May 01 / 15.15 Pontefract

15.15

Soft

National Horseracing College Handicap

  • Prize money: £4187.2
  • 1m 2f 5y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
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National Horseracing College Handicap

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.34
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 0334-2

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Showed some fair form without winning for Gavin Cromwell and he made a good start for his new yard when runner-up in 1m2f Nottingham handicap 11 days ago; he can go well again off the same mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

24

(15)

5th Sep 2026

Good

1m 2f 10y

16:20 Navan

Giselles Defence

9st 8lb

J: Paddy Harnett

T: Sean Davis

Four wins in Britain for Ian Williams at 1m2f; never better than fifth in nine Irish appearances; down the field over 1m here on Wednesday; third reserve.

10th

8

(17)

2nd Sep 2026

Good

1m 0f 20y

18:10 Navan

Giselles Defence

9st 9lb

J: Paddy Harnett

T: Sean Davis

Four wins in Britain for Ian Williams at 1m2f but yet to reproduce that level of form for current connections, from 7f to 1m5f.

33/1

11/4

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 491-21 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Took his form up a notch when landing 1m3f Southwell handicap 22 days ago, deserving extra credit given he lost ground at the start in a slowly run race; he holds major claims off a 1lb lower mark back on turf.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(6)

31st Aug 2026

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 5

14:42 Southwell (AW)

Bearwith

9st 11lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Harriet Bethell

Proven winner who's turned in two solid efforts for Tom Kiely-Marshall lately, backing up his Newcastle win off 5lb lower with a second on turf (again from the front); hard to discount him in current form.

6/1

2nd

1

(7)

12th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 207y

Class 5

16:15 Beverley

Bearwith

10st 2lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Harriet Bethell

Ten career wins divided between turf and the AW; well on top last time at Newcastle under Tom Kiely-Marshall but back up 5lb and it's been over two years since he defied a mark in the 70s.

3/1

1st

1

(6)

25th Jul 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 42y

Class 6

13:35 Newcastle (AW)

Bearwith

9st 9lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Harriet Bethell

Latest of his nine wins was over C&D in February off a 1lb higher mark; that helps show that he needs a second look, despite mixed fortunes since.

7/1

6/1

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 07/7-3

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
Remains winless but he resumed from nine months off with a solid third of nine in 1m handicap here nine days ago; must enter calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

8

(1)

30th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 6

17:17 Southwell (AW)

Fiftyshadesaresdev

10st 9lb

J: Miss Becky Smith

T: Micky Hammond

Placed on numerous occasions, including at Southwell, but remains a longstanding maiden and he's been beaten around 12l in his two runs this year; blinkers return and cheekpieces are removed.

16/1

7th

7

(5)

28th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 6

20:00 Southwell (AW)

Fiftyshadesaresdev

9st 3lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

Placed numerous times, including at Southwell, but remains a longstanding maiden and sole effort this year doesn't suggest he's about to belatedly get off the mark.

20/1

7th

11

(7)

2nd Feb 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

17:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Fiftyshadesaresdev

10st 2lb

J: Mr Felix Foster

T: Micky Hammond

36-race maiden but he went close in two turf handicaps (1m4f) last summer; returns after 210 days off but he's effective on Tapeta and is not ruled out on his first run since rejoining Micky Hammond; reapplied cheekpieces replace a visor.

9/1

Form: 600-75

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
A fair 1m4f winner in Ireland for Joseph O'Brien but he's yet to fire for his current yard, beating only one over C&D 29 days ago; cheekpieces are retried, and he has something to prove.
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

11/1

Form: 07416- D

Last run: 164 days

W: 9st 1lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Proved reliable in 2023 when also a two-time 1m2f winner, at Redcar and Newcastle; possibilities on his seasonal return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

8

(2)

27th Aug 2026

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 5

14:00 Carlisle

Jewel Maker

10st 2lb

J: Miss Rebecca Burley

T: Tim Easterby

On the downgrade these days but his latest fourth of 13 at Musselburgh (1m, good) was a fair effort on Monday; will need more from the same mark but this stiffer test should suit.

10/1

4th

4

(4)

24th Aug 2026

Good

1m 0f 2y

Class 6

16:45 Musselburgh

Jewel Maker

9st 6lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

Generally struggled this season and the years look to be catching up now; an easy 1m such as this would have been a bare minimum even in his pomp and Thats My Boy Luke may be his yard's best chance.

12/1

6th

6

(5)

11th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 173y

Class 6

14:45 Carlisle

Jewel Maker

9st 6lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Tim Easterby

Veteran who is a dual winner (including over C&D) here but his recent form is not so encouraging, just seventh of 13 in 1m2f Newcastle handicap 17 days ago; needs to get back on track.

16/1

6th
8 (3)
Loddon

10/1

Form: 284-53

Last run: 6 days

W: 9st 0lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
Still to get her head in front but tongue tied when recording a good third of seven for her current yard in 1m2f Beverley handicap six days ago; she ought to be thereabouts off an unchanged mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

(2)

30th May 2024

Soft

1m 1f 170y

Class 5

15:15 Ripon

Loddon

9st 1lb

J: Joe Fanning

T: Sara Ender

led, increased tempo over 3f out

7/2

Form: 2751-0

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 11lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Signed off for Jessica Harrington with win in 1m Killarney maiden (blinkered) in September; changed hands for 15,000gns but beat only one on his yard debut in handicap at Windsor (1m2f) 16 days ago; blinkers are refitted now so could bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

(11)

20th Jun 2026

Good

1m 2f 96y

15:16 Down Royal

Simpsons Paradox

9st 2lb

J: Keithen Kennedy

T: John Andrew Kinsella

Won a heavy ground Killarney maiden in 2023; moderate efforts in three outings this season; 6.25l eighth of 14 at Gowran last time (1m, yielding) when running on late.

22/1

8th

11

(10)

12th Jun 2026

Yielding To Soft

1m 0f 0y

17:58 Gowran Park

Simpsons Paradox

9st 4lb

J: Keithen Kennedy

T: John Andrew Kinsella

Last win came in September 2023 in heavy ground maiden at Killarney; ran well over C&D when sixth in October but below-par on last two runs; dropped 4lb.

25/1

20th

24

(23)

15th Mar 2026

Heavy

1m 0f 0y

17:30 Curragh

Simpsons Paradox

8st 10lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: John Andrew Kinsella

Without a win since 2023 and so signs of ending the drought on the Flat or over hurdles in 2025; beaten 5l on the AW last time out; others appeal more.

12/1

14/1

Form: 850-37 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Failed to build on an encouraging C&D third when only seventh in 1m2f Ripon handicap 13 days ago; this two-time scorer in 2023 needs to bounce back.
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

OUR TIP

Form: 798442 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
On a long losing run but tongue tied when posting a good second of 13 in 1m2f Bath handicap 24 days ago; he's well in the mix despite taking a 3lb rise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

(7)

29th Jun 2024

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 5

17:25 Newcastle (AW)

Chantico

9st 6lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Outstayed in 2m novice hurdle three weeks ago; has form at up to 1m3f on the Flat; still seeking first win for current yard but went close at Bath in April; new trip presents a question mark.

14/1

4th

1

8th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 4

13:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Chantico

11st 2lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Had 1-14 strike-rate on the Flat but showed some fairly useful form at up to 1m3f; his tendency to race too freely is a worry on this hurdling debut but he's a half-brother to smart hurdler Golden Ace; interesting to see how he fares.

7/2

6th

6

(7)

12th May 2024

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 4

16:52 Newcastle (AW)

Chantico

9st 5lb

J: Kyle McHugh

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

slowly into stride, pulled hard, held up in rear

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £15.90
Straight Forecast £18.22
Tricast £103.36
Trifecta £95.60

Selections

POSTDATA:

Chantico

RP RATINGS:

Giselles Defence

TOPSPEED:

Loddon

SPOTLIGHT:

Bearwith

The Guardian:

Fiftyshadesaresdev

The Star:

Loddon

Daily Mail:

Chantico

D Express:

Chantico

Daily Mirror:

Chantico

Telegraph:

Giselles Defence

The Sun:

Giselles Defence

Daily Record:

Giselles Defence

The Times:

Bearwith