July 19 / 19.55 Pontefract

19.55

Good To Soft

Always Trying Racing Syndicate Handicap

  • Prize money: £8761.8
  • 0m 5f 3y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Always Trying Racing Syndicate Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

1st
6 (1)
Vantheman

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.63
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 50-120 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 3yo who won at Newcastle (5f, AW) on his return in May and was good second of 17 at York (5f, good) next time; couldn't hang in there in a 28-runner race at Royal Ascot last month but he wasn't beaten far and could resume his progress on this drop back in grade; interesting contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(13)

31st May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

16:45 Thirsk

Vantheman

9st 12lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Kevin Ryan

None too consistent but he surged back to form with a win at Hamilton (5f, good; made all) two weeks ago; that was only his second go in blinkers and he's again of interest off 4lb higher.

8/1

9

(1)

23rd May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

14:40 York

Vantheman

9st 6lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Kevin Ryan

None too consistent but he had an excuse on his penultimate start and surged back to form to win at Hamilton (5f, good; made all) last Sunday; that was only his second go in blinkers and he's again of interest under a 5lb penalty.

9/1

1st

5

(3)

17th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 7y

Class 3

17:15 Hamilton

Vantheman

9st 6lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Kevin Ryan

Patchy last season and more of the same this term, failing to build on a Tapeta win off 3lb lower in three runs since; latest effort in first-time blinkers is readily ignored but it's hard to know what to expect for a yard also responsible for Mon Na Slieve.

10/1

OUR TIP

10/1

  • Place: £3.10

Form: -05010 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 9st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Bounced back with an all-the-way win at Doncaster (5f, good) last month but he failed to repeat that form at Thirsk 15 days later; now drops back into a Class 3 but he's not easy to predict and didn't shine over C&D in April; others look more solid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(8)

31st Oct 2025

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 3

17:45 Southwell (AW)

Hiya Maite

9st 7lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Roy Bowring

On a losing run and he has yet to win over this trip; sent off favourite for the corresponding race 12 months ago but faded into tenth; 6lb lower this time around and he has finished second in two of his last four starts; vulnerable to stronger stayers.

10/1

6th

7

(8)

31st Oct 2025

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 3

17:45 Southwell (AW)

Hiya Maite

9st 7lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Roy Bowring

On a losing run and he has yet to win over this trip; sent off favourite for the corresponding race 12 months ago but faded into tenth; 6lb lower this time around and he has finished second in two of his last four starts; vulnerable to stronger stayers.

10/1

7/2

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 360523 C BF

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Won off this mark at York (5f, soft) last October and he didn't get any luck when an eyecatching third there last Friday; now goes back up in grade but he's a big player if he gets the breaks.
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

16/1

Form: -24038 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 9lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Fair third behind Hiya Maite in a Class 3 at Doncaster (5f, good) last month but he was never involved at Chester last time and that took his losing run up to 32; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

(1)

24th May 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 212y

Class 5

17:13 Catterick

Arecibo

9st 9lb

J: Conor Orr

T: Declan Carroll

Smart sprinter in his prime but last win was four years ago and he's finished down the field in four runs this season; return to 6f in his favour but don't need much encouragement to look elsewhere.

14/1

2nd

4

(1)

24th May 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 212y

Class 5

17:13 Catterick

Arecibo

9st 9lb

J: Conor Orr

T: Declan Carroll

Smart sprinter in his prime but last win was four years ago and he's finished down the field in four runs this season; return to 6f in his favour but don't need much encouragement to look elsewhere.

14/1

6th

11

(1)

17th May 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:30 Thirsk

Arecibo

8st 7lb

J: Zak Wheatley

T: Declan Carroll

Veteran who was a smart sprinter in his prime but last win was four years ago and he's finished down the field in three runs this season; dropped another 3lb but he has lots to prove on this first run at 7f; visor removed.

25/1

14/1

Form: 0-4009 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 9lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Handles most ground and has won seven times on turf but his last success was in October 2022; well treated on old form but he's been well held in last three starts and others are more convincing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

4

(6)

3rd May 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:23 Thirsk

Makanah

9st 9lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Julie Camacho

midfield, weakened over 2f out, tailed off

11/4

10th

4

(6)

3rd May 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:23 Thirsk

Makanah

9st 9lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Julie Camacho

midfield, weakened over 2f out, tailed off

11/4

2nd

5

(9)

16th Nov 2024

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 3

16:48 Newcastle (AW)

Makanah

9st 7lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Julie Camacho

midfield against near rail, waiting for room halfway, switched left 1f out, good headway inside final furlong, switched right and squeezed through final 110yds, went second post, eyecatcher

6/1

Form: 93-191 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Four-time C&D winner, who has won two of his three starts this season including a strong-finishing success at Beverley (5f, good to firm) two weeks ago; 5lb higher on this step back up in grade but he was as good as ever last time and is respected back at this track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(10)

22nd May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

19:22 Pontefract

Ventura Express

9st 9lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Paul Midgley

Four of his six wins have come over C&D, including the corresponding race in 2024; drew a blank in 2025 but retains ability and he has run some solid races in defeat this year too, keeping on for fourth at Beverley 18 days ago; drops in class but he has the widest stall to contend with.

8/1

4th

7

(6)

4th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

16:15 Beverley

Ventura Express

9st 0lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Paul Midgley

9yo who is on an 18-race losing run; good second over C&D last July (good to firm) and is now 3lb lower.

10/1

5th

4

(1)

23rd Apr 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

14:52 Beverley

Ventura Express

9st 7lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Paul Midgley

Has won two of three C&D starts (good and good to firm), the latest in July 2024; went very close to breaking the losing run when involved in a tight finish on Southwell AW in March; convincing claims.

9/2

Form: -08212 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 10st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Front-running veteran who is not the force of old but he's been resurgent recently, with a win at Redcar (6f, soft) in May sandwiched between runner-up efforts at York and Ripon; back up 7lb in the weights after those three runs but he could make another bold bid back in trip.
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

Form: 47-335 D BF

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Didn't shine when favourite at Haydock last time but he started this season with two creditable thirds including in the 3yo Dash at Epsom (5f, good to soft) last month; has claims if he can recapture that form and he's in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

(7)

28th Dec 2024

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

18:30 Newcastle (AW)

Due For Luck

9st 9lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

Well treated on this year's best and his penultimate effort suggested he was still in good order; latest Chelmsford run was disappointing though and he'll need the new hood to have a positive effect; drops in class.

14/1

9th

2

(7)

28th Dec 2024

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

18:30 Newcastle (AW)

Due For Luck

9st 9lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

Well treated on this year's best and his penultimate effort suggested he was still in good order; latest Chelmsford run was disappointing though and he'll need the new hood to have a positive effect; drops in class.

14/1

9

27th Dec 2024

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 4

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Due For Luck

8st 13lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £24.50
Straight Forecast £25.49
Tricast £68.28
Trifecta £87.70

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Vantheman

SPOTLIGHT:

Wen Moon

Daily Mail:

Ventura Express

The Star:

Due For Luck

POSTDATA:

Arecibo

TOPSPEED:

Makanah

The Sun:

Dakota Gold

THE NORTH:

Vantheman

The Times:

Vantheman

Telegraph:

Vantheman

The Guardian:

Vantheman

D Express:

Wen Moon

Daily Mirror:

Wen Moon

Daily Record:

Ventura Express