September 08 / 15.25 York

15.25

Good

PJ Staffing Group Handicap

  • Prize money: £15462
  • 0m 7f 192y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
RTV
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PJ Staffing Group Handicap

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £2.30

Form: 205135 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Opened his account at Ascot (1m, good to soft) in July; ran well at Newmarket next time and not disgraced when fifth of 16, albeit 3l behind Apiarist, over C&D (good to firm) 16 days ago; tries headgear first time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

(3)

7th Sep 2025

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 3

16:00 York

Zain Blue

9st 2lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: John Butler

Enhanced his good record at York with a fifth of 15 at the Ebor meeting over this trip; handicapper is retaining a hold on him but he has each-way claims.

14/1

5th

14

(15)

23rd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 2f 56y

Class 2

17:20 York

Zain Blue

8st 8lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: John Butler

Winner here over 1m on good to soft last autumn and two creditable efforts over C&D (good to firm) in the first half of this summer; ran poorly in a Racing League event at Yarmouth last month but not without hope back here.

18/1

13th

9

(5)

24th Jul 2025

Soft

1m 2f 23y

Class 2

20:40 Yarmouth

Zain Blue

8st 11lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: John Butler

Last season's two wins came on good to soft going (unraced on slower) and he's run pretty well in defeat at York (1m2f, good to firm) on his last two starts; could take a step forward now back on slow ground.

8/1

9/2

  • Place: £3.30

Form: 6-252

Last run: 44 days

W: 8st 9lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Four races, best efforts when second in a novice at Salisbury (7f, good to firm) in June and a handicap at Ascot (7f, good; made most) on latest outing; boxed on well last time and worth another go at 1m (first attempt was debut); could still be capable of improvement, which is needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

(13)

26th Sep 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:05 Newmarket

Amsterdam

9st 11lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Ed Walker

Five-race maiden with three seconds, including from the front in handicaps at Ascot (7f, good) and York (1m, good to soft; six ran) on last two outings; improving but dictating the pace in this field should be more tricky.

4/1

2nd

8

(8)

8th Sep 2024

Good

0m 7f 192y

Class 3

15:25 York

Amsterdam

8st 9lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Ed Walker

Four races, best efforts when second in a novice at Salisbury (7f, good to firm) in June and a handicap at Ascot (7f, good; made most) on latest outing; boxed on well last time and worth another go at 1m (first attempt was debut); could still be capable of improvement, which is needed.

9/2

2nd

6

(10)

26th Jul 2024

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

15:00 Ascot

Amsterdam

9st 6lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Ed Walker

led at steady pace, increased tempo from 3f out, headed over 1f out, kept on

5/1

3rd
5 (2)
Apiarist

6/1

Form: -53444 C

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Won valuable prize here (7f, soft) last October; consistent efforts in 1m handicaps (varied ground) on last four starts this term, running on from last when he took fourth of 16 over C&D at the Ebor meeting last time; more exposed than some in this but needs respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(15)

2nd May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 218y

Class 2

14:40 Thirsk

Apiarist

9st 7lb

J: Jack Callan

T: Kevin Ryan

Three fine efforts on AW to start the year but his run of good form came to a halt when well behind Blue Rc at Newcastle over Easter; acts on turf but has a much better strike-rate on AW; drawn widest.

20/1

12th

6

(1)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 2

15:00 Newcastle (AW)

Apiarist

9st 2lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Kevin Ryan

Finished a good third in this race 12 months ago when rated 2lb lower; arrives in good form, having beaten Popmaster at Lingfield (1m) before a good third at Kempton (7f) 16 days ago; chance if stall 1 proves no hindrance.

10/1

3rd

4

(3)

18th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

18:30 Kempton (AW)

Apiarist

9st 4lb

J: Jack Callan

T: Kevin Ryan

Beat very good yardstick in Popmaster for fourth AW win from just eight tries at Lingfield 19 days ago (1m; ridden by Jack Callan for the first time); up just 3lb, and no issue with this shorter trip, but he's never been to Kempton and trainer is just 1-14 here last five years.

3/1

Form: 41191 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Won three of his five races; flopped on fourth start but scored pretty smoothly in 1m handicap at Haydock (last two wins have been there) four weeks ago and remains of major interest despite 8lb rise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

15

(8)

14th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 192y

Class 2

14:55 York

Old Cock

8st 8lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Antony Brittain

Won this off 1lb lower last year (good to firm); however, soundly beaten over C&D (good to firm) last August on final run for Ed Bethell and down the field on last month's stable/seasonal debut at Newbury (1m, good).

25/1

20th

19

(13)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:10 Newbury

Old Cock

9st 0lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Antony Brittain

4-10 for Edward Bethell, winning the Hambleton Handicap at York's Dante meeting (1m, good to firm) last spring; changed hands for 26,000gns last autumn; only 3lb higher than at York and doesn't have many miles on the clock.

33/1

14th

12

(13)

21st Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 192y

Class 2

15:00 York

Old Cock

9st 6lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Edward Bethell

Lightly raced 4yo who was a well-backed winner of the Hambleton Handicap over C&D (good to firm) in May with a late bid, from Sisyphean; respectable fourth of nine to Remmooz and Sisyphean back over C&D for his only start since, coming from last, and it would not be a surprise were he to resume improvement today; one for the shortlist.

8/1

OUR TIP

7/2

Form: 51-16 D BF

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Well bred; improved markedly to win narrowly in a maiden at Kempton (1m, AW) in November and a novice at Newmarket (1m, good) when reappearing in July; failed to settle when racing more prominently again early on in a disappointing handicap debut at Newbury (good to firm) three weeks ago when upped to 1m2f, but looked promising going into that and he's now back at 1m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(5)

8th Sep 2024

Good

0m 7f 192y

Class 3

15:25 York

Markoon

9st 9lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: William Haggas

Well bred; improved markedly to win narrowly in a maiden at Kempton (1m, AW) in November and a novice at Newmarket (1m, good) when reappearing in July; failed to settle when racing more prominently again early on in a disappointing handicap debut at Newbury (good to firm) three weeks ago when upped to 1m2f, but looked promising going into that and he's now back at 1m.

7/2

6th

1

(3)

17th Aug 2024

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

17:15 Newbury

Markoon

9st 9lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: William Haggas

pulled hard, prominent

2/1

1st

2

(4)

19th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:50 Newmarket (July)

Markoon

9st 11lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: William Haggas

dwelt start, in rear

3/1

12/1

Form: 5-2590

Last run: 79 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Pretty useful form over 1m initially this term but well held in the German 1,000 Guineas on third start and soundly beaten at 150-1 in 1m handicap at Royal Ascot when last seen; others look more solid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

(3)

13th Nov 2024

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 1

14:40 Lingfield (AW)

Marcella

9st 0lb

J: David Probert

T: Andrew Balding

Went close in sole AW attempt; heavy-ground success in September confirmed that she seems a mudlark on turf; raced too freely last time; even if she settles better, this is a tough assignment.

16/1

7th

9

(3)

13th Nov 2024

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 1

14:40 Lingfield (AW)

Marcella

9st 0lb

J: David Probert

T: Andrew Balding

Went close in sole AW attempt; heavy-ground success in September confirmed that she seems a mudlark on turf; raced too freely last time; even if she settles better, this is a tough assignment.

16/1

8th

3

(6)

13th Oct 2024

Heavy

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

16:45 Goodwood

Marcella

9st 4lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Found it tough in May/June but her sights have been lowered and she won an eight-runner handicap at Epsom (8.5f, heavy) two weeks ago from Arkhalia Flynn; 7lb higher today but that win came in dominant fashion.

7/1

Non-runners

Harvard Sound, Native King

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £37.10
Straight Forecast £37.54
Tricast £120.91
Trifecta £105.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Markoon

Telegraph:

Harvard Sound

Daily Mirror:

Old Cock

POSTDATA:

Zain Blue

The Times:

Apiarist

RP RATINGS:

Markoon

TOPSPEED:

Markoon

NEWMARKET:

Markoon

D Express:

Markoon

The Sun:

Harvard Sound

The Star:

Harvard Sound

Daily Record:

Harvard Sound