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

8th

10

(8)

7th Sep 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 4

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Commander Of Life

9st 2lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Jessica Macey

Has run a number of good races in defeat this season and he got back on the scoresheet when justifying favouritism at Doncaster (7f, good to firm) last month; up 5lb but that was a comfortable success and he has won over C&D in the past; shortlisted.

8/1

1st

2

(6)

23rd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 6y

Class 5

16:15 Doncaster

Commander Of Life

9st 9lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Jessica Macey

Has run a number of good in defeat races this season, including fourth over C&D last month; went down only to a progressive 3yo at Newbury (7f, good to firm) three weeks ago and the third and fourth have franked that form; bold show likely.

5/2

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

9th

10

(10)

21st Sep 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

17:17 Leicester

Captain Corelli

9st 7lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Julie Camacho

Struggled in 2025; had a wind op prior to his seasonal return 12 days ago but he finished well beaten at Redcar (1m, good); too much to prove.

33/1

13th

12

(18)

9th Sep 2026

Good

0m 7f 219y

Class 6

16:54 Redcar

Captain Corelli

9st 8lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Julie Camacho

Ended 2024 in fine form, winning four on the bounce, but 2025 was disappointing; returns after a lengthy absence (had wind op in March) and he has plenty to prove in this competitive race.

33/1

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

5th

4

(8)

21st Sep 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 5

19:12 Wolverhampton (AW)

Highland Olly

9st 10lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Grant Tuer

Three wins this season, the latest off a 10lb higher mark at Beverley (7.4f) in July; although he has been unplaced in all five AW runs, he has shown some aptitude for this surface; shouldn't be far away.

6/1

17th

5

(15)

11th Sep 2026

Good To Soft

1m 2f 43y

Class 4

17:20 Doncaster

Highland Olly

9st 13lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Grant Tuer

All six wins have been on good ground or quicker, the most recent at Beverley (7.5f) in July, but he was third of 11 there on heavy ground last time (8.5f; cheekpieces back on); step up to 1m2f isn't sure to suit.

20/1

3rd

8

(5)

30th Aug 2026

Soft

1m 0f 100y

Class 4

15:20 Beverley

Highland Olly

9st 1lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Grant Tuer

Three victories this year and just 1lb higher than for the most recent; has run with credit on soft ground, but all wins have come on good or faster.

16/1

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

2nd

12

(3)

5th Oct 2026

Good

1m 0f 6y

Class 5

16:21 Pontefract

Mount King

9st 1lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Scored off today's mark over C&D (good to firm) in July, having swapped usual cheekpieces for first-time blinkers, and has largely held his form since; not disgraced in competitive series final at Redcar on Saturday; probably won't be far away if he makes a quick reappearance.

12/1

9th

14

(12)

3rd Oct 2026

Good

0m 7f 219y

Class 2

16:35 Redcar

Mount King

8st 2lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Tim Easterby

Back to winning ways at Pontefract (1m) in July and has remained in reasonable form, but no obvious excuses here last time and he's now 3lb out of the weights.

25/1

5th

9

(4)

15th Sep 2026

Good

0m 7f 219y

Class 5

14:53 Redcar

Mount King

9st 7lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Back to winning ways at Pontefract (1m) in July and has continued in decent form, sixth of ten in 8.5f Beverley handicap 17 days ago; possibilities off an easing mark.

8/1

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