September 28 / 15.55 Pontefract

15.55

Good To Soft

Simon Scrope Dalby Screw-Driver Handicap

  • Prize money: £10800
  • 1m 2f 5y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Simon Scrope Dalby Screw-Driver Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.20
  • Place: £3.10

Form: 51112 D BF

Last run: 59 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Won on second start (8.6f, AW) then followed up in Lingfield novice (1m1f, good to firm) before completing the hat-trick in Ayr handicap (1m2f, good to soft); another good run when clear second of five behind an improving sort at Ayr (1m2f, soft) and he's a likely player in first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(2)

28th Sep 2023

Good To Soft

1m 2f 5y

Class 3

15:55 Pontefract

Chriszoff

9st 7lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Archie Watson

Won on second start (8.6f, AW) then followed up in Lingfield novice (1m1f, good to firm) before completing the hat-trick in Ayr handicap (1m2f, good to soft); another good run when clear second of five behind an improving sort at Ayr (1m2f, soft) and he's a likely player in first-time cheekpieces.

3/1

2nd

2

(1)

31st Jul 2023

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

16:15 Ayr

Chriszoff

9st 9lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

Won two novice races in May (AW/good to firm) and completed the hat-trick in convincing fashion over C&D (good to soft) three weeks ago; a 6lb rise could prove to be lenient for this unexposed 3yo.

Evs

1st

5

(3)

9th Jul 2023

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 4

16:15 Ayr

Chriszoff

9st 3lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Archie Watson

Won at Wolverhampton (8.6f, AW) in May on her second start and followed up in Lingfield novice (1m1f, good to firm), making all each time; makes handicap debut off a fair mark and he's open to further improvement for last year's winning yard; firmly in calculations.

5/2

8/1

  • Place: £7.20

Form: 234677 CD

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Has a solid record here and was placed three times in a row this May/June; well handicapped on that form but he hasn't been at the same level more recently and needs to turn things around.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

15

(13)

30th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 43y

Class 3

16:15 Doncaster

Baryshnikov

8st 12lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: David & Nicola Barron

slowly away, in rear

25/1

Form: 13738

Last run: 56 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Hasn't really progressed from his debut win at Doncaster (7f, soft) in April and he needs to produce more than he's managed in his three handicaps; however, this lightly raced 3yo is in top hands and things could click at some point.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

(7)

5th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

17:00 Ayr

Theoryofeverything

10st 2lb

J: Conor Whiteley

T: David O’Meara

Has produced his peak RPR of 102 in both C&D attempts, including a win off 3lb higher in this race last year; Conor Whiteley takes off a bonus 5lb; interesting returned to this scenario.

6/1

5th

2

(7)

19th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 219y

Class 3

15:25 Redcar

Theoryofeverything

10st 2lb

J: Mark Winn

T: David O’Meara

Has shown signs of a resurgence and is back down to 0-90 company for the first time since successful at Ayr (1m) last July, but all four wins have come on soft ground so drying conditions wouldn't be ideal; stable triple-handed.

12/1

4th

5

(5)

4th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 68y

Class 2

15:51 Hamilton

Theoryofeverything

9st 4lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Ran well when fifth of 18 at York (1m, good) three weeks ago on his second start of the season; his four wins (one here) have come on soft going so slower ground today would aid his cause; could be a contender.

6/1

Form: 151257 D BF

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Two wins in the summer (1m2f, good to firm/soft) and, although he's posted lesser results the last twice, he got no run at Ayr (1m2f, good to soft) most recently; this lightly raced 4yo could still have more to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

10

(17)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 56y

Class 2

15:45 York

Auld Toon Loon

9st 4lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: Tom Dascombe

Back to form with close third of six at Windsor (1m2f, good to firm) in May; however, only seventh of 16 at Epsom (1m2f, good to soft) last time on ground he should have handled; can be slowly away; others preferred.

33/1

7th

11

(5)

5th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 2f 17y

Class 2

15:15 Epsom

Auld Toon Loon

8st 13lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Tom Dascombe

Failed to figure from the widest draw behind Respond at Chester (went well there previously) on reappearance but a close third of six when favourite at Windsor (1m2f, good to firm) 11 days ago; with a good soft-ground record too, he could be a major player.

12/1

3rd

1

(1)

25th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

16:25 Windsor

Auld Toon Loon

9st 11lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: Tom Dascombe

Ended his 2025 campaign with a half-length success in Class 2 event over C&D (good to firm) and is only 2lb higher back here; possibilities with Chester reappearance under his belt.

5/1

Form: 412 BF

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
All three starts on good ground; won at Nottingham (8.3f) last month on second outing and went very close at Goodwood (1m2f) subsequently, when well clear of the third; his dam was a two-time Group 1 winner and this unexposed 3yo brings potential to his handicap debut; one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

(9)

22nd Oct 2024

Standard

1m 4f 99y

Class 2

16:15 Newcastle (AW)

King Lear

9st 7lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Boughey

Solid effort on his Tapeta debut in August, when going close off a 2lb lower mark in first-time cheekpieces (switches to blinkers today); below that level on turf last time and has still to conclusively prove his stamina over a demanding, extended 1m4f.

4/1

7th

7

(8)

14th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

1m 2f 43y

Class 2

16:15 Doncaster

King Lear

8st 11lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: George Boughey

Maiden winner who is still lightly raced and this headgear combination did him no harm when runner-up at Southwell (1m3f, AW) in August; could have done without the 3lb rise in this stronger company.

6/1

2nd

3

(10)

29th Aug 2024

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 3

20:10 Southwell (AW)

King Lear

9st 12lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Boughey

Nottingham maiden winner (1m, good) a year ago, but out of the frame in all three handicaps; still unexposed, but needs the switch to the AW and addition of a tongue-tie to give him a lift.

15/2

OUR TIP

Form: -68212 D BF

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
In top form at Chester since returning from a three-month break, posting a win (1m2f, soft) then a good second (1m2f, good to soft); also effective elsewhere and he can give another good account.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

2

3rd Feb 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 2

14:50 Musselburgh

First Impression

11st 5lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: John & Sean Quinn

Useful dual-purpose performer but he's on a tough mark over hurdles, now 8lb higher than for his last win (last February) after going up 3lb for a narrow defeat at Doncaster; should give his running but others are preferred for win purposes.

8/1

2nd

9

16th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 2

14:40 Doncaster

First Impression

10st 3lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: John Quinn

raced in second

16/1

0

2

(5)

28th Sep 2023

Good To Soft

1m 2f 5y

Class 3

15:55 Pontefract

First Impression

9st 7lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John Quinn

In top form at Chester since returning from a three-month break, posting a win (1m2f, soft) then a good second (1m2f, good to soft); also effective elsewhere and he can give another good account.

11/2

Form: 9-1043 CD

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Exposed 5yo who takes on some progressive rivals but he ran okay at Doncaster (1m2f, soft) recently and was seen to good effect when winning over C&D (good to soft) in April; not ruled out now back at Pontefract.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

26th Jun 2026

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 4

16:58 Cartmel

Lightening Company

11st 13lb

J: Mr James Murray

T: Ben Haslam

Has been running on the Flat, winning 1m4f/1m2f handicaps before a respectable effort in a competitive race at York; capable hurdler with winning form here and James Murray takes off a useful 7lb.

6/1

8th

16

(2)

13th May 2026

Good

1m 3f 188y

Class 4

17:15 York

Lightening Company

8st 10lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Ben Haslam

Form figures of 5075 at this meeting in the last four years; one win a season had previously appeared his quota but he's already exceeded that in 2026, having scored at Pontefract (1m4f/1m2f) on last two outings; that demands some respect but this race is a higher grade.

10/1

1st

2

(2)

29th Apr 2026

Good

1m 2f 5y

Class 5

16:33 Pontefract

Lightening Company

9st 8lb

J: Harry Vigors

T: Ben Haslam

Four-time Flat winner, including C&D, who has been all or nothing since scoring over hurdles at Cartmel in July; three AW no-shows followed good second over C&D (soft; 40-1) in October but market support predicted a going day when scoring here (1m4f, good to soft) three weeks ago; might not want the ground to get too quick but otherwise a key player under 2lb nudge.

5/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £82.40
Straight Forecast £90.71
Trifecta £524.30

Selections

The Times:

King Lear

SPOTLIGHT:

Chriszoff

RP RATINGS:

Baryshnikov

POSTDATA:

Auld Toon Loon

NEWMARKET:

Theoryofeverything

D Express:

First Impression

Telegraph:

King Lear

The Guardian:

King Lear

The Sun:

King Lear

Daily Record:

King Lear

LAMBOURN:

Chriszoff

Daily Mail:

Chriszoff

Daily Mirror:

Chriszoff

The Star:

Chriszoff

TOPSPEED:

Baryshnikov