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

7

(2)

20th Aug 2026

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

20:24 Newcastle (AW)

Copper Knight

9st 11lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Tim Easterby

Grand servant to connections and he was recording the 19th win of his long career when successful at Beverley (5f, good to soft) in May; four subsequent defeats have seen him slip to a mark 2lb lower than for that win; has won over C&D but likely vulnerable to younger rivals.

20/1

10th

8

(5)

25th Jul 2026

Good

0m 5f 15y

Class 4

16:23 Chester

Copper Knight

9st 9lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Tim Easterby

Admirable veteran who had a wicked draw in a C&D handicap last month that he'd won three times before; better boxed this time and there was much to like about his previous effort at Thirsk; considered.

8/1

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

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

4th

3

(1)

1st Sep 2026

Good

0m 5f 60y

Class 5

19:15 Brighton

Ancient Times

9st 1lb

J: George Wood

T: Harry Eustace

Won for a second time at Epsom (6f) before a near miss over 5f at Doncaster (off this mark); faced a stiffer task here last time when never in with a shout.

7/1

9th

9

(10)

7th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 215y

Class 4

16:00 Brighton

Ancient Times

9st 3lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: Harry Eustace

Made it 2-3 round Epsom off a 3lb lower mark a month ago and ran to a similar level in defeat last time; might have been better drawn for one happiest on the sharp end but has tended to be reliable once striking form in the past; should go well again.

12/1

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

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

2

(7)

22nd Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 217y

Class 5

19:00 Redcar

Hover On The Wind

9st 12lb

J: David Nolan

T: Paul Midgley

Landed a pair of 5f Pontefract handicaps this summer but he's been well below par there and at Thirsk (5f) since; needs to bounce back.

16/1

7th

7

(6)

14th Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

18:43 Thirsk

Hover On The Wind

9st 4lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Paul Midgley

Beat the same horse in bagging two Class 5s at Pontefract (both by a length) but he trailed home last there four weeks ago in a Class 3; might be high in the weights now.

10/1

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

+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