October 11 / 14.40 York

14.40

Soft

William Hill Finale Handicap (Heritage Handicap)

  • Prize money: £51540
  • 1m 5f 188y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
ITV4
View Course
William Hill Finale Handicap (Heritage Handicap)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £8.00
  • Place: £3.00

Form: 321231 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 8st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Steadily progressive sort who turned in best effort to win convincingly over 1m6f on heavy at Haydock last time; not without a chance from 7lb higher mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

6

(10)

31st May 2026

Good

2m 0f 13y

Class 3

18:15 Thirsk

Minstrel Knight

9st 7lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Edward Bethell

Ran creditably for minor honours in two (1m5f/2m2f) of his four starts in last year's Flat campaign and won novice hurdles in December and January when last seen; however, although he won on good ground two years ago, his record since has been dominated by achievements on softer.

10/1

1st

3

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 3

13:45 Doncaster

Minstrel Knight

11st 8lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Edward Bethell

Useful Flat performer who got off the mark over hurdles at the third attempt at Wetherby (2m, soft) four weeks ago; he's open to further improvement in this code and could have a big part to play under a penalty.

7/1

28

(33)

28th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 170y

16:22 Curragh

Minstrel Knight

8st 11lb

J: Andrew Slattery

T: Edward Bethell

English raider has won three of his 10 starts on turf; best recent form has come on testing ground; beaten 2.25 off this mark in a class 4 handicap at Musselburgh latest (2m2f, gd-sft); needs the heavens to open.

22/1

12/1

  • Place: £4.60

Form: 374652 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 8st 2lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Won over a similar trip on soft at Redcar in May and respectable efforts behind Minstrel Knight and Master Builder on last two starts (both at Haydock); more needed to win.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

28th Jun 2026

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 2

15:37 Cartmel

Filibustering

11st 3lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Has done well since being tried in a tongue-tie; bids for a hat-trick after scoring at Newcastle in April (2m1f, good) and Hexham last month (2m, good); up 11lb in the process (7lb since latest win); a possible.

4/1

6th

7

(6)

27th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 4

21:00 Kempton (AW)

Filibustering

9st 7lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Harry Derham

Tongue-tie went on for six-runner handicaps on his last two hurdle races (2m1f/2m) and he won them both; his last Flat race was in 2024 for Tim Easterby and that was a pretty solid campaign; acts on Tapeta, unraced on Polytrack; needs to be at his best on return to Flat but no shock if he's a major player.

6/1

1st

2

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 3

18:45 Hexham

Filibustering

11st 5lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Harry Derham

Back to form in first-time tongue-tie when winning at Newcastle last time (2m1f, good; third has since won on the Flat); up 4lb; chance.

9/4

Form: 21531 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Dual turf winner (including soft) whose sole AW run threw up winners; latest Haydock run has already been franked and he's likely to give a good account, despite 7lb rise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(6)

13th May 2026

Good

1m 3f 188y

Class 4

17:15 York

Master Builder

9st 9lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: David Menuisier

Last seen floundering on heavy going in the November Handicap at Doncaster; the clear highpoint of that campaign was his second at Epsom (1m4f, good; stays 1m6f) in April, which came first time out and points up his chance given that he is now 11lb lower; needs a second look.

6/1

9

(13)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 5f 61y

Class 2

14:05 Newbury

Master Builder

9st 0lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: David Menuisier

Progressive last year so his mixed form this season has been a little disappointing, albeit his latest sixth (Dramatic Star second, Stressfree third) in the Old Borough Cup at Haydock (1m6f, good) was respectable.

10/1

6th

11

(17)

6th Sep 2025

Good

1m 6f 1y

Class 2

15:00 Haydock

Master Builder

8st 13lb

J: William Buick

T: David Menuisier

Mixed form this season and disappointing at Goodwood last month; however, he won over C&D last September (good; also effective on soft) and is on a handy mark for his in-form stable; not discounted now back here.

11/1

Form: 1-221

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Stepped up a fair way on his novice form when scoring on handicap debut in first-time cheekpieces at Ascot (soft, 9lb lower) last time; open to further progress over a trip he'll likely stay.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

1st Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

13:40 Leopardstown

The Reverend

11st 12lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: W P Mullins

Gained a fourth Flat win with a hard-earned success in the 1m6f Old Borough Cup at Haydock last September; stamped himself as a useful recruit to hurdling when scoring at Cork last month.

7/1

1st

6

(7)

6th Sep 2025

Good

1m 6f 1y

Class 2

15:00 Haydock

The Reverend

9st 5lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Looked one to follow when impressive on handicap debut at Ascot (1m4f, soft) last September; failed to kick on from that initially but got back on track with convincing win in small field at Ripon (1m4f, soft) in July; could have more to offer for top yard now things have clicked again, especially now back up in trip, and he's not necessarily a soft-ground specialist.

4/1

1st

1

(5)

19th Jul 2025

Good To Soft

1m 4f 10y

Class 2

15:55 Ripon

The Reverend

10st 2lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: William Haggas

Looked potentially smart when smooth winner on 1m4f Ascot handicap debut (soft) last September in first-time cheekpieces; hasn't progressed as might have been expected in three subsequent runs (favourite each time) but not disgraced either and may have found good to firm ground too lively (raced on softer than good otherwise) when fifth of 12 in a York Dante meeting handicap on reappearance (no headgear); still has time on his side and a potential class act giving weight away to lesser opposition in refitted cheekpieces.

4/7

OUR TIP

Form: 233421

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Bettered pick of AW form on turf debut over slightly further (heavy), winning by a wide margin at Chester last month; 12lb higher mark demands more but should go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

9th Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

16:00 Southwell

Whos Glen

11st 4lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Useful Flat racer who made the frame on four of his five hurdling starts for Donald McCain last season, most notably when third in valuable series final at Musselburgh (2m4f, good to soft) in March; well beaten in good-quality Flat handicap last month but ought to play a significant role in this.

5/2

15th

4

(17)

8th May 2026

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

16:10 Chester

Whos Glen

9st 10lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Donald McCain

9-1 when fifth in the Chester Cup last year for Andrew Balding, which is as good as he's ever been on Flat; 7lb lower today, having been right off the boil for that yard later in 2025; recent hurdle efforts for new stable aren't enough to persuade, especially given such a wide draw.

33/1

2nd

5

1st Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

16:10 Sedgefield

Whos Glen

11st 5lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

A useful winning stayer on the Flat for Andrew Balding; yet to match that form in this sphere but he posted his best effort when third of ten in 2m4f handicap at Musselburgh 12 days ago; not out of things on this stiffer track.

5/2

Form: 3221

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Combination of an easy lead and heavy ground resulted in an improved effort when scoring at Epsom (1m2f) last time; 1lb well in under penalty but this is a fair jump up in distance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

(11)

24th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 3

14:51 Newbury

Forest Gate

9st 11lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Won a heavy-ground novice at Epsom (1m2f) last September; needs career-best form today but his running-on third of 11 over 1m2f here (good to soft) five weeks ago gave some renewed hope.

5/1

8

(6)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 2

14:40 Newbury

Forest Gate

8st 12lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Recorded a heavy-ground novice success last September; not particularly solid judged on subsequent handicap form and has something to prove in this useful race; finished lame when last seen.

25/1

20/1

Form: 5-1224 BF

Last run: 27 days

W: 8st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
AW winner and consistent sort who should be suited by the step up to this trip but is going up in grade and has something to prove on ground this testing (not raced on soft since debut).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(3)

8th Jul 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 4

19:13 Kempton (AW)

Caprelo

9st 10lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Hughie Morrison

Progressed well in 2025 when a dual C&D winner; shaped encouragingly after six months off when fourth of five in 2m Goodwood handicap on his return in May; sort to do well again this season, so he's a big player eased 1lb.

6/1

4th

4

(5)

22nd May 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:07 Goodwood

Caprelo

9st 2lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Hughie Morrison

Close third on soft at Yarmouth (1m6f) last July was his best turf form; needs better given the improvement he's shown on Kempton AW (2m) in two of his three starts since, but he'd have a good chance if that form is transferred back to turf; won on 2024 reappearance; needs a close look.

6/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £65.30
Straight Forecast £97.51
Trifecta £207.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

The Reverend

POSTDATA:

Master Builder

Daily Mail:

Forest Gate

TOPSPEED:

Filibustering

The Times:

Master Builder

Daily Mirror:

Master Builder

Daily Record:

Master Builder

RP RATINGS:

The Reverend

NEWMARKET:

The Reverend

Telegraph:

The Reverend

The Guardian:

The Reverend

D Express:

The Reverend

The Sun:

The Reverend

The Star:

The Reverend