October 13 / 17.00 York

17.00

Good

Copper Knight – Winning Most Horse At York Handicap

  • Prize money: £10800
  • 0m 5f 0y
  • Class 3
  • 12 runners
RTV
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Copper Knight – Winning Most Horse At York Handicap

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.34
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 454522 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Successful return over 6f (soft) but better form in first two 5f handicaps, chasing home Looking For Lynda over C&D (good) then again finding plenty when close second of 19 here since (good to soft) despite getting a knock inside the final furlong; up 2lb but solid chance with rain welcomed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(2)

3rd Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

20:12 Ripon

Wen Moon

9st 9lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Ben Haslam

Poorly drawn and well beaten on seasonal reappearance here (6f) in April, but much more competitive when third at Carlisle (5f, good; 9-2) 16 days ago; bypassed an option at Catterick on Saturday (unsuitable ground) in favour of this; rain - three wins on soft - would aid his cause.

7/4

3rd

3

(1)

18th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

14:30 Carlisle

Wen Moon

9st 4lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Ben Haslam

Best to forgive reappearance effort (badly drawn) but he's not the percentage call unless the ground is soft; has gained all handicap wins on that surface.

14/1

7/1

  • Place: £6.80

Form: 655893 C

Last run: 34 days

W: 8st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Hasn't won in Britain since 2021 but some useful efforts in 2023, including here; needs things to go better at the start than they sometimes do if he's to play a part.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

(1)

18th Oct 2023

Heavy

0m 5f 8y

Class 3

16:50 Nottingham

Nomadic Empire

9st 6lb

J: Jason Watson

T: David O’Meara

Defied higher marks twice on home soil in 2021 and won in Bahrain last December; 0-12 this year but posted encouraging efforts the last twice, latest when 1l second at York (soft) last Friday; could well go one better.

5/2

2nd

9

(14)

13th Oct 2023

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 3

17:00 York

Nomadic Empire

8st 11lb

J: Jason Watson

T: David O’Meara

Hasn't won in Britain since 2021 but some useful efforts in 2023, including here; needs things to go better at the start than they sometimes do if he's to play a part.

7/1

3rd

6

(4)

9th Sep 2023

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

16:25 Thirsk

Nomadic Empire

9st 1lb

J: Mark Winn

T: David O’Meara

Has drawn a blank this season but he retains a good chunk of ability, running well at Haydock in June off a 5lb higher mark and beaten under 4l in a hot York sprint latest; capable of a big run but slow starts have been a feature the last twice and that sounds a note of caution.

8/1

16/1

  • Place: £4.80

Form: 832147 D

Last run: 51 days

W: 8st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Effective at 5f but all five wins since returning from a break in December have come at 6f and he has ground to make up on Alligator Alley and Copper Knight on their run over slightly further here in August; off since.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

(2)

21st May 2026

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 5

17:57 Southwell (AW)

Shalaa Asker

9st 4lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Charlie Wallis

Three wins in the winter, including over C&D, and he has continued to run well off his revised mark; drawn wide on turf last time and usually gives his running round here, so holds each-way claims.

12/1

6th

3

(1)

9th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 4f 217y

Class 5

16:25 Lingfield

Shalaa Asker

9st 6lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Charlie Wallis

Nine wins on the AW but just 1-28 on turf; fit from a productive winter campaign but he's drawn on the outside and others are more appealing.

6/1

25/1

Form: 360168 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 8st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
All handicaps at 5f, doing best work late on to win going away at Catterick in August (good); poorly drawn at Chester next time but this sharp 5f looked hard work for him since; capable of better but perhaps elsewhere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

140

19th Sep 2025

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:40 Ayr

Dickieburd

8st 3lb

T: Ivan Furtado

1

(3)

9th Sep 2025

Good

0m 5f 212y

Class 6

16:10 Catterick

Dickieburd

9st 13lb

J: Stevie Donohoe

T: Ivan Furtado

On a lengthy losing sequence and he came in last of six in 5f handicap at Thirsk 25 days ago; others appeal more.

6/1

6

(5)

15th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

18:35 Thirsk

Dickieburd

8st 12lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Ivan Furtado

Regressive 5yo who has been unplaced all six starts for new stable this year; seemed to respond well to first-time blinkers when fourth at Chester (5f, good) last month, having set a brisk pace, but was well below that form (albeit from a wider draw) there three weeks ago.

11/2

6/1

Form: 761971 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 8st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Often leads and ran fast for a long way in the 6f Ayr Silver Cup before winning his third 5f race of 2023 at Haydock recently (soft; acts on all surfaces); well held in his one run here but bang there in current form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

(10)

17th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

17:25 Haydock

Never Dark

8st 13lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: Iain Jardine

C&D winner in 2023; landed a ninth win when scoring at Hamilton last September and finished third to Impressor there (also 5f, soft) last month; reared in stalls and weakened quickly at that venue one week later, though; career-low mark can only help.

16/1

6

(9)

29th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 7y

Class 5

16:45 Hamilton

Never Dark

9st 9lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Iain Jardine

Won this race off a 12lb higher mark last season (soft); mixed form this season, but creditable third over C&D last time (soft) and having dropped a further 2lb, is a contender.

9/1

4

(2)

22nd Sep 2025

Soft

0m 5f 7y

Class 5

16:08 Hamilton

Never Dark

9st 8lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Iain Jardine

8yo who has had a regressive campaign but he showed some spark at Wolverhampton (5f, AW) two starts ago; two-time C&D winner on soft/good to soft so today's conditions will be right up his street; chance.

6/1

9/1

Form: 113950 CD

Last run: 34 days

W: 8st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Races prominently; has a tremendous record here, winning for the seventh time in July (good to soft; also won on good and soft); fine effort when a close fifth in a stronger race than this over the extended 5f here in August and he looks sure to go well in this race named after him, which he won in 2018 (eighth and seventh in two subsequent attempts).
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

13/2

Form: 734812 CD

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who is well suited by this easy 5f and always looked like retaining his lead against Wen Moon (who came from off the pace and had to be switched) here in September; stiff task but still ran creditably in a conditions stakes at Beverley since (5f, soft); major factor back here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

18th

4

(1)

26th Jul 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:20 York

Looking For Lynda

11st 10lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Craig Lidster

Well handicapped on last year's C&D form for Karl Burke but refused to race in April on final outing for that yard and down the field over C&D on recent stable debut, when again awkward at the start; risks attached.

33/1

14th

6

(6)

11th Jul 2025

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

17:07 York

Looking For Lynda

9st 10lb

J: Sam James

T: Craig Lidster

Beaten 16 times since his C&D win in September 2023; has often run well in defeat, including here, but he put a major black mark on his record at Nottingham in April, belatedly leaving the stalls but downing tools and bucking around immediately afterwards; the combination of a subsequent stable switch/wind surgery/change of headgear could all be beneficial and there's no doubt he has the ability to win a race like this; risky but feared.

10/1

1

(6)

9th Apr 2025

Good

0m 5f 8y

Class 4

14:35 Nottingham

Looking For Lynda

9st 10lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: K R Burke

mounted in chute, refused to race, soon pulled up

5/2

Form: 553522 D BF

Last run: 13 days

W: 8st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Weights chance with Never Dark on their Hamilton form in August and he should again go well in this race, having been second in 2019 (soft) and third last year (good to soft; off 10lb higher).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(5)

27th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 217y

Class 6

16:20 Redcar

Count Dorsay

9st 11lb

J: Cian Horgan

T: Tim Easterby

Record of 0-12 this term but has frame possibilities on recent form and win possibilities provided his game is raised a touch; still 13lb below last winning mark.

11/2

2

(5)

27th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 217y

Class 6

16:20 Redcar

Count Dorsay

9st 11lb

J: Cian Horgan

T: Tim Easterby

Record of 0-12 this term but has frame possibilities on recent form and win possibilities provided his game is raised a touch; still 13lb below last winning mark.

11/2

16

(11)

23rd Oct 2025

Soft

0m 6f 18y

Class 5

14:30 Nottingham

Count Dorsay

9st 5lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

Ended 2024 with a pair of soft-ground 6f wins at Catterick, the second of them off 13lb higher; handicapper has held the upper hand this year but conditions will suit and he helps form a strong hand for Tim Easterby.

12/1

Form: 051191 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 8st 9lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Brought along patiently and has won three of her last four starts, all over 5f (good to firm, soft and good to soft); found out when upped in grade over C&D two starts ago though and this looks even more competitive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

(6)

11th Apr 2026

Good

0m 5f 42y

Class 4

17:40 Yarmouth

Thunder Star

9st 2lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Jessica Macey

She was returning from a five-month break when finishing in midfield at Doncaster 13 days ago (5f, good to soft), a race where she tired in the final furlong but still did best of the far-side group; two wins and two seconds from her six C&D runs and she has solid claims off a fair mark.

7/1

9th

6

(7)

29th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

17:50 Doncaster

Thunder Star

9st 7lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Jessica Macey

Fit from the AW when winning this race 12 months ago (good ground) off a 5lb lower mark; mixed bag afterwards and it looks a stronger contest this time around.

10/1

8/1

Form: 631201 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 8st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Has won on soft, so that ground shouldn't have held him back two starts ago when remote at Doncaster; has won two of his other recent starts, though, over 6f at Redcar (good to firm) and 5f at Ripon (good) 13 days ago; more to prove up in the weights and grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(2)

31st Jan 2025

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

14:28 Newcastle (AW)

Strong Johnson

9st 7lb

J: David Nolan

T: Paul Midgley

led narrowly on far side of group, headed halfway, weakened inside final furlong

9/2

7th

2

(2)

31st Jan 2025

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

14:28 Newcastle (AW)

Strong Johnson

9st 7lb

J: David Nolan

T: Paul Midgley

The veteran of the field but he arrives in top form, finding only the revitalised Mondammej too strong over C&D three weeks ago; not dismissed lightly off an unchanged mark.

9/2

2nd

7

(7)

8th Jan 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

14:33 Newcastle (AW)

Strong Johnson

9st 0lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Paul Midgley

led but pestered, headed inside final furlong, soon no extra

7/1

16/1

Form: -13050 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Has course form and he's in the picture on 5f win at Doncaster in June (good to firm) but has needed some excuses since and good to soft ground was no good to him over C&D 20 days ago; work to do on balance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(4)

4th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

18:15 Beverley

Bond Chairman

9st 10lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Geoff Oldroyd

Wins both came first time out but he ran poorly for his new yard on comeback five weeks ago, having struggled during a limited campaign last year; often pulls hard and has plenty to prove now.

8/1

11

(4)

31st May 2025

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

14:40 York

Bond Chairman

9st 0lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Geoff Oldroyd

Capable of smart handicap form in 2022 and 2023 (RPR 102); ended 2023 tamely though and no sign of a revival in three runs last year; not a solid option but it's possible a change of stable could have freshened him up and he's thrown in if that's the case.

16/1

11

(4)

31st May 2025

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

14:40 York

Bond Chairman

9st 0lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Geoff Oldroyd

Capable of smart handicap form in 2022 and 2023 (RPR 102); ended 2023 tamely though and no sign of a revival in three runs last year; not a solid option but it's possible a change of stable could have freshened him up and he's thrown in if that's the case.

16/1

14/1

Form: -37000 C

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Hasn't won over 5f since 2020 but a multiple winner over the extended 5f and 6f on this course; not far off his best form in first two starts this year, on soft and good ground, but some way from cracking it in three runs since he was back in August from a break; something to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

20th

11

(2)

23rd May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

13:30 York

Dakota Gold

9st 8lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Michael Dods

Tremendous stable servant over the years with 17 wins; understandably not the force of old but won on 2025 reappearance (off 6lb higher) and has a strong York record (6-18).

25/1

9th

6

(3)

4th Oct 2025

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

17:37 Redcar

Dakota Gold

9st 6lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Michael Dods

Tremendous stable servant over the years with 17 wins; not the force of old but he showed there's still some fire in his belly with a fifth of 13 at Doncaster (5f, soft) three weeks ago off 2lb higher; has a win and a second from just two outings here; makes the shortlist.

8/1

11

(17)

14th Sep 2025

Good

0m 5f 3y

Class 3

16:40 Doncaster

Dakota Gold

9st 5lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Michael Dods

Won a Class 4 handicap at Ripon on his return in April (6f, good; 2lb higher); heavy defeats have followed and he could do with the ground softening up back at 5f.

25/1

Non-runners

Alligator Alley, Bergerac

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £89.70
Straight Forecast £62.91
Tricast £786.67
Trifecta £997.30

Selections

The Times:

Looking For Lynda

TOPSPEED:

Dakota Gold

SPOTLIGHT:

Wen Moon

The Guardian:

Never Dark

RP RATINGS:

Alligator Alley

Daily Mail:

Copper Knight

Telegraph:

Wen Moon

D Express:

Looking For Lynda

Daily Record:

Looking For Lynda

The Sun:

Never Dark

POSTDATA:

Alligator Alley

Daily Mirror:

Dakota Gold

The Star:

Dakota Gold