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

1st

1

(1)

28th Sep 2025

Good

1m 2f 17y

Class 3

16:05 Epsom

Lord Melbourne

10st 2lb

J: Jack Dace

T: Ralph Beckett

Progressive and useful sort but lacks recent match practice, having been absent since winning last year's November Handicap (1m4f, soft), and isn't crying out for this drop back to a sharp 1m2f.

13/2

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