July 19 / 20.25 Pontefract

20.25

Good To Soft

Happy 50th Birthday Olena Handicap

  • Prize money: £5234
  • 1m 4f 5y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Happy 50th Birthday Olena Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.34
  • Place: £2.30

Form: 735

Last run: 39 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Showed plenty of ability at Chepstow on second start (1m2f, good to soft) but disappointing ten days later (1m2f, good to firm); has since left Richard Hannon (same owners); with his pedigree and the Chepstow run both suggesting stamina, he needs a second look upped in trip on this handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

26th Apr 2025

Good

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

13:20 Sandown

St Pancras

11st 7lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

Two wins apiece on Flat and under this code, notably in 4yo Listed hurdle; subsequently ran well in substandard Adonis then had a straightforward task at Stratford; this assignment demands best form yet.

12/1

6th

5

26th Apr 2025

Good

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

13:20 Sandown

St Pancras

11st 7lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

Two wins apiece on Flat and under this code, notably in 4yo Listed hurdle; subsequently ran well in substandard Adonis then had a straightforward task at Stratford; this assignment demands best form yet.

12/1

1st

6

29th Mar 2025

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 4

13:55 Stratford

St Pancras

11st 2lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

Dual Flat winner who has raised his profile over hurdles, winning the Scottish Triumph at Musselburgh (good to soft) before finishing runner-up in the Grade 2 Adonis at Kempton; he probably faced mission impossible that day in conceding 5lb to a really smart prospect; hard to beat.

Evs

7/2

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 371693

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Nine races with one win, when keeping on well at Beverley (1m2f, good to firm) in May; perhaps needs good ground or firmer judged on his back-to-form third at Haydock (1m6f, good) 13 days ago, staying on at 125-1; possibilities if the ground is suitable again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

(10)

17th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 4

16:55 Newcastle (AW)

Flickering Halo

9st 3lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Tim Easterby

Recent form has been patchy, but he's now 5lb lower than when winning over C&D in May; each-way claims if he can reproduce that sort of form; stable also runs Hosanna Power.

16/1

2

(10)

19th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 5f 26y

Class 5

17:20 Ayr

Flickering Halo

10st 2lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Both wins at 1m2f, on good to firm and the AW; third at Beverley last month before struggling in a Class 4; could go well, though has mostly steered clear of slow ground.

14/1

4/1

Form: 111242 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 1lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Reeled off a four-timer at Wolverhampton last winter and short-headed at Southwell next time; good second at Wolverhampton recently after a three-month break, so the success story on AW for this yard continues; now he needs to transfer that form to turf, off a mark which far exceeds all his turf form for his former yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

8

(12)

31st May 2026

Good

1m 4f 8y

Class 4

17:15 Thirsk

Optician

8st 12lb

J: David Probert

T: Michael Herrington

0-14 on turf (5-19 on AW) but he ran well when he last tackled grass in summer 2024; returned from some time off with promising fourth at Southwell (1m3f, AW) last month and can be in the mix if building on that effort.

12/1

4th

1

(5)

11th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 5

17:15 Southwell (AW)

Optician

9st 9lb

J: Dylan Hogan

T: Michael Herrington

Five-time Wolverhampton winner for Shaun Lycett, all off lower marks; pulled up here last September, having clipped heels on his first run in five months and for this yard, and has been absent since; this trip a bare minimum now.

16/1

10

(6)

23rd Sep 2025

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 4

20:00 Southwell (AW)

Optician

8st 13lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Michael Herrington

Five Wolverhampton wins to his name for Shaun Lycett, all during the winter months, and never off a mark this high; has gone well here too but possible he'll need this for his new yard after five months off.

12/1

OUR TIP

10/1

Form: 226-18

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Seven months off before a cosy win at Windsor (1m2f, good to firm) in May; came up well short when upped in grade at York one month later but this race looks easier and he stays 1m4f (acts on soft); considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(4)

19th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

1m 4f 5y

Class 4

20:25 Pontefract

Richard P Smith

10st 2lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Ed Dunlop

towards rear

10/1

5/2

Form: 536-33

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
A rallying third at Salisbury (1m2f, good to firm) and Chester (1m4f, good) last month in her two handicaps, meeting some trouble in running in the latter; could still have more to offer at this trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

3rd Oct 2024

Heavy

1m 6f 44y

Class 4

16:50 Salisbury

Frankelian

9st 3lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

Eight-race maiden who's performing consistently but the exception came as 2yo on her only start on heavy going; her sixth when favourite trying 1m6f and cheekpieces (both for the first time) on latest outing was not her best form and today she sports blinkers.

9/1

6th

7

(11)

6th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

15:45 Haydock

Frankelian

9st 7lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Ralph Beckett

0-7 but performing consistently, the exception on heavy going as a 2yo (her only run on softer than good); needs a little extra for the breakthrough win but this longer trip looks worth a go; she also now tries headgear.

4/1

2nd

8

(8)

10th Aug 2024

Good

1m 3f 133y

Class 5

17:45 Lingfield

Frankelian

9st 1lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Ralph Beckett

Fair form in three handicaps this season, most notably when third at Salisbury (1m2f, good to firm) on first occasion; not really favoured by the weights in this maiden but still considered each-way.

11/2

6th
7 (3)
Yippee

8/1

Form: 421395 C

Last run: 21 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Comfortably won a maiden handicap (1m2f, good) off 4lb lower in May on his only run at Pontefract; three poor efforts elsewhere since; moves up in trip (not bred for it) but the return to this track might have positive effect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

(8)

21st Oct 2024

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 6

20:15 Southwell (AW)

Yippee

9st 11lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Charlie Johnston

in rear

4/1

3rd

9

(3)

8th Oct 2024

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 5

20:30 Southwell (AW)

Yippee

9st 4lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Charlie Johnston

Won maiden handicap at Pontefract (1m2f, good) in May off 1lb higher mark; inconsistent since and first-time blinkers are now worn; needs more.

16/1

8

29th Sep 2024

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 6

16:50 Southwell (AW)

Yippee

9st 11lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Charlie Johnston

Form: 078310 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Had dropped a long way down the weights and got more competitive again in his two races in May, winning by a neck at Doncaster (1m4f, good to soft) on second occasion; used to be capable of much better (2021 and 2022) but he tailed off in a race for female amateurs at York on latest outing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

(3)

14th Oct 2024

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 5

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Southern Voyage

9st 10lb

J: Jack Garritty

T: Richard Fahey

Scored at Doncaster (1m4f, good to soft) in May off 2lb higher mark; has only been placed once in seven starts since and finds himself on a career-low mark; doesn't seem ready to take advantage and best watched.

10/1

7th

2

(3)

4th Oct 2024

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 5

16:15 Newcastle (AW)

Southern Voyage

10st 0lb

J: Harry Russell

T: Richard Fahey

took keen hold, prominent, ridden and weakened over 1f out

11/2

6th

3

(1)

20th Sep 2024

Good

1m 5f 26y

Class 5

17:20 Ayr

Southern Voyage

10st 1lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard Fahey

Still just 1lb above his last winning mark and far from disgraced when fourth of 12 in a 0-80 at Southwell (1m4f, AW) last time; each-way claims if seeing out the longer trip.

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £12.80
Straight Forecast £14.48
Trifecta £51.80

Selections

The Guardian:

Optician

SPOTLIGHT:

St Pancras

POSTDATA:

Southern Voyage

RP RATINGS:

Frankelian

NEWMARKET:

Richard P Smith

The Times:

St Pancras

Daily Mail:

St Pancras

D Express:

Optician

Daily Mirror:

Optician

The Sun:

Optician

The Star:

Optician

Daily Record:

Optician

Telegraph:

Southern Voyage