September 30 / 15.15 Haydock

15.15

Soft

cavani.co.uk The Pocket Square Pursuit Handicap

  • Prize money: £13500
  • 0m 6f 0y
  • Class 3
  • 10 runners
RTV
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cavani.co.uk The Pocket Square Pursuit Handicap

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Scattered showers

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £2.10

Form: 420301

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 1lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Always up with the pace when winning a 7f handicap at Thirsk 12 days ago (soft); that race has already thrown up winners and a 5lb rise looks fair enough; this is a much stronger race though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(1)

22nd May 2026

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 3

17:27 Goodwood

Roach Power

9st 3lb

J: J F Egan

T: Michael Wigham

Very productive in 2025, winning five times; hindered by wide draw at Chester most recently, otherwise has a good record over 5f; just needs to prove he can overcome current mark.

12/1

9th

13

(12)

7th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 15y

Class 2

13:30 Chester

Roach Power

8st 11lb

J: J F Egan

T: Michael Wigham

Posted duck eggs over 6f in last two appearances, not beaten entirely by the trip; has a very good record at 5f but faces a harder task off current mark at this level, especially from an unfavourable draw.

33/1

10th

9

(10)

17th Apr 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

17:25 Newbury

Roach Power

9st 1lb

J: J F Egan

T: Michael Wigham

Enjoyed a revival in the second half of 2025, winning five 5f handicaps on good ground or slower; no show over 6f when last seen in November and he returns to action off a tough mark.

33/1

8/1

  • Place: £3.00

Form: 661194 CD BF

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Won twice in the space of a week in July, over C&D (good to soft) and then at York (5.5f, good to soft); ran right up to his best at Chelmsford last time; 7lb claimer on board today; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(3)

28th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

17:03 Kempton (AW)

Knebworth

9st 7lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Richard Hughes

2-2 this year, winning 6f handicaps at Chelmsford in January and at Wolverhampton three weeks ago; 6lb rise for latest success takes him to a career-high mark but he is well drawn and should give it another good go.

6/1

1st

5

(4)

7th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 3

14:05 Wolverhampton (AW)

Knebworth

9st 6lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Richard Hughes

Running in this race for the third time, having finished second in 2024 and fourth last year; those runs were after a break but he has the benefit of a run this time around, winning a 6f handicap at Chelmsford five weeks ago; still on a feasible mark and he is a key player for a stable going well.

3/1

1st

5

(2)

29th Jan 2026

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

18:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Knebworth

9st 7lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Richard Hughes

C&D winner who is 3lb lower than when last successful; second of nine at Lingfield (5f, AW) in September but he was below his best on turf on his next three outings; returns from a 97-day absence but he's of interest back on the AW.

4/1

12/1

  • Place: £2.90

Form: 846205 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
6f winner on soft ground in April off 3lb lower; good second at Glorious Goodwood off this mark last month; returning to 6f is in his favour and he's one of the more appealing types.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

(4)

21st Dec 2024

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

18:00 Newcastle (AW)

Lakota Blue

9st 4lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Roger Fell

Promising return to action at Beverley in April but below par at York's Dante meeting in May (final start for Nigel Tinkler) and not seen again until seventh to Alfa Whiteburd (True Promise third) over C&D 12 days ago, fading as if the run was needed.

12/1

5th

7

(4)

21st Dec 2024

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

18:00 Newcastle (AW)

Lakota Blue

9st 4lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Roger Fell

Promising return to action at Beverley in April but below par at York's Dante meeting in May (final start for Nigel Tinkler) and not seen again until seventh to Alfa Whiteburd (True Promise third) over C&D 12 days ago, fading as if the run was needed.

12/1

7th

12

(3)

9th Dec 2024

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

17:00 Newcastle (AW)

Lakota Blue

9st 0lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Roger Fell

took keen hold, started quickly, led narrowly, headed after 2f

25/1

10/1

Form: 4122-4

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
All runs on good or faster; absent for 419 days before this month's encouraging fourth at Thirsk, tiring in the closing stages; mark left unchanged but he brings potential; suitability of soft ground has to be taken on trust (sire's record just 1-54 on slower than good thus far).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

(9)

2nd Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:48 Pontefract

Rock Opera

9st 0lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

In reasonably good form having made the frame in last two starts, rallying both times; on a two-year losing spell but remain 7lb below last winning mark; enters calculations.

6/1

4th

11

(1)

17th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 6y

Class 4

18:15 Hamilton

Rock Opera

8st 13lb

J: Ethan Tindall

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

Winless in two years but has slid to a handy mark and resumed in decent form; holds each-way claims but this is a stronger race than the Thirsk handicap in which he was a bit unlucky not to finish closer last time.

10/1

3rd

7

(4)

2nd May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:55 Thirsk

Rock Opera

8st 13lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

Hold-up sprinter and on a losing run of 21; well handicapped as a consequence and should be sharper for his Ripon reappearance 16 days ago.

5/1

Form: 127484 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
A well-run race over 6f on slow ground plays to his strengths, most recently keeping on from well back to take fourth in last week's Ayr Silver Cup; not certain this will be run at an end-to-end gallop though and minor money perhaps his best hope.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

(3)

18th May 2024

Good

0m 6f 2y

Class 4

19:50 Doncaster

Bernardo OReilly

9st 1lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Richard Spencer

dwelt start, in rear

5/1

5th

8

(3)

18th May 2024

Good

0m 6f 2y

Class 4

19:50 Doncaster

Bernardo OReilly

9st 1lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Richard Spencer

dwelt start, in rear

5/1

14/1

Form: 420500 D

Last run: 8 days

W: 9st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Well treated on even this summer's best form but he's not fired the last twice and he'll need more if he is to better his 2020 second in the corresponding race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

(7)

16th Nov 2024

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

19:18 Newcastle (AW)

Music Society

9st 2lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Tim Easterby

Ran on well to win a 6f handicap at Newmarket two weeks ago (6f, soft); that race had rather an end-of-season feel to it but the Topspeed figure was good and a 3lb rise looks fair; interesting on first AW start since October 2018.

7/2

9th

10

(7)

16th Nov 2024

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

19:18 Newcastle (AW)

Music Society

9st 2lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Tim Easterby

Ran on well to win a 6f handicap at Newmarket two weeks ago (6f, soft); that race had rather an end-of-season feel to it but the Topspeed figure was good and a 3lb rise looks fair; interesting on first AW start since October 2018.

7/2

1st

12

(3)

2nd Nov 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

13:07 Newmarket

Music Society

8st 5lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Tim Easterby

took keen hold early, towards rear, switched left when smooth headway over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, kept on well

9/1

Form: 372140 C

Last run: 37 days

W: 9st 13lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Three runs on soft or heavy ground and she's recorded two wins and a third (one of them here); failed to fire on fast ground at York's Ebor meeting but this surface should be much more to her liking; still not fully exposed and needs consideration.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(4)

26th Jul 2025

Good

0m 7f 213y

Class 1

14:20 Ascot

Royal Dress

9st 5lb

J: James Doyle

T: James Tate

Landed a Group 3 in Ireland last July and back in that sort of form when the ready winner of a 1m Pontefract Listed race (good) 18 days ago, readily quickening 3.25l clear of the reopposing Cheshire Dancer; went without the hood she'd worn since the start of 2024 at Pontefract and it's left off again; leading form claims but is up against some progressive 3yos.

7/2

1st

8

(2)

8th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 6y

Class 1

15:10 Pontefract

Royal Dress

9st 2lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: James Tate

Form since wearing a hood features 1m Listed and 1m1f Group 3 wins on British/Irish soil last term; has made the frame in Group races at York and Epsom this season; major contender in this field, provided the removal of headgear doesn't have a negative effect.

9/2

5

(2)

7th Jun 2025

Good

1m 0f 113y

Class 1

13:00 Epsom

Royal Dress

9st 8lb

J: William Buick

T: James Tate

Listed winner on soft last May and she also won a five-runner Group 3 at the Curragh (1m1f, good; last to first) last July; shaped okay when third to runaway winner in York Group 2 (1m2f, good to firm) on last month's reappearance; it's hard to say whether she or Chic Colombine suffered the worst nightmare run in this race last year but both ran on well to be placed and she's firmly in the mix again if getting sufficient breaks.

4/1

Form: 673422 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Campaigned over 5f for much of the year, winning at Southwell in January and runner-up at Newbury and Southwell on his last two starts; handles good to soft but untried on slower.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(7)

21st Dec 2023

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 2

16:10 Southwell (AW)

May Sonic

8st 9lb

J: William Cox

T: Charles Hills

held up in rear, no impression from 2f out

14/1

6

(5)

22nd Nov 2023

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 2

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

May Sonic

9st 1lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Charles Hills

Much better on AW than turf; recent PB when going down by a neck at Southwell in September but didn't run his race back on an artificial surface at Kempton a fortnight ago; has just second run here.

16/1

11th

3

(3)

8th Nov 2023

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

19:00 Kempton (AW)

May Sonic

9st 5lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Charles Hills

midfield

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 277230 CD

Last run: 56 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Getting on for two years since his last success, a C&D handicap on soft ground in October 2021; flopped on desperate ground in the Stewards' Cup eight weeks ago but he'd been banging at the door beforehand; one to consider back down in grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(4)

2nd May 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

15:45 Goodwood

Chairmanoftheboard

9st 5lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Jack Channon

Finally exploited his drop in the weights when winning a C&D handicap last October (heavy ground); should come on for March's return to action at Doncaster and while slower ground would be ideal, he did run well in a fast-ground Stewards' Cup in 2020.

13/2

4

(4)

2nd May 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

15:45 Goodwood

Chairmanoftheboard

9st 5lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Jack Channon

Finally exploited his drop in the weights when winning a C&D handicap last October (heavy ground); should come on for March's return to action at Doncaster and while slower ground would be ideal, he did run well in a fast-ground Stewards' Cup in 2020.

13/2

15th

18

(14)

30th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

0m 6f 2y

Class 3

15:40 Doncaster

Chairmanoftheboard

8st 13lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Jack Channon

Absent since prevailing narrowly on heavy ground at Goodwood in October, ending a three-year losing spell; not an obvious type to follow up, especially as his record in this race (three attempts) is modest.

20/1

8/1

Form: 460510 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 10st 1lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
This is his time of year and he toyed with his rivals in a Class 4 at Southwell this month; prominent in the betting but not in the race in last week's Ayr Silver Cup, turning in a laboured effort, for all he was drawn on the wrong side; no surprise to see him bounce back with a big effort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

9

(2)

25th May 2024

Good To Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

13:35 York

Gulliver

9st 7lb

J: Mark Winn

T: David O’Meara

Four course wins to his name and he rolled back the years when sweeping through to win a Class 5 handicap at Thirsk five weeks ago (6f, soft); not handicapped out of things up 6lb but this is a deeper race and it might not set up quite so favourably for him.

9/1

14th

9

(2)

25th May 2024

Good To Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

13:35 York

Gulliver

9st 7lb

J: Mark Winn

T: David O’Meara

Four course wins to his name and he rolled back the years when sweeping through to win a Class 5 handicap at Thirsk five weeks ago (6f, soft); not handicapped out of things up 6lb but this is a deeper race and it might not set up quite so favourably for him.

9/1

1st

8

(9)

20th Apr 2024

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

18:35 Thirsk

Gulliver

9st 6lb

J: Jason Watson

T: David O’Meara

in rear

4/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £48.40
Straight Forecast £40.20
Tricast £298.66
Trifecta £465.60

Selections

NEWMARKET:

Bernardo O'Reilly

The Guardian:

Roach Power

LAMBOURN:

May Sonic

TOPSPEED:

Music Society

SPOTLIGHT:

Lakota Blue

The Times:

Rock Opera

Daily Mail:

Knebworth

Daily Mirror:

Chairmanoftheboard

RP RATINGS:

Gulliver

The Star:

Roach Power

Telegraph:

May Sonic

POSTDATA:

Music Society

D Express:

Bernardo O'Reilly

Daily Record:

Bernardo O'Reilly