September 09 / 18.10 Thirsk

18.10

Good

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  • Prize money: £4710.6
  • 1m 6f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 6 runners
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Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.88
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 30P485 BF

Last run: 9 days

W: 10st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Has only won on the AW but lightly raced on turf and he was well backed when a closing fifth in a higher grade at Newcastle nine days ago (1m4f); down in class here and this far is worth a go.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

5

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 5

16:31 Doncaster

Muzaffar

11st 11lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Two Flat wins at 1m3f/1m6f in 2023; missed most of 2024 and has needed two recent runs; open to improvement in his second handicap with Brian Hughes replacing a 10lb claimer; cheekpieces added latest, now discarded.

9/1

7th

12

1st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 4

16:27 Musselburgh

Muzaffar

11st 7lb

J: James Robottom

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Two-time Flat winner who has been an encouraging third on his two hurdle starts a year apart, the latest at Market Rasen (2m, good to soft) in December; open to improvement in this code and is in with a chance on handicap hurdle debut; cheekpieces return (no positive impact on the Flat).

7/1

7th

12

1st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 4

16:27 Musselburgh

Muzaffar

11st 7lb

J: James Robottom

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Two-time Flat winner who has been an encouraging third on his two hurdle starts a year apart, the latest at Market Rasen (2m, good to soft) in December; open to improvement in this code and is in with a chance on handicap hurdle debut; cheekpieces return (no positive impact on the Flat).

7/1

14/1

  • Place: £4.00

Form: 887594 C

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 61

Form & Verdict
In good enough form to win three times last year from 1m4f to 1m6f but 2023 is turning into a damp squib unless he turns things around sharpish.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(5)

9th Jul 2025

Good

1m 7f 189y

Class 6

16:20 Catterick

Myboymax

9st 7lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

Has won twice here (including over C&D); three places behind Cosmic Soul when fifth of eight over C&D (good) last month; no improvement with blinkers reinstated (retained) at Nottingham 13 days ago; needs to show improvement.

12/1

3rd

5

(2)

26th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

17:07 Nottingham

Myboymax

8st 11lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

Catterick regular who was fifth of eight runners there 16 days ago when behind Morandi Second; that race wasn't run to suit and his previous effort there was better; the return of blinkers is no bad thing.

16/1

Form: 9-3322 BF

Last run: 11 days

W: 8st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Doesn't take after his half-brother Coltrane (top stayer) but he was unlucky not to shed his maiden status last time (2m, good) and it's still early days after seven runs.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

5

(1)

13th Aug 2024

Soft

1m 4f 15y

Class 6

20:00 Hamilton

Michaels Pledge

9st 8lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

Patchy campaign this season and needs to raise his game, but he's dropped down the weights and last year's best efforts came in blinkers, which go back on this evening (replacing cheekpieces); not discounted.

14/1

5th

8

(4)

21st Jul 2024

Good To Soft

1m 5f 218y

Class 5

17:37 Redcar

Michaels Pledge

8st 9lb

J: Zak Wheatley

T: John & Sean Quinn

Yet to win (12 races) and not the easiest of rides but he's been on the premises plenty of times at 1m6f-2m, including when cheekpieces were installed at this track (claimer ridden) and Nottingham on last two outings; good each-way claims.

6/1

6th

9

(11)

6th Jul 2024

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 6

20:40 Nottingham

Michaels Pledge

9st 0lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: John & Sean Quinn

Yet to win and he isn't the easiest of rides but he's run some good races at 1m6f and improved for his reappearance when fourth at Redcar (good to firm; acts well on good) 14 days ago; not far away.

12/1

Form: 9-2965 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
Four-time winner from 1m4f to 1m6f; form has ebbed away this season since a half-decent starter.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(5)

16th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 16y

Class 6

17:10 Hamilton

Desert Quest

8st 6lb

J: Greg Fairley

T: Ewan Whillans

Winless since January 2024 but he arrives in good nick, third in 1m5f classified event at Ayr (disqualified for riding weighing in light) last month; not out of things back in handicap company.

9/1

3

(2)

19th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 26y

Class 6

21:00 Ayr

Desert Quest

9st 9lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Ewan Whillans

Five-time winner, with first four on turf (1m4f-1m6f); returned after a long absence in February but he's run well in his last two starts and was beaten less than 2l in a Newcastle handicap (12.4f, Tapeta) last time; now drops into a classified event and he has possibilities back on turf.

5/1

4th

10

(4)

2nd Jun 2026

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

18:45 Newcastle (AW)

Desert Quest

8st 11lb

J: Greg Fairley

T: Ewan Whillans

C&D winner in January 2024 and several fair efforts after that; ran his best race since a 590-day break when a good fourth at Catterick last time; each-way chance.

7/1

8/1

Form: -45346

Last run: 47 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 61

Form & Verdict
Solid on the AW these past 12 months but should have been fine returned to turf when disappointing at Ayr 47 days ago; others have more going for them.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(1)

7th Jul 2026

Good

1m 4f 5y

Class 6

15:48 Pontefract

Lednikov

9st 8lb

J: Elle-May Croot

T: Ivan Furtado

Often a front runner who has gained six of his seven wins on the AW at Southwell; Elle-May Croot knows him especially well, but a record of 1-20 on turf suggests others are more likely.

10/1

5th

2

(4)

23rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 23y

Class 6

15:45 Beverley

Lednikov

9st 8lb

J: Elle-May Croot

T: Ivan Furtado

Six of his seven wins have been on the AW at Southwell, the most recent by a wide margin over 1m6f in March under Elle-May Croot; held in four starts since and others are preferred.

8/1

5th

6

(2)

13th Jun 2026

Good

1m 3f 179y

Class 6

20:00 Leicester

Lednikov

9st 5lb

J: Elle-May Croot

T: Ivan Furtado

Six of his seven wins have been on the AW at Southwell, the most recent in March off a 4lb lower mark; below his best in three starts since and others are preferred now he switches back to turf.

16/1

OUR TIP

Form: 44642

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 3yo; no match for the winner when raised to 1m4f at Catterick (novice) but he did chase home the right horse and could improve again for going 1m6f on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

6

(5)

8th Jul 2024

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

15:30 Ayr

Hondo

9st 11lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Lucinda Russell

4yo maiden who looks well treated on bits of form; trailed home last of seven at Hamilton (1m3f) on stable/seasonal debut, however, and needs to leave that effort well behind.

16/1

5

(6)

19th Jun 2024

Good

1m 3f 15y

Class 5

15:30 Hamilton

Hondo

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Lucinda Russell

Bought for 12,500gns out of Roger Fell's yard in October; showed some promise last term, notably when second in a Catterick novice in August (1m4f, good to soft); could go well on stable/seasonal debut.

11/2

5th

3

(1)

24th Sep 2023

Good To Soft

1m 3f 15y

Class 5

17:10 Hamilton

Hondo

9st 8lb

J: Ben Curtis

T: Roger Fell & Sean Murray

Six-race maiden; has performed respectably at 1m-1m4f a few times this season; lesser effort over 1m6f most recently; not progressing thus far but has possibilities if taking well to first-time headgear.

7/1

Non-runners

Tendentious

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £17.60
Straight Forecast £21.18
Trifecta £37.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Michael's Pledge

The Times:

Muzaffar

Telegraph:

Hondo

RP RATINGS:

Myboymax

POSTDATA:

Michael's Pledge

Daily Mail:

Michael's Pledge

D Express:

Michael's Pledge

Daily Mirror:

Michael's Pledge

The Sun:

Michael's Pledge

The Star:

Michael's Pledge

Daily Record:

Michael's Pledge

The Guardian:

Muzaffar