June 23 / 15.30 Pontefract

15.30

Good

Moor Top Farm Shop Hemsworth Pontefract Cup Handicap (Round 4 of Pontefract Stayers Championship)

  • Prize money: £5154
  • 2m 2f 2y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
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Moor Top Farm Shop Hemsworth Pontefract Cup Handicap (Round 4 of Pontefract Stayers Championship)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

11/10 (Won)

  • Win: £2.38
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 3114-1

Last run: 33 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Comfortably beat Valley Of Flowers at Nottingham (2m, good) on seasonal debut, taking handicap record to 5-8; typical Prescott improver and may have even more progress left in the tank; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(9)

21st Jun 2025

Good To Firm

2m 5f 143y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

Trooper Bisdee

9st 4lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Sir Mark Prescott Bt

Typical of a Prescott handicapper to have graduated from a low level to where he is now, and he could have done with faster ground when beaten 12l in last season's Cesarewitch (soft); plenty to like about his reappearance run under a big weight at Goodwood (2m, good) and he gave the impression he'd stay all day when winning over Pontefract's stiff 2m2f last season (good to firm); one of the more appealing each-way options.

12/1

2

(10)

23rd May 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

14:40 Goodwood

Trooper Bisdee

9st 12lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Sir Mark Prescott Bt

Successful six times during a spell as a classic Prescott improver; limitations somewhat exposed in Class 2 events (including two major handicaps) subsequently; a possible danger back down in grade.

10/1

2

(10)

23rd May 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

14:40 Goodwood

Trooper Bisdee

9st 12lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Sir Mark Prescott Bt

Successful six times during a spell as a classic Prescott improver; limitations somewhat exposed in Class 2 events (including two major handicaps) subsequently; a possible danger back down in grade.

10/1

16/1

  • Place: £5.00

Form: /36/6-

Last run: 284 days

W: 8st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Maiden in France and won over hurdles (2m) in Ireland; not disgraced in handicap hurdle on debut for new yard; had wind surgery since; first Flat attempt beyond 1m4f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

(1)

19th Feb 2026

2m 0f 57y

Class 3

17:00 Newcastle (AW)

Weddell Sea

8st 12lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Mike Sowersby

Three Class 5 C&D wins, the latest by a nose on penultimate start; ran respectably in a Class 2 C&D contest (fourth, 16-1) latest; likely to give his best, although others make more appeal.

12/1

4th

11

(7)

16th Jan 2026

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

14:15 Newcastle (AW)

Weddell Sea

8st 2lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Mike Sowersby

Behind New York Minute at Southwell before edging home in a Class 5 over C&D; will do well to follow up in this higher grade.

20/1

Form: 363-27

Last run: 7 days

W: 8st 9lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Productive last term; ties in with Trooper Bisdee on Nottingham reappearance running and subsequent effort suggests she remains in form; still unexposed at 2m+ and enters calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

12

(4)

31st May 2026

Good

1m 4f 8y

Class 4

17:15 Thirsk

Valley Of Flowers

8st 4lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Samantha & Jacqueline Coward

Consistent last July-September and nicely treated on that form; however, she hasn't been at the same level on her two outings this year.

20/1

7th

3

(5)

3rd May 2026

Good

1m 3f 15y

Class 5

17:35 Hamilton

Valley Of Flowers

9st 8lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Samantha & Jacqueline Coward

Made the frame four consecutive times last July-September (1m3f-2m), but made a low-key reappearance last week and is probably better suited by a stiffer test of stamina than this now.

7/1

6th

1

(4)

23rd Apr 2026

Good

1m 4f 23y

Class 5

15:52 Beverley

Valley Of Flowers

9st 9lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Samantha & Jacqueline Coward

Ended last season with a spell of consistent efforts and has frame possibilities provided she returns in similar form; whether she can end a losing spell is another matter (no win since 2023).

6/1

Form: 0/7/2/

Last run: 2119 days

W: 9st 7lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Never figured over hurdles last month on stable debut and return from long absence; not seen on Flat since 2018; best watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

3

(16)

13th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 56y

Class 4

16:50 York

Percys Word

9st 10lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Jessica Bedi

prominent, led over 6f out, headed and lost ground quickly over 3f out

25/1

4th

2

(2)

23rd Jun 2024

Good

2m 2f 2y

Class 4

15:30 Pontefract

Percys Word

9st 7lb

J: Dougie Costello

T: Jessica Bedi

Never figured over hurdles last month on stable debut and return from long absence; not seen on Flat since 2018; best watched.

33/1

14th

1

8th May 2024

Good

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

13:40 Kelso

Percys Word

12st 1lb

J: Aaron Anderson

T: Jessica Bedi

Easy win in a Newton Abbot seller (2m2f, good) for Dan Skelton in September 2022 but he's not been since then; well treated on his old handicap form but he's untried beyond 2m4f and has something to prove for new yard after a long absence.

16/1

Form: 14-475 C

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Respectable fourth in the Chester Plate on reappearance; couple of lesser efforts since but looks interesting back at Pontefract, being 3-3 here (all last summer); rebound is likely.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

9

(2)

12th Oct 2024

Soft

2m 0f 56y

Class 3

16:30 York

Yorkindness

8st 7lb

J: Joe Fanning

T: Charlie Johnston

Won a soft-ground maiden but best efforts when it's not so deep; 0-10 this season, nearly winning at Musselburgh in August but beaten over 20l on last two outings; down the weights but it's hard to have confidence in her.

20/1

3

(8)

7th Oct 2024

Soft

2m 2f 2y

Class 5

15:37 Pontefract

Yorkindness

10st 1lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Charlie Johnston

Has won on soft, best form on faster ground; 0-9 this season but nearly won at Musselburgh in August; stiff task last time; three-time Pontefract scorer and looks interesting off a workable mark back here.

7/1

9th

12

(6)

21st Sep 2024

Good

2m 2f 0y

Class 2

15:55 Newmarket

Yorkindness

8st 2lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Charlie Johnston

in touch with leaders

16/1

12/1

Form: 65/6-2

Last run: 13 days

W: 8st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Belied his 125-1 odds with an encouraging effort over 1m4f here two weeks ago on return from layoff; shaped as if this step back up in distance would suit; possibilities off same mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

(5)

23rd Jun 2024

Good

2m 2f 2y

Class 4

15:30 Pontefract

Ginistrelli

8st 7lb

J: Morgan Cole

T: Harriet Dickin

Belied his 125-1 odds with an encouraging effort over 1m4f here two weeks ago on return from layoff; shaped as if this step back up in distance would suit; possibilities off same mark.

12/1

2nd

6

(3)

10th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 4f 5y

Class 4

19:30 Pontefract

Ginistrelli

8st 7lb

J: Morgan Cole

T: Harriet Dickin

Flat/hurdles winner in Britain and Flat/bumper scorer in Germany; beaten long way in two handicap hurdles for Milton Harris back on British soil, latest nine months ago; similar profile to Cabrakan and the betting should be helpful.

25/1

7th

3

9th Sep 2023

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

14:30 Stratford

Ginistrelli

11st 3lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Milton Harris

Flat/hurdles winner in Britain earlier in career and Flat/bumper scorer in Germany last year; not seen since very disappointing stable debut in March, though, and not an easy one to predict here; swaps cheekpieces for first-time visor.

8/1

13/2

Form: 432115 BF

Last run: 17 days

W: 8st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Successful over 2m at Catterick and Chester last month, then hindered by slow pace at Haydock when failing to complete hat-trick; still favourably treated on peak form; not dismissed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 5

15:40 Doncaster

Animato

11st 6lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Had plenty of Flat racing and won five times; 0-6 as a hurdler and after his fourth to The Resdev Tyke on Boxing Day he ran no race at Sedgefield; others preferred.

16/1

7th

1

4th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

14:42 Sedgefield

Animato

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Five-time Flat winner who is 0-5 over hurdles but ran pretty well when fourth of 11 at Wetherby (2m, soft) on Boxing Day on his first handicap start in this code; today's extra yardage looks a plus and he's in with a chance.

11/2

5th

1

27th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 3

15:55 Bangor-on-Dee

Animato

11st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Five-time Flat winner who has taken quite well to hurdling in recent weeks, finishing fourth at Worcester (2m, good to soft) and Kelso (2m, good); may have to settle for another minor prize here, though.

8/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £26.20
Straight Forecast £27.37
Trifecta £79.10

Selections

NEWMARKET:

Trooper Bisdee

SPOTLIGHT:

Yorkindness

RP RATINGS:

Animato

The Times:

Valley Of Flowers

Telegraph:

Trooper Bisdee

D Express:

Trooper Bisdee

Daily Mirror:

Trooper Bisdee

The Star:

Trooper Bisdee

Daily Record:

Trooper Bisdee

TOPSPEED:

Animato

POSTDATA:

Yorkindness

THE NORTH:

Yorkindness