June 09 / 17.15 Pontefract

17.15

Good

Pontefract Races Chairman’s Challenge Apprentice Handicap (Apprentice Training Race – RE Series)

  • Prize money: £4187.2
  • 0m 5f 3y
  • Class 5
  • 5 runners
RTV
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Pontefract Races Chairman’s Challenge Apprentice Handicap (Apprentice Training Race – RE Series)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 66-342 CD

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 13lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Admirable veteran who has 15 wins on his CV and he had a near-miss at Ayr (5f, good to firm) last month; only 1b higher in suitable conditions here and he should make another bold bid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

8

(10)

13th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 15y

Class 3

16:00 Chester

Copper Knight

9st 3lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

Veteran with 19 wins on his CV, including three editions of this race and a narrow success at Beverley (5f, good to soft) last month; drawn on the outside today and doesn't have much margin for error off this mark but it won't be a surprise if he gives this a good shot.

14/1

6th

6

(2)

31st May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

16:45 Thirsk

Copper Knight

9st 5lb

J: Jake Dickson

T: Tim Easterby

Grand old veteran who can be forgiven his defeat in a Class 2 at York last time, having won at this level the time before at Beverley (2lb lower); had 119 races and yet this is his first visit here.

16/1

18th

18

(4)

14th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

14:20 York

Copper Knight

8st 6lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Tim Easterby

Hugely admirable 12yo whose seven York wins include this race in 2019 and 2021, and he built upon last month's reappearance second at Ripon (5f, good) to win at Beverley (5f, good to soft) ten days ago; however, there's a suspicion he may find a big-field Class 2 such as this too hot nowadays.

20/1

5/2

  • Place: £3.20

Form: 44-121 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Ended a long losing run when scoring at Doncaster last month (5f, good to firm); went close at Goodwood next time and he got back on the scoresheet with a brave success at Catterick (6f, good) 16 days ago; up another 2lb but he remains feasibly treated and could be a big factor again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

(1)

18th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

17:40 Doncaster

Ancient Times

10st 0lb

J: Travis Ford

T: Harry Eustace

Scored off a career-low mark to land his eighth success, at Epsom (6f, good to firm) nine days ago; back up 2lb but has recorded back-to-back wins previously so cannot be discounted.

11/4

1st

6

(7)

9th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 3y

Class 4

19:50 Epsom

Ancient Times

9st 4lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Harry Eustace

Has a C&D win (in 2021) on his CV but ended last year in poor form and made a low-key reappearance last month; needs to turn a corner.

20/1

13th

8

(16)

19th Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

20:45 Newmarket (July)

Ancient Times

9st 7lb

J: George Wood

T: Harry Eustace

In fine form in the first half of 2025 but he ended that campaign with a couple of low-key efforts; can go well fresh and he returns off a dangerous mark so he is worth a market check.

25/1

100/30

Form: -25141 CD

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 12lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
6f AW winner but all four turf wins have been at this trip and latest was over C&D (Hover On The Wind second) 17 days ago; up 3lb but that was a personal best last time and he seems versatile ground-wise; should be in the thick of things again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(7)

8th Aug 2025

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

15:55 Musselburgh

Protest Rally

9st 4lb

J: Cian Horgan

T: Liam Bailey

Ran creditably off 2lb higher back here last Friday, beaten just over 1l and taking record over C&D to 121214; gained most recent success off this mark at Pontefract in May; very solid chance.

4/1

4th

6

(4)

1st Aug 2025

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

19:18 Musselburgh

Protest Rally

9st 4lb

J: Cian Horgan

T: Liam Bailey

Won over 5f here (good) and at Pontefract (good to firm) in May; hasn't been in quite the same form recently; others stronger.

10/1

8th

14

(11)

26th Jul 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:20 York

Protest Rally

11st 4lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Liam Bailey

Two wins in May (5f, good/good to firm) and has continued in good heart, beaten just over 2l when eighth of 16 over C&D (good to firm) a fortnight ago; however, he needs something extra today.

14/1

Form: 757-72 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 8st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 58

Form & Verdict
Handles most ground and has won seven times on turf; last success was 12 months ago but that was off today's mark and he was a good second at Hamilton last time; now goes back up in grade but he's not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

11

(11)

13th Oct 2025

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 6

17:30 Musselburgh

Refuge

9st 2lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

Posted a second-place finish in May but isn't particularly solid on the rest of his 2025 form; further drop in weights takes him to 10lb below last winning mark.

16/1

6

(1)

1st Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

13:58 Catterick

Refuge

10st 7lb

J: Miss Serena Brotherton

T: Michael & David Easterby

Runner-up at Hamilton (5f, good to firm) in May but he has been below his best in five starts since; needs a return to form with the visor back on for the first time since 2021.

7/1

10th

8

(12)

21st Sep 2025

Soft

0m 5f 7y

Class 6

14:43 Hamilton

Refuge

9st 0lb

J: Lewis Chalkley

T: Michael & David Easterby

Four-time C&D winner; runner-up here in May but not in anything like the same form since and needs to stage a revival.

16/1

Form: 5-8412 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 0lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
All three wins have been on good/good to firm but he handles most ground; has had only four runs for Paul Midgley and won at Beverley (5f, good to firm) last month before going close behind Protest Rally over C&D; has a swing in the weights with his old rival and he's respected for yard that has won the last six runnings of this race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(4)

17th Jul 2026

Good

0m 5f 3y

Class 3

19:07 Pontefract

Hover On The Wind

8st 9lb

J: Barry McHugh

T: Paul Midgley

Right back to his best of late, landing back-to-back C&D handicaps; this is tougher under a 5lb penalty but he can't be dismissed in his hat-trick attempt.

6/1

1st

1

(4)

7th Jul 2026

Good

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

16:48 Pontefract

Hover On The Wind

10st 2lb

J: David Nolan

T: Paul Midgley

Made the most of dropping 2lb below his previous winning mark when beating the dead-heaters Betweenthesticks and Dream Deal by a length over C&D (good) eight days ago; 5lb penalty shouldn't preclude another big effort given he has twice won from 1lb higher.

7/2

1st

2

(7)

29th Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

16:30 Pontefract

Hover On The Wind

9st 12lb

J: David Nolan

T: Paul Midgley

Attractively treated, having gained all wins off current mark or higher; has rather lacked consistency this year but holds a good chance provided he turns up in top form.

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.40
Straight Forecast £17.16
Trifecta £34.30

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Hover On The Wind

The Guardian:

Protest Rally

SPOTLIGHT:

Copper Knight

NEWMARKET:

Ancient Times

Telegraph:

Refuge

TOPSPEED:

Hover On The Wind

POSTDATA:

Hover On The Wind

The Times:

Hover On The Wind

Daily Record:

Hover On The Wind

Daily Mail:

Protest Rally

Daily Mirror:

Protest Rally

The Sun:

Protest Rally

The Star:

Protest Rally

D Express:

Copper Knight