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

9th

1

(1)

17th Aug 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 5

20:10 Wolverhampton (AW)

Optician

10st 2lb

J: David Probert

T: Michael Herrington

All five AW wins have been at this track, four of which were over this trip; recorded his first turf success at Doncaster in June and has run well since, which augurs well for this return to AW.

5/1

2nd

1

(5)

29th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 1y

Class 5

15:15 Redcar

Optician

10st 2lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Michael Herrington

Off the mark on turf when beating five rivals at Doncaster (1m4f, good to soft) last month but he was beaten 8l when fifth of ten off this mark at York (1m4f, good to firm) 19 days ago; now drops back in trip.

4/1

5th

7

(4)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 188y

Class 4

17:40 York

Optician

9st 10lb

J: Conor Whiteley

T: Michael Herrington

Five-time AW winner who made it sixteenth time lucky on turf when seeing off five rivals over 1m4f at Doncaster (good to soft) under Conor Whiteley 26 days ago; 3lb higher in a deeper race now but the Michael Herrington stable continues in good form.

8/1

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