August 02 / 16.40 Thirsk

16.40

Good To Firm

William Hill Summer Cup Handicap

  • Prize money: £15702
  • 0m 7f 218y
  • Class 2
  • 5 runners
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William Hill Summer Cup Handicap

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 77-206 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 12lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in the 2,000 Guineas in 2023 but just a useful handicapper nowadays; comes into the reckoning on his second in the Thirsk Hunt Cup (good ground) on reappearance but hasn't repeated the form and carries risks.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

(13)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

13:15 Ayr

Hi Royal

9st 13lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Kevin Ryan

Soft-ground second in the 2,000 Guineas in 2023; smart handicapper nowadays but his only success remains a C&D novice win at the 2022 Western meeting; two good placed efforts over 1m at Thirsk this year but well held at Ascot latest and others are preferred for the win again.

16/1

3

(13)

5th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

16:40 Ascot

Hi Royal

9st 9lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Kevin Ryan

Soft-ground second in the 2,000 Guineas in 2023; smart handicapper nowadays who still has just one novice success to his name; went close in the Thirsk Hunt Cup (good) on reappearance and it was a step back in the right direction when close third of five at that track (also 1m, good to firm) last month; hasn't shone in three starts here (admittedly twice in Group 1s) but handicapper is gradually relenting.

20/1

2

(4)

2nd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 218y

Class 2

16:40 Thirsk

Hi Royal

9st 12lb

J: Oisin McSweeney

T: Kevin Ryan

Runner-up in the 2,000 Guineas in 2023 but just a useful handicapper nowadays; comes into the reckoning on his second in the Thirsk Hunt Cup (good ground) on reappearance but hasn't repeated the form and carries risks.

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: 0-3305 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Tough stable servant with seven wins to his name, including in this race (good ground) off this mark last summer; finished a head behind Hi Royal when third in the Thirsk Hunt Cup in May and he wasn't disgraced considering he raced freely at York three weeks ago; unlikely to be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

22

(9)

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:32 Doncaster

La Trinidad

8st 12lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Roger Fell

9yo who went 0-10 last year but he's well handicapped on the pick of last season's efforts, which came in the spring, and his Doncaster form-figures of 1413 catch the eye on his first visit here since 2023; interesting.

50/1

3rd

1

(3)

27th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 219y

Class 3

15:45 Redcar

La Trinidad

10st 0lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: Roger Fell

Won twice last season, the second one over this C&D; sound efforts on first two starts this term but not so good recently; on a good mark (6lb lower than last win).

7/1

3rd

1

(3)

27th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 219y

Class 3

15:45 Redcar

La Trinidad

10st 0lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: Roger Fell

Won twice last season, the second one over this C&D; sound efforts on first two starts this term but not so good recently; on a good mark (6lb lower than last win).

7/1

Form: 1-46

Last run: 92 days

W: 8st 11lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 3yo; looked a smart prospect when making winning debut at Newmarket (7f, soft) last autumn; hasn't built on that in conditions races this year but he's been gelded and had three months off since his last run; represents a bang-in-form yard and may still have untapped potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(5)

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:57 Doncaster

Treble Tee

9st 2lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Soft-ground debut winner who comfortably landed a C&D handicap (good) last September; failed to kick on subsequently and he's narrowly bottom of this pack on form, but this lightly raced 4yo may still have more to offer and he's the only course winner in the line-up; not discounted.

6/1

7th

7

(1)

29th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 0f 75y

Class 1

14:47 Nottingham

Treble Tee

9st 1lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Close second in his first two handicaps, then improved to win at Doncaster (1m, good) in September in dominant fashion; the latter form was not repeated when just 8-1 for the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket (good to firm) two weeks later but he still came sixth, perhaps stretched by 1m1f, and may still be open to progress; not dismissed.

5/1

7th

7

(1)

29th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 0f 75y

Class 1

14:47 Nottingham

Treble Tee

9st 1lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Close second in his first two handicaps, then improved to win at Doncaster (1m, good) in September in dominant fashion; the latter form was not repeated when just 8-1 for the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket (good to firm) two weeks later but he still came sixth, perhaps stretched by 1m1f, and may still be open to progress; not dismissed.

5/1

Form: 552022 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 8st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Runner-up five times since his last win, but he looked unlucky at Ripon (1m, soft; at least as effective on good to firm) two weeks ago when repeatedly short of room; ran well on his only outing at Thirsk; should be involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

(9)

3rd Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

19:10 Ripon

Barley

9st 5lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Just three wins from his 47 starts, the latest back in June 2024; however, he was short-headed off this career-low mark at Hamilton (8.3f, good to firm) last Wednesday and could be in the mix once more; versatile ground-wise.

9/2

2nd

4

(3)

27th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 68y

Class 5

17:05 Hamilton

Barley

9st 5lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Tim Easterby

Not a prolific winner but he is operating off a reduced mark and there were more encouraging signs dropped to a Class 5 at Thirsk 11 days ago; another 3lb lower today and minor money could be on the cards.

5/1

6th

8

(4)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 218y

Class 5

16:12 Thirsk

Barley

9st 3lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Not badly treated on his best form at about 1m but his losing run goes back nearly two years and he's dropped right out in both runs this year.

25/1

Form: 11 D

Last run: 46 days

W: 8st 9lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
3yo with an unbeaten record after contrasting wins at Redcar (1m, good to firm; 28-1; came from last to first) in May and Southwell (1m, AW; 7-5 favourite; made all) in June; meets a higher calibre of rival on today's handicap debut but he's hugely unexposed and could be anything.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

9

(8)

22nd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 192y

Class 2

17:20 York

Big Leader

8st 13lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Geoff Oldroyd

Gamely justified favouritism in Thirsk handicap (good to firm) last time, taking record to 3-3 (all 1m); has obvious allure, being an improving contender who remains unbeaten.

7/1

6

(5)

2nd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 218y

Class 2

16:40 Thirsk

Big Leader

8st 9lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Geoff Oldroyd

3yo with an unbeaten record after contrasting wins at Redcar (1m, good to firm; 28-1; came from last to first) in May and Southwell (1m, AW; 7-5 favourite; made all) in June; meets a higher calibre of rival on today's handicap debut but he's hugely unexposed and could be anything.

3/1

1st

2

(6)

17th Jun 2025

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 5

19:30 Southwell (AW)

Big Leader

9st 11lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Geoff Oldroyd

Belied his market position (outsider of four) with a comfortable success in 1m maiden at Redcar; one of the main players, provided that promise is confirmed.

3/1

Non-runners

Botanical

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.70
Straight Forecast £5.07
Trifecta £15.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Big Leader

RP RATINGS:

Botanical

TOPSPEED:

Hi Royal

POSTDATA:

Big Leader

The Times:

Big Leader

Telegraph:

Big Leader

The Guardian:

Big Leader

Daily Mirror:

Big Leader

The Star:

Big Leader

Daily Record:

Big Leader

Daily Mail:

Botanical

D Express:

Botanical

The Sun:

Hi Royal