April 02 / 16.15 Pontefract

16.15

Soft

Edie, Linda & Philip Grundy April Birthdays Handicap

  • Prize money: £3780
  • 1m 2f 5y
  • Class 5
  • 6 runners
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Edie, Linda & Philip Grundy April Birthdays Handicap

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 32384-

Last run: 106 days

W: 9st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Respectable efforts in four of his five starts and there were excuses for the no-show; however, his profile is not one of a progressive horse and ground this soft is an unknown.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

1

(9)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 1f 197y

Class 2

16:00 Goodwood

Lord Melbourne

9st 9lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Ralph Beckett

A very useful 1m2f/1m4f winner at his best but lightly raced in recent seasons and came in last of 11 in 1m2f AW Lingfield handicap in February; needs to take a big step forward after a break.

25/1

11th

2

(7)

27th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 2

16:20 Lingfield (AW)

Lord Melbourne

9st 11lb

J: Jack Dace

T: Ralph Beckett

2024 November Handicap winner who reappeared with an easy win over 1m2f at Epsom last September; respectable sixth of 22 when bidding to defend his November Handicap crown on sole subsequent start last year; well-beaten fifth on the snow at St Moritz on return last weekend; entitled to come on for that outing but this test might be sharp enough for him.

10/1

Evs

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 5048-1 D

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Smart pedigree and started off with Andre Fabre; never that threatening in five runs for this yard last year but came good with a decisive success at Doncaster (1m2f, soft) ten days ago; raised 10lb for that 3l win but no surprise should he still be on a good mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(6)

17th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

1m 4f 8y

Class 5

14:22 Thirsk

Bustaam

9st 9lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

in touch with leaders, ridden and pressed leaders 2f out, kept on well inside final furlong, led inside final 110yds, won going away

5/1

3rd

2

(4)

11th Jul 2024

Good To Firm

1m 3f 39y

Class 5

14:10 Carlisle

Bustaam

10st 1lb

J: David Nolan

T: David O’Meara

slowly away, held up in rear, steady headway from 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not pace to challenge

5/1

6th

2

(4)

29th May 2024

Good To Soft

1m 5f 16y

Class 5

15:20 Hamilton

Bustaam

9st 8lb

J: David Nolan

T: David O’Meara

Won on reappearance at Doncaster (1m2f, soft) in March and fair third at Haydock (1m4f, soft) on Saturday when back on slow ground; might not be far away if this run doesn't come too soon.

7/2

13/2

Form: 31850- D

Last run: 171 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
1m2f winner on soft ground last July and only 2lb above his last winning mark over 1m on the AW; last season didn't end well but he returns with the yard having winners.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

6

(11)

28th Oct 2024

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

20:30 Southwell (AW)

Bushfire

9st 6lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Gemma Tutty

Win and a close second to his name from four runs over C&D and returns to Tapeta on a career-low mark following a patchy turf campaign; can pull hard and will need some luck from a wide stall in first-time cheekpieces but he's potentially well treated.

7/1

10th

6

(11)

28th Oct 2024

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

20:30 Southwell (AW)

Bushfire

9st 6lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Gemma Tutty

Win and a close second to his name from four runs over C&D and returns to Tapeta on a career-low mark following a patchy turf campaign; can pull hard and will need some luck from a wide stall in first-time cheekpieces but he's potentially well treated.

7/1

4th

6

(6)

18th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 2f 1y

Class 6

17:20 Redcar

Bushfire

10st 12lb

J: Miss Amy Collier

T: Gemma Tutty

towards rear, good headway on inner 4f out, switched right 3f out, disputing second over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong

6/1

25/1

Form: 0655-9 D

Last run: 57 days

W: 8st 12lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
1m2f soft-ground winner this time last year for Chris Fairhurst; however, has shown little in three hurdle races and an AW handicap for new yard this year.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

4

(8)

20th Jun 2024

Soft

1m 4f 10y

Class 6

13:35 Ripon

Vallamorey

10st 6lb

J: Miss Amy Collier

T: Sam England

took keen hold, in touch with leaders in centre of group

20/1

5th

9

(7)

26th Apr 2024

Soft

1m 2f 43y

Class 5

16:15 Doncaster

Vallamorey

8st 8lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Sam England

held up in rear

20/1

5th

9

(7)

26th Apr 2024

Soft

1m 2f 43y

Class 5

16:15 Doncaster

Vallamorey

8st 8lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Sam England

held up in rear

20/1

Form: 7600-7

Last run: 84 days

W: 9st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Flat/hurdle winner in Ireland but hasn't been that competitive in six Flat handicaps for Ben Haslam, from 1m2f to 1m5f; could turn a corner at some point but makes limited appeal at the minute.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

(1)

25th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

17:30 Newcastle (AW)

Flying Scotsman

9st 8lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Ben Haslam

Scored over C&D in January off just 1lb lower; absent since a heavy defeat over hurdles in May but the January win came after a 95-day break; visor the headgear of choice today; more appealing than many.

4/1

1

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

18:40 Cartmel

Flying Scotsman

12st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Seen only once over hurdles since 2023, when pulled up last summer, and his AW win in January came in a low-grade handicap; needs to prove he can still be competitive off a mark this high over jumps.

20/1

1

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

18:40 Cartmel

Flying Scotsman

12st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Seen only once over hurdles since 2023, when pulled up last summer, and his AW win in January came in a low-grade handicap; needs to prove he can still be competitive off a mark this high over jumps.

20/1

7/1

Form: 15395- D

Last run: 169 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Won twice last year, over 1m3f on fast ground and 1m2f on heavy; form tapered off on his last couple of starts but he's not on a bad mark if getting his act together.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

10

(3)

31st May 2026

Good

1m 4f 8y

Class 4

17:15 Thirsk

Damascus Steel

8st 11lb

J: William Carson

T: Gihan Arnolda

Two 1m4f AW wins last winter for Denis Quinn and respectable fifth of 15 at Lingfield (1m4f, AW) last month on sole run for John Ryan; however, it's a long time since he ran well on turf and has something to prove back on grass; stable debut.

12/1

5th

9

(3)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Lingfield (AW)

Damascus Steel

9st 5lb

J: Jack Callan

T: John Ryan

In good form for Denis Quinn in recent months including wins at Newcastle (1m4f, Tapeta) in December and over C&D in January; closely matched with Wonder on a couple of bits of form and respected on first start for John Ryan (same owner); stable also runs Tommy's Promise.

11/1

3rd

3

(6)

28th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

13:00 Lingfield (AW)

Damascus Steel

9st 12lb

J: William Carson

T: Denis Quinn

Made it two wins in a row when edging out Wonder over C&D last month; extended his run of good form when second of ten at Wolverhampton (1m4f) four weeks ago; should figure again.

5/1

Non-runners

Destinado

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.00
Straight Forecast £9.14
Trifecta £23.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Bustaam

NEWMARKET:

Lord Melbourne

TOPSPEED:

Damascus Steel

Daily Mail:

Destinado

RP RATINGS:

Bustaam

POSTDATA:

Bustaam

The Times:

Bustaam

Telegraph:

Bustaam

The Guardian:

Bustaam

D Express:

Bustaam

Daily Mirror:

Bustaam

The Sun:

Bustaam

The Star:

Bustaam

Daily Record:

Bustaam