August 02 / 13.38 Thirsk

13.38

Good To Firm

Karen Batty Spirit EBF Maiden Stakes (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4860
  • 0m 5f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
Karen Batty Spirit EBF Maiden Stakes (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.25
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 24

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed clear promise when second of eight on debut at York (6f, good to firm) but faded into fourth of six at Ayr (6f, good to soft) next time; wayward on both occasions but looks to have plenty of speed and dropping to 5f may suit; must be considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

7

(14)

18th Apr 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 3

17:07 Thirsk

Rikki Tiki Tavi

9st 3lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Kevin Ryan

Made all when beating The Lost Sock by a head over C&D last August; came up short in stronger races twice afterwards but there were mitigating factors; one of three runners for Kevin Ryan.

14/1

3

(2)

19th Sep 2025

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:33 Ayr

Rikki Tiki Tavi

9st 5lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Kevin Ryan

The form of his maiden win at Thirsk last month has worked out well (5f, good to firm) and he raced away from the main action when mid-division in sales race at York (6f, good to firm) last time; however, others have more substance to their claims; below best on good to soft ground in July.

20/1

10th

15

(20)

21st Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:25 York

Rikki Tiki Tavi

9st 2lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Kevin Ryan

His debut second here in June (6f, good to firm) remains his best run on the figures but he gamely got off the mark at Thirsk (5f) last time and he's a scopey gelding who can improve.

16/1

11/4

  • Place: £1.20

Form: 3

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
The sole newcomer in the line-up when around 6l third of seven at Nottingham (6f, good; 6-1) two weeks ago, losing second only inside the final 1f; should not be inconvenienced by this shorter distance; open to improvement and might be the answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

(7)

28th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 10y

Class 4

17:10 Sandown

The Lost Sock

9st 5lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Catterick maiden (good) winner in August who was every bit as good when third at Wolverhampton (also 5f, AW; Kolkata Knight second) in March; didn't look to be making much of an impression when the door slammed in his face at Thirsk last time but it's too soon to write him off.

6/1

10th

10

(4)

18th Apr 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 3

17:07 Thirsk

The Lost Sock

9st 2lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Roger Varian

5f win at Catterick on final 2yo start; flopped when strong favourite at Kempton on seasonal/handicap debut last month (too free over 6f); better effort when third at Wolverhampton 18 days ago (5f), having to wait for a gap to appear but keeping on when in the clear; still has some potential back on turf.

9/2

3rd

2

(2)

31st Mar 2026

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 4

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

The Lost Sock

9st 7lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Roger Varian

Got off the mark on his third attempt in a Catterick maiden (5f good) last August; gelded subsequently and raced too freely when last of eight on his AW/handicap debut at Kempton (6f; 11-8) this month; in good hands and may be worth another chance.

4/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 432

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Getting better with each run, seeming suited by the drop to 5f when second at Ripon (good to soft) two weeks ago; may not have reached his ceiling just yet; solid candidate.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

3

(3)

14th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

16:40 York

Boston Dan

9st 4lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

Sole success came in four-runner Hamilton maiden (5f, good to soft) but it was a fine effort when second at 66-1 in very valuable sales race at the Ebor meeting (6f, good to firm) and bettered that form when runner-up in Listed event back here (good) in October; floundered on heavy ground next time, however, and down the field in Newmarket handicap on return; work to do even if this track brings out the best in him again.

33/1

9th

2

(14)

16th Apr 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

13:50 Newmarket

Boston Dan

9st 6lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

Had an easy task for sole win; good second in sales/Listed races at York, including behind Song Of The Clyde, but form dipped sharply on final 2yo start; has a difficult mark in this first handicap attempt.

25/1

1

(4)

25th Oct 2025

Heavy

0m 6f 2y

Class 1

14:40 Doncaster

Boston Dan

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard Fahey

Solid claims on his second of 13 in 6f York Listed event a fortnight ago but the worry is he was comfortably held in a similar race at Ayr prior to that on his only encounter with soft ground.

9/2

16/1

Form:

Last run: 59 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Seemed too green to do himself justice when last of 11 at Nottingham (6f, good; 16-1) two months ago; difficult to recommend on that evidence but he's in good hands, cost 130,000gns at the breeze-ups and may benefit from the application of a tongue-strap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

(3)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

0m 6f 1y

Class 4

16:25 Lingfield (AW)

Lord Harcourt

9st 9lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Ed Walker

Back-to-back C&D wins in December and up against it from where he was when a close fifth back here in February; perhaps didn't take a liking to Southwell when below par there last time and could still be on the upgrade.

6/1

7th

6

(6)

13th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 2

18:50 Southwell (AW)

Lord Harcourt

8st 12lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Ed Walker

Dual Lingfield winner (6f, Polytrack) in December, but finished behind a couple of these when fifth of 12 there a fortnight ago; was up against it in attempting to come from so far back, though, so it wouldn't be a surprise were he to fare better;

5/1

5th

4

(9)

27th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 6f 1y

Class 2

14:12 Lingfield (AW)

Lord Harcourt

8st 8lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: Ed Walker

Returned from a gelding operation to win back-to-back C&D nurseries in December; came up just short in his hat-trick bid at Newcastle six weeks ago but it was another step forward in form terms; return to Lingfield should help and Ashley Lewis takes off a useful 5lb; good chance.

5/1

Form: 74

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well held when favourite on debut but he showed plenty of improvement in hood/tongue-strap when fourth of eight at Yarmouth (5f, good) the following month, always chasing the leaders; still has potential; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

(14)

17th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 6y

Class 4

16:15 Hamilton

Alasrae

9st 6lb

J: Jack Callan

T: George Boughey

Enjoyed an excellent winter on the AW, scoring three times at 6f, and comes here on the back of a good third of ten in 6f Lingfield handicap 19 days ago when not enjoying the smoothest of passages; can play a prominent role again back on turf.

6/1

3rd

6

(11)

28th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 6f 1y

Class 4

17:50 Lingfield (AW)

Alasrae

9st 5lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Boughey

He has won three of his last four starts (good second on the other occasion) yet has only gone up 8lb; finished with a flourish to win over C&D on Good Friday and he is a leading contender despite his wide draw.

4/1

1st

5

(8)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

0m 6f 1y

Class 4

16:25 Lingfield (AW)

Alasrae

9st 7lb

J: Jack Callan

T: George Boughey

Made it 2-2 in a visor when winning narrowly at Kempton (6f) and kept on well for second over 5f at Wolverhampton despite running in just a tongue-tie (as here); 1lb higher but Jack Callan now takes over with his 5lb claim; considered.

5/1

Form: 34

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
In the frame in 5f events at Hamilton (good) and Newcastle (AW), making running on second occasion; has a bit to find with a couple of these but unlikely to be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

(11)

12th Sep 2025

Good

0m 6f 2y

Class 4

16:45 Doncaster

Veiled Truth

9st 2lb

J: Joe Fanning

T: Phillip Makin

Overcame traffic issues in Newcastle nursery (6f, AW) last time, opening his account at the fifth attempt and looking value for more than the winning margin; enters calculations.

12/1

1st

1

(4)

29th Aug 2025

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

19:00 Newcastle (AW)

Veiled Truth

9st 9lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Phillip Makin

Best run was when fourth in a 5f novice here in June; beaten less than 4l when 11th of 19 in a York nursery last week (6f, good to firm; not get best of runs); interesting back on the AW but can pull hard so this small field a concern.

3/1

11th

19

(10)

20th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

17:20 York

Veiled Truth

8st 3lb

J: Joe Fanning

T: Phillip Makin

Reached the frame on the first two of his qualifying runs over 5f; steps up to 6f for the first time now handicapping from a mark which doesn't allow much obvious room for manoeuvre.

50/1

Form: 7

Last run: 6 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Never able to challenge when seventh at Pontefract (100-1) last Sunday and requires significant improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

17

(4)

8th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:00 Ascot

Empress Olivia

9st 0lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Mark Walford

28-1 winner of Ripon maiden (6f, good) in August and built on close reappearance second when beating 12 others in handicap over that C&D (good to soft) three weeks ago; evidently likes that track but has form elsewhere and she's not ruled out despite 5lb rise.

12/1

1st

13

(13)

16th Apr 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:10 Ripon

Empress Olivia

8st 9lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Mark Walford

Always prominent when winning a C&D maiden last August; ran her best race in handicaps when second of ten in a 5f event at Catterick (good) last week, keeping on; she will have the stands' rail to help this time and should go well despite stepping up in class.

6/1

OUR TIP

33/1

Form: 50

Last run: 49 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has beaten only one rival in two outings to date, and even allowing for a wide draw he should have fared better at Chester last time; opposable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

(5)

7th May 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

19:00 Southwell (AW)

Fanjove

9st 6lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: Ed Dunlop

Held on to win by a short head at Wolverhampton (7f) in October and went close at Newcastle (6f) next time; gelded prior to finishing fourth of 12 here over 6f on his reappearance and now steps back up to 7f; contender.

11/2

4th

9

(5)

7th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 5

18:30 Southwell (AW)

Fanjove

9st 6lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ed Dunlop

Bagged a pair of 7f nurseries at two and also ended 2025 with a good second of three in 6f Newcastle nursery; has since been gelded and can't be discounted on his return.

9/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.10
Straight Forecast £5.77
Trifecta £19.00

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Rikki Tiki Tavi

SPOTLIGHT:

The Lost Sock

Daily Record:

Boston Dan

Telegraph:

The Lost Sock

D Express:

The Lost Sock

TOPSPEED:

Rikki Tiki Tavi

POSTDATA:

Rikki Tiki Tavi

The Times:

Rikki Tiki Tavi

The Guardian:

Rikki Tiki Tavi

Daily Mail:

Rikki Tiki Tavi

Daily Mirror:

Rikki Tiki Tavi

The Sun:

Rikki Tiki Tavi

The Star:

Rikki Tiki Tavi