May 23 / 20.47 Pontefract

20.47

Good

Julian Foster Memorial Handicap

  • Prize money: £4187.2
  • 1m 0f 6y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
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Julian Foster Memorial Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 743444

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Dual AW winner at up to 8.5f and his form has been better on those surfaces; produced his best turf effort yet when keeping on to finish under 3l fourth at Wetherby (1m, good to firm); a repeat of that effort should see him involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

13

(1)

2nd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

20:00 Newbury

Commander Of Life

9st 7lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Jessica Macey

Exposed four-time winner; has run a number of good races this season and Doncaster last time was one of those, as he did well to finish so close after missing the break; not without hope.

12/1

4th

5

(2)

14th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 6y

Class 5

16:40 Doncaster

Commander Of Life

9st 6lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Jessica Macey

C&D winner; despite the stable's poor year he has run a string of fine races in 2026, including when a close fifth of 22 in a Class 4 at York three weeks ago; shouldn't be far away.

7/2

5th

18

(4)

23rd May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:00 York

Commander Of Life

9st 2lb

J: George Wood

T: Jessica Macey

Not far away in one of these big-field C&D races last July; showed at Doncaster that month that he can win on turf and he's not been far away in any of his races this year, so he has place claims.

16/1

Form: -52625 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Dual AW winner at up to 1m2f; 0-14 on turf; not quite as good as he once was and has over 1l to find with Commander Of Life on the same terms as at Wetherby (1m, good to firm) latest; more needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(4)

23rd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 2f 1y

Class 5

17:30 Redcar

Paris Lights

10st 1lb

J: David Nolan

T: Paul Midgley

Both wins on AW and 0-18 on turf; a couple of Pontefract runs this spring that bring him into the reckoning and this is effectively his first run at this level since winning at Newcastle in December; should run his race.

7/2

6th

7

(2)

6th Aug 2025

Good

1m 0f 6y

Class 4

15:30 Pontefract

Paris Lights

8st 11lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Paul Midgley

Two wins on AW but 0-17 on turf; second and third over C&D in the spring off slightly higher marks than this, before lesser efforts elsewhere on last two outings; well treated if back on song.

8/1

6th

2

(7)

10th Jul 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 213y

Class 5

17:30 Doncaster

Paris Lights

10st 0lb

J: David Nolan

T: Paul Midgley

Two wins on AW but 0-16 on turf; twice placed at Pontefract this season but he needs to rebound from a lacklustre effort at Ripon (1m2f, good) three weeks ago.

16/1

Form: 31111- CD

Last run: 241 days

W: 9st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
C&D winner who ended last season with a hat-trick of wins on sound surfaces; the last of those was a career-best at Beverley in September; he returns up 8lb but could still have more to come and needs a close look in market.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(7)

16th Sep 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 219y

Class 5

16:35 Redcar

Captain Corelli

9st 7lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Julie Camacho

Completed a hat-trick of wins in this race a year ago (good to firm; 2lb lower mark); not in such good form this season and probably best watched for now.

12/1

9th

6

(8)

24th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 100y

Class 5

16:20 Beverley

Captain Corelli

9st 6lb

J: Joe Fanning

T: Julie Camacho

Ran up a four-timer around this time last year, including two course wins, latterly off a 3lb lower mark; back in form last time and has a fair chance of making it 4-8 round here.

8/1

Form: 30-271 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
7f and 8.5f winner on good, the latter coming last time at Nottingham when he made all for a career-best; showed a good attitude when challenged there; up 2lb and there appears to be the potential to eke out some more; if handling this stiffer track he should be in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(7)

4th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 96y

Class 4

17:10 Beverley

Highland Olly

9st 5lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Grant Tuer

Won back-to-back 1m handicaps at Nottingham and Ripon in April and continues in good form, runner-up in 1m1f handicap at Musselburgh 12 days ago; can go well again nudged up 1lb.

5/1

2nd

1

(5)

22nd Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 208y

Class 5

16:45 Musselburgh

Highland Olly

10st 2lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Grant Tuer

Landed his fifth win on turf, at Ripon (1m, good; made all) in April; ran okay at Hamilton (1m1f, good) 18 days ago when trying to dominate but was pestered; needs to be able to have his own way up front to be seen to best effect and there are others here who may take him on.

9/2

4th

5

(9)

4th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 35y

Class 4

15:21 Hamilton

Highland Olly

9st 5lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Grant Tuer

Made all twice in a row in April (8.3f/1m, good); down the field at York (7f, good) but that was in a big field and he raced wide; could bounce back with a bold show if conditions suit (well beaten on soft going last November but displayed signs of promise on such ground early in career).

7/1

Form: 40/079

Last run: 45 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
9.5f AW winner when with Richard Hughes; well treated on some of her form for that trainer but has been well beaten on all three starts for current yard; plenty to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

(3)

18th Jul 2025

Good

1m 0f 6y

Class 6

19:20 Pontefract

Value Added

9st 8lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

Dropped 26lb in the weights in six runs for new stable since February; perhaps the addition of blinkers will help but she's not a solid option in her current form.

12/1

6th

4

(9)

18th Jun 2025

Good

1m 1f 170y

Class 5

20:30 Ripon

Value Added

9st 4lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

Sole win came for Richard Hughes in a Wolverhampton novice (9.5f; 11-8 favourite) in July 2023; hasn't offered much in five starts - over a range of distances (1m-1m4f) - for this yard; competes from an easing mark.

16/1

6th

1

(11)

3rd Jun 2025

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 6

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Value Added

9st 9lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Micky Hammond

Novice winner here (9.5f) for Richard Hughes in the summer of 2023, but has shown little since returning for this yard in February; the outside stall won't help his cause either.

25/1

Form: 70-220 CD BF

Last run: 6 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
C&D winner who acts on a sound surface; returned from a break with back-to-back second placed efforts at Thirsk (both 1m); on the back on those he was made favourite over the same C&D latest, when he was disappointing in weakening out of it; drops 1lb and he's a player if putting that behind him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(8)

17th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 6y

Class 6

20:52 Pontefract

Mount King

9st 11lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

A dual C&D winner in 2025; yet to hit top form this season but took a step back in the right direction with fifth of nine over C&D ten days ago; blinkers replace usual cheekpieces here and not out of things.

7/1

5th

9

(8)

7th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 6y

Class 5

16:18 Pontefract

Mount King

9st 3lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Three of his four wins have come over C&D and is 5lb lower than for the latest a year ago; well beaten in his last two visits, though, so has something to prove.

16/1

6th

4

(5)

21st Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 6y

Class 5

16:35 Pontefract

Mount King

9st 13lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Three of his four wins have come over C&D (from 11 visits to Pontefract) and latest was off 3lb higher last July; he therefore cannot be comfortably dismissed despite being well held on all three starts (two here) this term.

12/1

Form: 8209-0 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 8st 11lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 57

Form & Verdict
Has been unable to recapture a purple patch in 2023, when she completed a fast ground hat-trick at around 8.5f; well treated on that form but has only been near that level once in nine subsequent starts; well beaten on reappearance at Doncaster; headgear now goes on; plenty to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(4)

16th Aug 2025

Good

1m 1f 170y

Class 6

16:59 Ripon

My Honey B

9st 4lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Michael & David Easterby

Winless in two years and has regressed sharply this season, proving inconsistent in the visor in 0-55 company of late; doesn't make obvious appeal.

20/1

8

(4)

10th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

14:30 Leicester

My Honey B

9st 3lb

J: Sam James

T: Michael & David Easterby

Hasn't won since landing a three-timer in the summer of 2023; has struggled in handicaps this year but stayed on well up in trip when third of 12 in a classified at Newcastle (1m2f, AW) nine days ago; needs to step up back in a handicap.

12/1

5

(12)

1st Aug 2025

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 6

14:05 Newcastle (AW)

My Honey B

9st 9lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Michael & David Easterby

Only one piece of worthwhile form since completing a turf hat-trick in the summer of 2023 and has never attempted this far before, but she drops into this company for the first time; market support would be interesting.

9/1

Non-runners

Milteye

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £17.20
Straight Forecast £16.20
Tricast £48.94
Trifecta £50.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Mount King

The Guardian:

Captain Corelli

The Times:

Highland Olly

The Sun:

Milteye

The Star:

Highland Olly

Daily Record:

Highland Olly

RP RATINGS:

Mount King

POSTDATA:

Mount King

Telegraph:

Mount King

Daily Mail:

Captain Corelli

D Express:

Captain Corelli

Daily Mirror:

Captain Corelli