June 09 / 18.50 Pontefract

18.50

Good

Tony Bethell Memorial Handicap

  • Prize money: £3402.1
  • 2m 1f 27y
  • Class 6
  • 10 runners
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Tony Bethell Memorial Handicap

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 65/7-7

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
AW winner in 2023 and a handicap hurdle in March; made no impression back on the Flat at Carlisle three weeks ago (1m6f).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

27th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 5

16:50 Wetherby

Bodygroove

11st 9lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

Won over 2m here last March but nothing in two runs this season and there are stamina doubts; the return of a hood (fitted for that win) could help.

12/1

Form: 14-424

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 58

Form & Verdict
Won over 2m on soft ground in October and back in good form when a head second at Newcastle and close fourth back at Catterick (good); likely contender once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(3)

20th Oct 2025

Good

2m 2f 2y

Class 2

16:03 Pontefract

Captain Potter

9st 6lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Brian Ellison

He's posted easy wins here this June (2m2f, good), August (2m1f, good to firm) and September (2m1f, good to soft); plenty to find with the form principals but can give another good account at his favourite track.

10/1

1st

1

(2)

18th Sep 2025

Good

2m 1f 27y

Class 5

16:55 Pontefract

Captain Potter

10st 2lb

J: Shay Farmer

T: Brian Ellison

Form figures in staying handicaps at this track this year read 211, the latest success coming by 5l over 2m1f (good) last month; heavy defeat on AW last time but respected back here.

5/2

10

(11)

21st Aug 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 4

17:45 Newcastle (AW)

Captain Potter

9st 4lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Brian Ellison

Has won two staying handicaps at Pontefract this summer and he nearly prevailed in a small field here in May; edging up the weights but he's having a productive spell.

14/1

Form: 3123-5

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 57

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 4294-1

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
Tailed off in her first handicap hurdle for this yard but won her next two and went in again back on the Flat at Nottingham (2m, good), doing that comfortably by nearly 10l; up 11lb but she's on a roll.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

16th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:30 Ffos Las

Queen Of Steel

11st 7lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

Stayed on gamely to score at Leicester (2m4f, heavy) in January, her third hurdle win, and probably bettered that performance when close/clear second at Southwell (3m, soft) last month; competes off career-high mark here but still respected in current form.

15/8

2nd

5

18th Feb 2026

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

16:55 Southwell

Queen Of Steel

11st 3lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Got on a roll last spring having joined this yard, winning at Ffos Las and Wetherby (2m4f/3m, good; cheekpieces) before clinching a Flat-race hat-trick at staying trips; brought her stable record to 6-11 when scoring at Leicester (about 2m4f, heavy) one month ago and holds leading claims once again.

2/1

1st

9

20th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 5

16:02 Leicester

Queen Of Steel

10st 13lb

J: Mr Lucas Murphy

T: Fergal O’Brien

Won two good-ground hurdles (2m4f/3m) and three consecutive Flat races during highly productive spell last spring/summer and bettered low-key reappearance run when respectable third at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) last month; may yet have a bigger performance in her.

7/1

Form: 590

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
Mild promise when fifth of seven on AW debut (1m4f) but tailed off since then in two further novices; may have improvement lurking over this far on handicap debut but that could be wishful thinking.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

20th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 1f 46y

Class 4

13:42 Cartmel

Destination Unkown

11st 4lb

J: James Best

T: Michael Chapman

Lowly rated Flat maiden who was pulled up when a big-priced outsider for both hurdle runs last season.

100/1

2

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

14:13 Market Rasen

Destination Unkown

11st 7lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Michael Chapman

Poor Flat maiden who was pulled up when 200-1 for hurdling debut here (2m, good to soft) on Boxing Day.

200/1

Form: 763515 C

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 53

Form & Verdict
Beat four rivals over the 2m5f here in April (good) but surprisingly weakened out of it late on over 2m at Catterick when just behind Captain Potter; still commands a second look back here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

6

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 87y

Class 4

14:20 Musselburgh

Quercus Robur

11st 6lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Adam Nicol

Won on the Flat here (2m, soft) in November; fourth on hurdle debut here (1m7f, good to soft) later that month and improved when runner-up at Kelso (2m, good to soft) in December; he's high on the list today.

9/4

5

(2)

9th Oct 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 6

16:20 Newcastle (AW)

Quercus Robur

9st 9lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Adam Nicol

Course regular who landed a fourth win here (his third over this trip) when 28-1 and beating Edwardtheninth one month ago; flopped under a 5lb penalty the following week (Team Endeavour second) but that tactical race may be best ignored; could well bounce back.

7/1

5th

1

(4)

19th Sep 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 6

17:08 Newcastle (AW)

Quercus Robur

10st 2lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Adam Nicol

Won his fourth race at this track and third over C&D when scoring at 28-1 last Thursday on his return from a break; 5lb penalty doesn't leave him well in but this is a weak event.

2/1

Form: 3422/8

Last run: 21 days

W: 8st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 47

Form & Verdict
Two years since sole success in a staying handicap; showed no form over hurdles before finishing tailed off back on the Flat at Carlisle (80-1).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(1)

9th Oct 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 6

16:20 Newcastle (AW)

Team Endeavour

8st 11lb

J: David Egan

T: Barry Murtagh

1-24, the win coming by a nose at Wetherby (2m, good to firm) over two years ago; 28-1 when second of five over C&D (Quercus Robur last) three weeks ago but that was a messy event and he'll need a bit more today.

12/1

2nd

5

(6)

19th Sep 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 6

17:08 Newcastle (AW)

Team Endeavour

9st 4lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Barry Murtagh

Signed off for Ian Williams with two runner-up spots at this trip on AW in 2023; all starts on turf since and was second of seven at Catterick three starts ago; beaten 16l at Ripon (2m, good to firm; Lillistar just denied) last time; not entirely ruled out back on this surface.

8/1

Form: 1336-4

Last run: 21 days

W: 8st 11lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 47

Form & Verdict
Appreciated returning to the Flat when running quite well for a 50-1 chance at Wolverhampton; still has ground to make up on Forglen.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

(4)

9th Jun 2025

Good

2m 1f 27y

Class 6

18:50 Pontefract

Triple Nickle

8st 11lb

J: Aidan Keeley

T: Bernard Llewellyn

Appreciated returning to the Flat when running quite well for a 50-1 chance at Wolverhampton; still has ground to make up on Forglen.

16/1

4th

8

(1)

19th May 2025

Standard

2m 0f 120y

Class 6

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Triple Nickle

9st 2lb

J: Mikkel Mortensen

T: Bernard Llewellyn

Won off a similar mark on turf (2m) in August, but she's run some ordinary races on the AW since finishing close up at Kempton in January 2024 and recent hurdle efforts raise questions about her current form.

12/1

4th

8

(1)

19th May 2025

Standard

2m 0f 120y

Class 6

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Triple Nickle

9st 2lb

J: Mikkel Mortensen

T: Bernard Llewellyn

Won off a similar mark on turf (2m) in August, but she's run some ordinary races on the AW since finishing close up at Kempton in January 2024 and recent hurdle efforts raise questions about her current form.

12/1

Form: -44342

Last run: 21 days

W: 8st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 46

Form & Verdict
Has done quite well in handicaps since undergoing wind surgery and saw out the 2m well when runner-up at Wolverhampton 21 days ago; looks on the right sort of mark but has each-way claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

(11)

27th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 6

17:17 Lingfield (AW)

Forglen

9st 8lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: William Stone

Won over C&D in January; runner-up at Southwell (1m6f) next time and has won over 1m6f at Wolverhampton and Southwell on his two starts since; his wins have been narrow ones, meaning he is climbing the weights only slowly, and there can be optimism this progressive 5yo has more left in the tank.

7/2

1st

2

(5)

13th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 6

19:50 Southwell (AW)

Forglen

9st 9lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: William Stone

In fine form lately with wins at Lingfield (2m, Polytrack) and from a subsequent winner at Wolverhampton (1m6f, Tapeta); finished runner-up over this C&D in between and although up 3lb, is likely to be bang there once again.

7/2

16/1

Form: 432437

Last run: 17 days

W: 8st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 45

Form & Verdict
Only 2-31; wasn't running too badly in staying handicaps before a rather laboured effort here 17 days ago when the 1m4f was no excuse; others preferred for win purposes.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

(4)

17th Jul 2026

Good

1m 4f 5y

Class 6

18:00 Pontefract

Yakhabar

9st 9lb

J: Kyle McHugh

T: Liam Bailey

Scored at Southwell (1m4f) in March but only ninth of 11 in handicap over C&D ten days ago; not proving the easiest to catch right of late.

20/1

9th

6

(11)

7th Jul 2026

Good

1m 4f 5y

Class 6

15:48 Pontefract

Yakhabar

9st 4lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Liam Bailey

Easily landed an amateur riders' event at Southwell (1m4f, AW) in March and wasn't beaten far into fourth of 12 in a similar contest at Ripon (1m4f, good) last time, but he still needs more in order to come out best here.

14/1

4th

10

(1)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 10y

Class 6

13:40 Ripon

Yakhabar

9st 12lb

J: Miss Amy Collier

T: Liam Bailey

Sole turf win in this race last year; in reasonable form on AW at Southwell in the spring but his first run since wind surgery, on Newcastle AW, was a poor effort.

8/1

Non-runners

Fabuleux Du Clos

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.60
Straight Forecast £4.18
Tricast £19.98
Trifecta £18.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Queen Of Steel

NEWMARKET:

Different Drum

Daily Mail:

Quercus Robur

POSTDATA:

Yakhabar

RP RATINGS:

Queen Of Steel

The Times:

Queen Of Steel

Telegraph:

Queen Of Steel

The Guardian:

Queen Of Steel

D Express:

Queen Of Steel

Daily Mirror:

Queen Of Steel

The Sun:

Queen Of Steel

The Star:

Queen Of Steel

Daily Record:

Queen Of Steel