August 02 / 14.15 Thirsk

14.15

Good To Firm

Theakston Nowt Peculier 0.0% EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5400
  • 0m 7f 218y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
Theakston Nowt Peculier 0.0% EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 7/ BF

Last run: 665 days

W: 9st 11lb

4 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bred to be smart and cost 1,500,000gns as a yearling, but he folded tamely when favourite for a 7f maiden at Newmarket in October 2023 for Charlie Appleby; had breathing and gelding operations and then changed stables for 3,000gns last October.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

(1)

16th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 218y

Class 5

16:45 Thirsk

Military Leader

9st 4lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Phillip Makin

Off the mark when winning at Southwell (1m, AW) in May and followed up over this C&D next time (good); has posted two good placed efforts since, the most recent at Chester (7.5f, soft) last month off a 2lb lower mark than today's, and makes the shortlist.

9/4

2nd

5

(9)

12th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 127y

Class 5

17:28 Chester

Military Leader

9st 7lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Phillip Makin

Lightly raced, he landed a quickfire double at Southwell and Thirsk over 1m last month and was beaten 2l when third of 12 at Newcastle (1m, AW) ten days ago; there may be more to come and he should not be far away.

9/2

3rd

8

(8)

2nd Jun 2026

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 5

20:15 Newcastle (AW)

Military Leader

9st 2lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Phillip Makin

Chased home the bang-in-form Aisling Oscar over C&D in December, and he's 2-2 since returning from a break, winning at Southwell and Thirsk (both 1m); has risen a combined total of 10lb (3lb since latest) for those two wins, but he has to figure on the shortlist in pursuit of the hat-trick.

11/4

Form: 6

Last run: 6 days

W: 9st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well held in bumpers and in 1m maiden at Pontefract (300-1); impossible to recommend.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(2)

14th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 5

16:50 Newcastle (AW)

Timely Approach

9st 8lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Tracy Waggott

Has cut little ice in a pair of bumpers and 1m novices at Pontefract and Thirsk this summer; very hard to make a case for.

66/1

4

(2)

9th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 3f 39y

Class 5

18:15 Carlisle

Timely Approach

10st 0lb

J: William Pyle

T: Tracy Waggott

Well held in bumpers and in 1m maiden/novice; impossible to recommend.

50/1

2

(4)

2nd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 218y

Class 4

14:15 Thirsk

Timely Approach

9st 11lb

J: William Pyle

T: Tracy Waggott

Well held in bumpers and in 1m maiden at Pontefract (300-1); impossible to recommend.

100/1

Form: 1

Last run: 192 days

W: 9st 11lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Found his stride late on when justifying strong market support on debut at Kempton (7f, AW; 2-7) in January; that bare form is ordinary but he seems well regarded and should be at least as effective over this longer trip; has to be considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

8

(3)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 213y

Class 1

14:27 Ascot

Zeus Olympios

9st 3lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

4-4 in his first season last year, culminating in Group 2 win at Newmarket (1m, good to firm); back to somewhere approaching that form when third to Notable Speech in the Lockinge at Newbury (1m, good) and respectable fourth to Ten Bob Tony in the Queen Anne here (straight 1m, good to firm) since, keeping on again after getting outpaced; likely to go well but More Thunder was ahead of him on those last two starts.

3/1

4th

9

(5)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:30 Ascot

Zeus Olympios

9st 2lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

4-4 in his first season last year, culminating in Group 2 win at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) where he won going away from Opera Ballo; unable to confirm placings with that opponent at Sandown on reappearance but wasn't disgraced and he subsequently ran better, behind Notable Speech and More Thunder, in the Lockinge at Newbury; may yet tap back into his tremendous earlier progress and prove that he can still become a top miler; remains of major interest.

8/1

3rd

10

(1)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:35 Newbury

Zeus Olympios

9st 2lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Very progressive and unbeaten (4-4) in his first season last year, culminating in Group 2 win at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) where he won going away; finished third, tasting first defeat but not disgraced, at Sandown on reappearance; may resume improvement with that outing under his belt and show that he's still a likely candidate for high ranking in the miling division this term; big player.

7/2

Form: 64-

Last run: 262 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Raced freely on debut last autumn; showed similar form when 3l fourth of 12 at Lingfield (1m, AW) three weeks later; bred to be useful and commands respect after nearly nine months off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

(3)

3rd Sep 2025

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 5

17:05 Lingfield (AW)

Due West

9st 9lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Roger Varian

Unexposed colt who has been runner-up in two starts since returning from an absence, most recently on handicap debut at Epsom (8.5f, good) nine days ago, pulling clear of the rest with the winner; returns to AW and he's a contender off the same mark.

11/4

2

(3)

25th Aug 2025

Good

1m 0f 113y

Class 5

16:28 Epsom

Due West

9st 9lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

150,000euros yearling; unexposed colt who showed promise in novice events, including a clear second behind an impressive winner at Thirsk (1m, good to firm) 23 days ago; looks on fair mark now switched to a handicap and he's an interesting contender.

5/2

4

(2)

2nd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 218y

Class 4

14:15 Thirsk

Due West

9st 4lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Roger Varian

Raced freely on debut last autumn; showed similar form when 3l fourth of 12 at Lingfield (1m, AW) three weeks later; bred to be useful and commands respect after nearly nine months off.

7/2

20/1

Form: 79

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Closely related to a Group-placed 6f/7f 2yo winner, but there hasn't been much promise in two efforts to date (both 1m, good ground); needs more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

10

(1)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 56y

Class 4

16:20 York

Furhaan

8st 6lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Won handicap debut for Ed Walker off 4lb higher last September (extended 1m3f, heavy); got closer to that level in on his last two runs for his new connections and seemed to stay 2m at Chester last time, but he was only fifth of seven in that race and others have more pressing claims.

14/1

5th

7

(7)

27th Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 196y

Class 4

17:20 Chester

Furhaan

8st 8lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Successful handicap debut for Ed Walker off 2lb higher last September (extended 1m3f, heavy); well short of that level in three runs for his new connections; likely best watched for now.

16/1

Form: 05

Last run: 39 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Green on both starts for Harry Charlton but there was some encouragement in his fifth of seven at Beverley (8.4f, good to firm) on the second of them; has since changed hands for 14,000gns and joined a shrewd stable; not ruled out, especially if the market speaks in his favour.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(5)

2nd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 218y

Class 4

14:15 Thirsk

Half Moon King

9st 4lb

J: Oisin McSweeney

T: Julie Camacho

Green on both starts for Harry Charlton but there was some encouragement in his fifth of seven at Beverley (8.4f, good to firm) on the second of them; has since changed hands for 14,000gns and joined a shrewd stable; not ruled out, especially if the market speaks in his favour.

14/1

4

(5)

24th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 100y

Class 5

16:15 Beverley

Half Moon King

9st 6lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Harry Charlton

Barely sighted when 50-1 for a 1m maiden at Newbury and sported a hood that day as well; hard to trust after that start, but has been gelded in the meantime.

10/1

4

(9)

12th Apr 2025

Good

1m 0f 7y

Class 4

15:45 Newbury

Half Moon King

9st 7lb

J: Trevor Whelan

T: Harry Charlton

70,000euros yearling; first foal out of a Spanish 7f-1m winner, half-sister to winners High Strung (Listed-placed 8.5f 2yo) and Pour Vous (1m4f/1m7f); somewhat offputting to see headgear on from the outset.

20/1

Form:

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Slowly away and always behind on debut (300-1) four weeks ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

(3)

27th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 1y

Class 6

14:00 Redcar

Sohams Roger

9st 1lb

J: Andrew Elliott

T: Neil Mechie

Modest form in two novices and a maiden at around 1m; on a lowly mark for handicap debut but not sure to be suited by the step up to 1m2f.

20/1

10

(3)

27th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 1y

Class 6

14:00 Redcar

Sohams Roger

9st 1lb

J: Andrew Elliott

T: Neil Mechie

Modest form in two novices and a maiden at around 1m; on a lowly mark for handicap debut but not sure to be suited by the step up to 1m2f.

20/1

3

(1)

12th Aug 2025

Good

1m 0f 68y

Class 5

18:40 Hamilton

Sohams Roger

9st 7lb

J: Andrew Elliott

T: Neil Mechie

Pretty much tailed off in his first two races, both at 1m.

100/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Doesn't look an obvious type on paper for debut but worth a glance in the market.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

(11)

17th Oct 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

16:00 Redcar

Sooziesue

8st 7lb

J: Aidan Keeley

T: Simon Whitaker

Yet to beat a rival in her three runs to date, last of seven in 1m Pontefract maiden 29 days ago; needs this switch to handicaps to spark major improvement.

33/1

7th

9

(2)

18th Sep 2025

Good

1m 0f 6y

Class 5

16:23 Pontefract

Sooziesue

9st 2lb

J: Mark Winn

T: Simon Whitaker

Tailed off at massive odds on both starts (1m/7f).

200/1

9th

9

(2)

4th Sep 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

15:55 Southwell (AW)

Sooziesue

9st 2lb

J: Mark Winn

T: Simon Whitaker

80-1 when last of eight on 1m Thirsk debut at the beginning of August.

100/1

Non-runners

Nepal

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £1.90
Straight Forecast £1.66
Trifecta £6.70

Selections

The Times:

Zeus Olympios

SPOTLIGHT:

Nepal

Telegraph:

Zeus Olympios

D Express:

Zeus Olympios

Daily Mirror:

Zeus Olympios

The Sun:

Zeus Olympios

The Star:

Zeus Olympios

Daily Record:

Zeus Olympios

TOPSPEED:

Nepal

POSTDATA:

Nepal

The Guardian:

Nepal

Daily Mail:

Nepal