April 12 / 17.05 Thirsk

17.05

Good

British EBF Michael Foster Conditions Stakes

  • Prize money: £9277.2
  • 0m 7f 0y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
British EBF Michael Foster Conditions Stakes

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.50
  • Place: £1.50

Form: /1171- D

Last run: 177 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Unexposed 4yo who won three of his four starts as a 3yo, notably a Southwell Class 2 handicap the final time (7f); surged clear in the final furlong on that occasion and although he's taking on smart opposition here, he looks well worth his place in the field.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

9

(1)

17th Oct 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

Paborus

9st 4lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: Edward Bethell

Lightly raced 5yo; readily beat Marvelman to win the Group 3 Chipchase at Newcastle (6f, AW) in June and was Almeraq's closest pursuer in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock (6f, soft) last month; should give his running again but has just over 4l to find with the hot favourite.

11/1

2nd

8

(8)

5th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:40 Haydock

Paborus

9st 5lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: Edward Bethell

5yo who has had a few interruptions in his career and returned from latest absence with a win in the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle (6f, AW) in June; has won on soft ground; ran well for a long way when eighth in the Group 1 City Of York (7f, good to soft) a fortnight ago and could benefit from the return to sprinting, but others have more substance to their claims.

11/2

8th

5

(13)

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:00 York

Paborus

9st 8lb

J: James Doyle

T: Edward Bethell

Strike-rate of 5-8 and long absences are a feature in his profile; back from another to produce career-best form in beating Marvelman at Newcastle in June (6f AW) but he'd be no certainty to confirm those placings on 5lb worse terms, while there are plenty of others to worry about; on the plus side, he remains a relative unknown quantity and trip/ground will be fine.

16/1

5/2

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 5716-1 CD

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 11lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Boasts a fine AW record and recorded a personal best RPR of 115 when dominating a good 7f handicap at Kempton 17 days ago; his one turf win came over C&D and he was second in this race in 2023; has to concede weight all round and unraced on faster than good so this might not be his day.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

(3)

10th Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:25 Thirsk

Mount Athos

9st 8lb

J: James Doyle

T: James Tate

Running in this for the third time, finishing second in 2023 and 2025; on both occasions he arrived on the back of a 7f win at Kempton and he landed that same race yet again 23 days ago; should give it another good shot.

7/2

1st

1

(2)

18th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

18:30 Kempton (AW)

Mount Athos

9st 9lb

J: James Doyle

T: James Tate

James Doyle is 5-5 on him, three of those successes coming in this race (2023, 2024 and 2025); he's 2lb lower than last year but weakened into last place when back in a handicap over track and trip ten weeks ago.

7/2

6

(3)

31st May 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 37y

Class 1

15:33 Haydock

Mount Athos

9st 2lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: James Tate

Listed winner at Deauville (7f, AW) last November and defied lofty mark in Kempton handicap (7f, AW) in March; also effective on turf and was second of six in a good conditions race at Thirsk last month; however, this 6yo needs to be better than ever if he's to take this.

22/1

5/1

Form: 21317/

Last run: 546 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Smart 2yo, winning a 6f novice at Newmarket and the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury (6f, heavy); absent since finishing down the field behind City Of Troy in the Dewhurst 546 days ago; 7f should be in range and this Lockinge entry needs monitoring in the market.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(12)

6th Sep 2025

Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

14:40 Ascot

Array

9st 11lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Andrew Balding

Won the Group 2 Mill Reef on heavy as a juvenile but missed all of his 3yo campaign and has yet to convince that he's the same force this season, latterly finishing well behind in the International here; however, there's always a chance the first-time visor might trigger something and he'll go on the ground; wouldn't put a line through him.

25/1

3

(2)

26th Jul 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Ascot

Array

9st 9lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Useful 2yo over 6f in 2023, winning the Mill Reef on heavy ground; missed last season but has shown signs of retaining ability, including over 7f, this year; switches to a handicap for the first time and could go well, albeit needs a career-best performance to defy his mark.

14/1

7/1

Form: 04795- D

Last run: 129 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Front-runner; no win since a Leopardstown Group 2 in September 2023 but he ran some fair races in defeat last year; other pace on show and some of his rivals bring more compelling claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

6

(2)

2nd May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 218y

Class 2

14:40 Thirsk

Flight Plan

9st 3lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Failed to build on a decent fourth at Lingfield (1m2f) in February when behind Blue Rc at Newcastle (1m) on Good Friday but the fact he made all in this race off 8lb lower last year means a revival can't be discounted, particularly as he's well drawn to attack again; tongue-tied first time.

13/2

8th

9

(5)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 2

15:00 Newcastle (AW)

Flight Plan

8st 13lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Quiet in Dubai in January but he returned to Britain with a good fourth at Lingfield (1m2f) five weeks ago; now 6lb lower than when winning the Thirsk Hunt Cup last May and he has the ability to feature.

25/1

4th

4

(5)

27th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 2

16:20 Lingfield (AW)

Flight Plan

9st 5lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Often front runs; below par in three outings at Meydan last month (including dirt) but well treated if a return to Britain sparks a revival having landed last year's Thirsk Hunt Cup off 6lb higher; Tapeta winner at the start of his career.

16/1

OUR TIP

Form: 52182- C

Last run: 189 days

W: 9st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
His career has been one of steady improvement and he enjoyed his finest hour when seeing off 17 rivals to win a valuable 7f handicap at Ascot last July (good to firm); ended 2024 with a solid second in Listed company at Redcar (7f, soft); has gone well fresh in the past but he's set to face competition for the lead and the cheekpieces he wore at the end of last season are discarded.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

(13)

19th Sep 2026

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

13:20 Ayr

Northern Express

9st 10lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Michael Dods

Back to winning ways when seeing off 16 opponents at York (7f, good to firm) in July; two good runs have followed and he's one to take seriously; fourth in this race last year off 2lb higher.

14/1

5th

2

(6)

6th Sep 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:25 York

Northern Express

10st 4lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Michael Dods

Ended a losing run when taking a big-field C&D handicap in July; similar form when a close third at Thirsk (1m, good) five weeks ago; should be in the thick of it.

9/2

10/1

Form: 01925- D

Last run: 159 days

W: 9st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Tough handicapper who won handicaps at Epsom (7f, good to soft) and Goodwood (1m, heavy) last season; beaten in this race on his reappearance in 2022 and 2024 and others appeal more this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

5

(9)

16th Oct 2026

Heavy

0m 7f 212y

Class 3

14:52 Haydock

Rhoscolyn

9st 9lb

J: Jason Watson

T: David O’Meara

8yo whose losing sequence is up to 15 following a disappointing run at Hamilton (1m, soft) last time; however, he was runner-up twice in a row prior to that (7f, good to soft/soft; including here) and is usually right at home on testing ground; he could bounce back with a big performance.

9/1

9th

6

(4)

28th Sep 2026

Soft

1m 0f 68y

Class 3

15:29 Hamilton

Rhoscolyn

9st 9lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Well suited by ground softer than good; ten-time winner, mainly at Goodwood, most recently in last year's Golden Mile off 12lb higher; has proved resurgent with second-place finishes over 7f the last twice, latest at Haydock; in the mix.

5/1

2nd

9

(12)

5th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 6f 212y

Class 3

16:50 Haydock

Rhoscolyn

9st 6lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Given his fine record on slow ground at Goodwood he was thoroughly underwhelming there last weekend, but two days later he bounced straight back to finish second at Epsom (7f, good to soft); might run well again but he's hard to catch right these days.

7/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £6.90
Straight Forecast £7.91
Trifecta £38.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Paborus

RP RATINGS:

Mount Athos

TOPSPEED:

Northern Express

D Express:

Flight Plan

Telegraph:

Paborus

The Guardian:

Paborus

Daily Mirror:

Paborus

The Star:

Paborus

POSTDATA:

Mount Athos

NEWMARKET:

Mount Athos

The Times:

Mount Athos

Daily Record:

Mount Athos

Daily Mail:

Northern Express

The Sun:

Northern Express