3y

Class 2

15:57 Pontefract

Elegant Erin

9st 2lb

J: David Nolan

T: Paul Midgley

In great form on soft ground last autumn but was punished by the assessor for a Listed effort that possibly flatters her; never figured in AW event two months ago; current mark seems difficult.

20/1

8/1

Form: 16-270 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
5f 2yo Listed winner at York last May and runner-up in 5f Listed race there on return; midfield in 5f 3yo handicap at Royal Ascot but was third of seven in the far-side group and is not ruled out; unraced on slow ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

10

(12)

27th Oct 2023

Standard

0m 5f 0y

19:00 Dundalk (AW)

Pillow Talk

9st 11lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: K R Burke

midfield

25/1

3rd

2

(1)

10th Sep 2023

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 3

16:55 York

Pillow Talk

9st 12lb

J: Brandon Wilkie

T: K R Burke

Listed winner over C&D as a 2yo; also ran well over C&D on her reappearance at the Dante meeting here and confirmed her liking for the track with a close fourth in a 0-105 handicap at the Ebor meeting; won't need much extra for the addition of a visor to play a part.

6/1

4th

7

(5)

23rd Aug 2023

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

16:45 York

Pillow Talk

9st 0lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: K R Burke

bumped start

13/2

5/1

Form: 669443 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 8st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Has run well in defeat on his last three starts, most recently a close third of 18 off this mark behind Copper Knight at York (5f, good to soft) last Friday; there can be optimism he'll be winning sooner rather than later.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(8)

27th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

18:45 Newcastle (AW)

Mattice

9st 6lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Ian McInnes

Has been in grand form since winning at Carlisle (6f, good to soft) in July and landed his third win of the year (and first on AW) over C&D last time; up 6lb but must come into the equation on this hat-trick bid.

100/30

4

(8)

27th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

18:45 Newcastle (AW)

Mattice

9st 6lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Ian McInnes

Has been in grand form since winning at Carlisle (6f, good to soft) in July and landed his third win of the year (and first on AW) over C&D last time; up 6lb but must come into the equation on this hat-trick bid.

100/30

1

(13)

2nd Oct 2025

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

19:30 Newcastle (AW)

Mattice

9st 13lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Ian McInnes

Went very close on stable debut over C&D last November; made all at Carlisle (good to soft) in July and kept on well to win at Ripon (also 6f, good) on Saturday; 5lb penalty but this drop back to 5f is likely no bother; should give it a good go.

9/2

7/2

Form: 813-01 CD

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Won 2yo novice over C&D (good to firm) last August and returned to form to win Redcar handicap (5f, good) last month; he'll have something to prove if slow ground prevails but this well-bred 3yo is open to further improvement for his top yard and could play another leading role.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

(3)

31st May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

17:45 Thirsk

Russet Gold

8st 13lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Kevin Ryan

Beaten on his last 20 starts going back to June 2023 but he's shown promise in fifth this spring on his first two starts for this yard, most recently behind a couple of these in a big field at York (6f, good); he continues to edge down the weights and might not be far away.

10/1

5th

14

(1)

13th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:55 York

Russet Gold

8st 13lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Kevin Ryan

Beaten on his last 19 starts going back to June 2023 but, following a wind op, he was an encouraging fifth off his reduced mark behind Strike Red on last month's stable and seasonal debut at Leicester (6f, good to firm), where he was short of room late on; could build on that with a big run today.

12/1

5th

9

(1)

25th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:05 Leicester

Russet Gold

8st 12lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Kevin Ryan

Two 5f wins for Roger Varian but latest was in June 2023 and he was quiet last season; returns for new yard after wind surgery but he has a mixed record when fresh and this is highly competitive; down the list.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 27-602 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 10lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
2yo Listed winner last July (5f, good) and he got back on track when runner-up in Doncaster handicap (5f, good to firm) a fortnight ago; could be involved if handling the ground (unproven on a slow surface).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

16

(3)

3rd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Goodwood

Rocket Rodney

9st 4lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: George Scott

He wasn't disgraced in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot but Hamilton last time was a backward step; goes without headgear today and stable may hold stronger claims with Seven Questions.

40/1

8th

2

(2)

19th Jul 2024

Good

0m 6f 6y

Class 2

18:35 Hamilton

Rocket Rodney

9st 12lb

J: P J McDonald

T: George Scott

Returned to Britain off a lofty mark having done well in Bahrain this winter; struggled initially but he didn't run badly when seventh of 25 in the Wokingham last month; wouldn't want much more rain.

9/1

7th

15

(13)

22nd Jun 2024

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

17:05 Ascot

Rocket Rodney

9st 5lb

J: Callum Shepherd

T: George Scott

Close second in Listed Windsor Castle here as 2yo but well held in the big 5f handicap here last June and his 6f Bahrain win at Christmas didn't go far enough to convince that he's right for this race; others in better form, too, with first-time cheekpieces (retained) no help last time.

50/1

Non-runners

Alligator Alley

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £17.70
Straight Forecast £22.30
Trifecta £133.40

Selections

NEWMARKET:

Russet Gold

SPOTLIGHT:

Elegant Erin

RP RATINGS:

Copper Knight

D Express:

Rocket Rodney

Daily Record:

Rocket Rodney

Telegraph:

Russet Gold

Daily Mirror:

Russet Gold

The Star:

Russet Gold

The Times:

Elegant Erin

The Guardian:

Elegant Erin

Daily Mail:

Elegant Erin

TOPSPEED:

Copper Knight

POSTDATA:

Copper Knight

The Sun:

Copper Knight