July 26 / 16.55 Thirsk

16.55

Good To Firm

Racing Excellence Apprentice Handicap (Apprentice Training Race – Part Of Racing Excellence Series)

  • Prize money: £3663.8
  • 0m 5f 0y
  • Class 6
  • 5 runners
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Racing Excellence Apprentice Handicap (Apprentice Training Race – Part Of Racing Excellence Series)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

7/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.25
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 71-542 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Veteran; best run of the season when second to a subsequent winner at Carlisle last time (6f, good to firm; third won next time); just as effective at 5f; big chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(5)

25th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 6

17:30 Southwell (AW)

Brian The Snail

9st 8lb

J: Donagh Murphy

T: Patrick Morris

Veteran with 14 wins on his CV; kept on for third when dropped back to 5f at Newcastle 12 days ago but is inconsistent nowadays and younger rivals appeal more.

8/1

3rd

8

(7)

13th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

20:30 Newcastle (AW)

Brian The Snail

8st 13lb

J: William Pyle

T: Patrick Morris

Veteran who never featured in a 6f handicap at Wolverhampton nine days ago; drops back to 5f with a point to prove.

20/1

8th

6

(1)

4th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 5

18:55 Wolverhampton (AW)

Brian The Snail

9st 0lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Patrick Morris

Slow-starting veteran who is having his 100th outing this evening; he has won 14 times already and his latest Newcastle fourth was a solid effort; should go well again.

10/1

7/2

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 040481 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 1lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 50

Form & Verdict
Off the mark at the seventh attempt when scoring at Musselburgh last time (5f, good; 0-50 classified event); respected back in a handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

(3)

26th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

16:50 Redcar

Jamies Choice

9st 0lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Tracy Waggott

Both wins came in 0-50 classified events in the summer of 2024, including one over C&D; not much to shout about over the past year, though, despite a declining mark; needs the visor to help stop the slide.

12/1

7th

9

(5)

7th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 217y

Class 6

17:50 Redcar

Jamies Choice

9st 0lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Tracy Waggott

Won twice over 5f in the summer of 2024, including at this track; ran well on her seasonal return last April but it has been downhill ever since; 6f a query too.

20/1

6th

10

(4)

22nd Apr 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

13:52 Catterick

Jamies Choice

8st 9lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Tracy Waggott

Dual classified winner on a sound surface at 5f in 2024; went close in C&D handicap (good) on her comeback last term and not much went right in that same race on her reappearance a fortnight ago; drawn on the wing when down the field in this race last year but not without a squeak this time.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: -25106 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 54

Form & Verdict
Catterick winner in May (5f, good to soft) but well beaten both starts since; bit to prove now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(4)

23rd Oct 2025

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 6

16:27 Southwell (AW)

Dandy Fitz

9st 0lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Tim Easterby

Turf/AW winner who fared best of those who were handy when close up at Newcastle; went off favourite there and his turn looks near.

7/2

11

(8)

19th Sep 2025

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

20:15 Newcastle (AW)

Dandy Fitz

9st 5lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Tim Easterby

Prominent racer; the return to 6f didn't have a positive effect at Catterick last time but he had finished third on Tapeta on his penultimate start; others look safer.

12/1

6

(9)

27th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 212y

Class 6

15:15 Catterick

Dandy Fitz

9st 3lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

Signed off last year in a fine run of form on the AW and has been knocking on the door this year, including on turf; this is a belated return to 6f but one to consider.

8/1

Form: -53853 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 8st 11lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 45

Form & Verdict
Has plenty of good runs to her credit, including when third at Nottingham last time (5f, good to firm), but not easy to win with as her record of 1-29 indicates.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

8

(8)

8th Oct 2024

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 6

16:20 Southwell (AW)

The Grey Lass

9st 3lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Michael & David Easterby

Won a modest C&D handicap in August; placed at Redcar one week later but she's finished down the field over C&D the last twice.

12/1

8th

12

(13)

26th Sep 2024

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 6

20:00 Southwell (AW)

The Grey Lass

8st 10lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

towards rear

20/1

11th

8

(10)

30th Aug 2024

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 6

18:33 Southwell (AW)

The Grey Lass

8st 13lb

J: Lewis Chalkley

T: Michael & David Easterby

reared in stalls before start, towards rear

8/1

Form: 7-0084 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 52

Form & Verdict
Ex-Rod Millman; Chepstow maiden winner last June (5f, good to firm); bought for 5,000gns in October; best run for this yard when fourth at Beverley last time (5f, good; 80-1, cheekpieces on for third time); place chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(2)

26th Jul 2024

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

16:55 Thirsk

Crooked Crown

8st 13lb

J: Liam Wright

T: Paul Midgley

pressed leader, lost second over 1f out, weakened quickly inside final furlong

8/1

4th

12

(12)

6th Jul 2024

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

14:50 Beverley

Crooked Crown

8st 11lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Paul Midgley

raced in last

20/1

8th

9

(12)

16th Jun 2024

Good

0m 6f 2y

Class 6

17:10 Doncaster

Crooked Crown

9st 1lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Paul Midgley

slowly away

16/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.40
Straight Forecast £5.31
Trifecta £19.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Brian The Snail

The Star:

Jamie's Choice

The Times:

Dandy Fitz

RP RATINGS:

Crooked Crown

POSTDATA:

The Grey Lass

Daily Record:

Jamie's Choice

THE NORTH:

Brian The Snail

Telegraph:

Brian The Snail

The Guardian:

Brian The Snail

Daily Mail:

Brian The Snail

D Express:

Brian The Snail

Daily Mirror:

Brian The Snail

The Sun:

Brian The Snail