August 30 / 14.45 Thirsk

14.45

Good To Firm

Best Price Guaranteed Daily At Vickers.Bet Handicap

  • Prize money: £15120
  • 0m 7f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 9 runners
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Best Price Guaranteed Daily At Vickers.Bet Handicap

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 845211 CD

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
In good form at present, following up Haydock win in July (7f, soft) by beating Diamondonthehill (2lb better off) by a neck in a C&D handicap last time (7f, good); up 4lb and obvious contender but fast ground a concern.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

3

(9)

20th Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 192y

Class 2

15:00 York

Cerulean Bay

9st 9lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Uncharacteristically below par at Ascot recently but was under a new rider in the Shergar Cup; he's run really well in defeat under Danny Tudhope in some hot handicaps this year and was second in this last season (good to firm); versatile ground-wise; could bounce back with a big performance.

16/1

9th

1

(9)

8th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 213y

Class 2

16:30 Ascot

Cerulean Bay

10st 1lb

J: Jamie Melham

T: David O’Meara

Finished second behind Ebt's Guard in this race 12 months ago when rated 14lb lower; he has earned his lofty rating since then, winning twice at Goodwood last autumn and recording a career-best RPR when second of 18 in the Golden Mile at Goodwood eight days ago; another big run anticipated.

11/2

2nd

1

(13)

31st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Goodwood

Cerulean Bay

9st 12lb

J: Colin Keane

T: David O’Meara

Blew his chance at the start in most recent handicap attempt but generally consistent otherwise in the last year and ties in with several of today's rivals on Royal Hunt Cup form; 2-2 at Goodwood and looks interesting back here despite remaining on a career-high mark.

16/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 175053

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Dual AW winner earlier in the year, the second a 1m Listed event at Newcastle; some fair form since going handicapping on turf, notably when third at Goodwood last time (7f, good to firm); a possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

(2)

4th Nov 2024

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

13:50 Kempton (AW)

Cuban Tiger

9st 3lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

led, increased tempo 3f out, headed 1f out, weakened final 110yds

11/2

6

(2)

4th Nov 2024

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

13:50 Kempton (AW)

Cuban Tiger

9st 3lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Won two of his first three starts (second to the subsequent 2000 Guineas winner in between the wins); some fair races on turf this summer and could prove well handicapped back on AW.

11/2

13th

9

(10)

14th Sep 2024

Good

0m 7f 0y

17:10 Leopardstown

Cuban Tiger

9st 5lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

prominent

7/1

10/1

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 620623 CD

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Strike-rate of 3-37, last of those three wins was off 3lb lower in this race in 2023; in fair form recently (third to Cerulean Bay and Diamondonthehill over C&D last time); chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

1

(11)

24th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 173y

Class 4

16:35 Carlisle

Persuasion

10st 2lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: David & Nicola Barron

Made it 2-3 at Musselburgh when winning there over 7f in April off a 1lb lower mark than today's; beaten only 4l when seventh of 19 at York (7f, good) 11 days ago but stamina has to be a concern on just his third try over a 1m.

14/1

7th

11

(4)

13th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

14:25 York

Persuasion

9st 7lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: David & Nicola Barron

Won at Musselburgh (7f, good) in April, making it 2-3 at the Edinburgh venue, and he's just 2lb higher today; can't be totally dismissed but this 9yo is inconsistent and was soundly beaten at Thirsk (7f, good) last time.

33/1

Form: 005-04 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Only turf success was over 6f on good to soft on debut in 2020; mainly out of form in a light campaign in 2023; best run for a while when an unlucky fourth last time at Haydock (7f, good to firm; squeezed for room at a vital stage); interesting in first-time cheekpieces (has worn a visor).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(8)

4th Oct 2025

Good

0m 7f 219y

Class 2

16:30 Redcar

Rhythm Master

9st 12lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Geoffrey Harker

Mostly creditable efforts in 2025 and he won at Thirsk (7f, good to firm) in August; Chester's extended 1m2f possibly stretched his stamina last time; could bounce back but as a 7yo he's more exposed than some of these.

10/1

7th

3

(2)

13th Sep 2025

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 3

16:00 Chester

Rhythm Master

9st 8lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Geoffrey Harker

Modest strike-rate of 3-37 but his last win was at Thirsk (7f) last month and he ran another good race when a close third at Newmarket (1m) last time; now goes into unknown territory at this trip but he ran well over 1m1f in July and he's not ruled out; acts on good to firm and good to soft.

9/1

Form: 808247 C

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Couple of decent runs at York in June/July (7f, good to soft) and not beaten far when seventh to Cerulean Bay over C&D last time (good); best with give in the ground, so any rain a positive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

(11)

24th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:32 York

Quest For Fun

9st 5lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

8yo who has displayed mixed form this season and was below par over C&D (good to firm) a fortnight ago, but he showed spark when third of 22 over C&D (good) two starts ago and he has an excellent record in this race, having won it in 2023 and dead-heated for first last year; respected.

15/2

12th

19

(15)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

14:10 York

Quest For Fun

8st 5lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

Two-time C&D winner and has also run with distinction in defeat here on numerous occasions; retains plenty of ability despite his advancing years but he would be better suited by slower conditions.

9/1

9/1

Form: 631001 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Not particularly consistent but has won two 7f handicaps at Newbury this season, the latest off 5lb higher last month (7f, good); also ran well when a close third to two dead-heaters, including Diamondonthehill, over C&D in May (good to firm); could go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

17

(15)

28th Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

16:00 Thirsk

Woodstock

9st 5lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Ruth Carr

Gained a deserved first success of 2026 in 20-runner handicap at Ripon (6f) 13 days ago; not out of things despite a 5lb weights rise.

10/1

1st

7

(10)

15th Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

14:55 Ripon

Woodstock

9st 8lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Ruth Carr

Better known for his exploits over further but he ran well for second in a C&D handicap last August; several good runs in defeat this year but this looks a competitive race in which to end a two-year drought.

10/1

4th

15

(10)

1st Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

15:47 Thirsk

Woodstock

8st 10lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Ruth Carr

Without a win since August 2024 but he's been in good form since this visor went on, bumping into an unexposed 3yo when second of four at Catterick (7f, good to firm) and again finishing runner-up at Chester (7.5f, good) last time; in each-way calculations once more.

14/1

Form: 210-71 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Won a Newbury conditions race last September (7f, soft); best run since when winning Lingfield AW handicap last time (7f; 10-1); up 6lb, acts on good to firm and could go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

(4)

30th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

14:45 Thirsk

Serene Seraph

9st 6lb

J: James Doyle

T: Richard Hannon

Won a Newbury conditions race last September (7f, soft); best run since when winning Lingfield AW handicap last time (7f; 10-1); up 6lb, acts on good to firm and could go well.

13/2

1st

1

(1)

13th Aug 2024

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 4

14:45 Lingfield (AW)

Serene Seraph

9st 11lb

J: James Doyle

T: Richard Hannon

took keen hold, midfield

7/1

7th

1

(4)

18th May 2024

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

14:05 Newmarket

Serene Seraph

9st 9lb

J: Alec Voikhansky

T: Richard Hannon

pulled hard, prominent up the centre, weakened from 2f out

5/1

Form: 713727 CD

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Dead-heated for first here in May (7f, good to firm) and good run two outings ago when second to Cerulean Bay (2lb worse off for a neck) over C&D (good); bit disappointing last time but didn't get the best of runs.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(5)

3rd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 16y

Class 4

17:43 Chepstow

Diamondonthehill

9st 7lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

The most recent of his six wins came at Lingfield (7f, AW) in April 2025 off a mark 3lb higher than today's but he has posted some good efforts since; however, he was below his best at Salisbury 19 days ago and needs to bounce back with cheekpieces back on.

10/1

5th

2

(4)

14th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 6f 213y

Class 4

14:44 Salisbury

Diamondonthehill

9st 10lb

J: David Probert

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Losing run is mounting up but he has proved broadly consistent since last success, most recently beating all bar the market leader at Musselburgh (7f, good); again has place possibilities.

6/1

15/2

Form: -61303 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 13lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Veteran; mainly in good form this season, winning at Chelmsford in April (7f) and last time finishing a close third in a valuable handicap at Newbury (7f, good to firm: 50-1); only fifth after missing the break in this race last season, but in better form this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(7)

15th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 6y

Class 5

15:37 Doncaster

Documenting

9st 8lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Kevin & Lauren Frost

Winless since 2024 but this veteran arrives in decent nick, runner-up at Newbury (7f) in June before a creditable tenth of 17 in 7f Ascot handicap last month; not totally dismissed.

10/1

10th

7

(9)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:20 Ascot

Documenting

9st 11lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Kevin & Lauren Frost

Admirable teenager with 12 wins to his name, including one over C&D; best recent effort when second of 12 at Newbury (7f, good to firm) last month; should be on the premises again.

9/1

2nd

4

(5)

23rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

19:00 Newbury

Documenting

9st 13lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Kevin & Lauren Frost

Admirable teenager who has a better strike-rate on the AW, but he has won over this C&D; finished a long way behind Signcastle City at York (7f, good) last month and probably best watched.

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.30
Straight Forecast £8.86
Tricast £39.34
Trifecta £52.90

Selections

The Times:

Cerulean Bay

TOPSPEED:

Cuban Tiger

RP RATINGS:

Serene Seraph

SPOTLIGHT:

Persuasion

POSTDATA:

Quest For Fun

Telegraph:

Cuban Tiger

The Guardian:

Cuban Tiger

The Star:

Serene Seraph

D Express:

Cerulean Bay

Daily Mirror:

Cerulean Bay

The Sun:

Cerulean Bay

Daily Record:

Cerulean Bay

Daily Mail:

Persuasion