August 06 / 16.38 Pontefract

16.38

Good

Napoleons Casino Bradford Handicap

  • Prize money: £4123.2
  • 2m 1f 27y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
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Napoleons Casino Bradford Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

20/1

Form: 16-076 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Three wins at up to 2m1f last season and last two were on turf (good/soft); looks well treated on the pick of that form but he's struggled in his three runs this term and needs to turn things around.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(4)

17th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 1f 208y

Class 5

15:27 Nottingham

Merrijig

9st 7lb

J: Jason Watson

T: John Berry

Adaptable regarding ground and tactics; this looks less competitive than the Ffos Las 0-65 in which he finished second last time (hampered; two of these behind) and his claims are obvious.

7/4

2nd

2

(2)

30th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 0y

Class 6

20:39 Ffos Las

Merrijig

9st 8lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: John Berry

Done a lot of his winning later in the year but offered more in the returning blinkers last time, back from a couple of months off; boasts a decent record when dipping below 0-70 company and won't mind any rain.

5/1

3rd

1

(1)

8th Jun 2026

Good

2m 1f 27y

Class 6

20:00 Pontefract

Merrijig

9st 9lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: John Berry

Was 2-3 on the AW until disappointing at Kempton two months ago but he had been running well in the blinkers (reapplied) and he's a three-time turf winner on a competitive mark.

8/1

Form: /269-4

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Went close in a 1m2f maiden for Joseph O'Brien last May and nearly won twice in a row (2m4f/2m1f) as a hurdler for current yard this May; fourth of five on handicap debut when returned to the Flat at Thirsk (1m6f) three weeks ago, beaten only just over 2l and he may be able to build on that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

25th May 2026

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 5

14:13 Cartmel

Celestial Reign

11st 7lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Won Sedgefield maiden (2m4f, good) just over a year ago but has looked out of sorts in handicaps over a wide range of trips this year.

12/1

1

10th Apr 2026

Good

3m 3f 9y

Class 5

16:13 Sedgefield

Celestial Reign

12st 0lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Micky Hammond

Sole win came in a maiden here but over 2m4f; three modest runs in handicaps since returning from a break and has stamina to prove.

25/1

10th

17

27th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 56y

Class 4

15:20 Wetherby

Celestial Reign

10st 9lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Gained sole success in Sedgefield maiden; holds weak claims on his form since switched to handicap hurdles; yard appears to have a better chance with Mandarb.

50/1

Form: 157-40

Last run: 115 days

W: 9st 13lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
2m2f hurdle winner at Kelso in May; well beaten in that sphere ten days ago and a first-time visor replaces cheekpieces for this first Flat run since April; won twice on Flat last May when the cheekpieces first went on but declining returns on the Flat knock confidence in his prospects.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:45 Newcastle

Spartan Warrior

11st 7lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Maurice Barnes

Won twice on the Flat (1m2f-1m4f) for Ollie Sangster and once over hurdles (2m2f, Kelso) for Rebecca Menzies; beaten 22l and 76l in two starts for new trainer; easing mark isn't enough to recommend.

50/1

10th

11

3rd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 4

15:35 Carlisle

Spartan Warrior

10st 4lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Maurice Barnes

Won at Kelso last May (2m2f, good) when with Rebecca Menzies; well beaten on stable debut last time and perhaps best watched for now.

50/1

5

30th Sep 2025

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

14:07 Sedgefield

Spartan Warrior

11st 9lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Rebecca Menzies

1-8 over hurdles, the win gained off 1lb lower mark at Kelso (2m2f, good) in May; disappointed on both recent Flat starts, though, and arrives here with a point to prove.

8/1

Form: 424213 C

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 12lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Ridden by 7lb claimer when readily dismissing Diamand De Vindecy in five-runner race at Pontefract (2m2f; 6lb higher today) in June; third of 14 at Southwell (2m, AW) extended a pretty solid sequence; 2m2f might be preferable to 2m1f but he still needs respect.
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: 4-1112 CD BF

Last run: 8 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
5-7 for new stable, having won twice over hurdles in March and three times over 2m/2m1f (good/good to soft) on the Flat in May/June, including from Captain Potter over C&D (made most); her winning run ended at Ffos Las last week but that was a solid effort back at 1m6f; a leading player.
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: 64-44 BF

Last run: 47 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Four-race maiden; rallied when beaten only 2l as joint-favourite on handicap debut at Goodwood (1m4f, good to firm) most recently, in just fourth of five but he could still be open to improvement; a couple of his siblings stay 2m and he's interesting upped further in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

(5)

5th Jul 2026

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 3

17:55 Southwell (AW)

New York Minute

9st 4lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Joey Ramsden

Ran poorly last time, taking turf record to 0-6; broadly consistent on AW otherwise for current yard and he is 2-2 over C&D, the wins gained last autumn; 3-8 overall in this sphere; likely to be played late by Jamie Spencer (up for first time) and has possibilities back here.

9/2

9th

8

(1)

31st May 2026

Good

2m 0f 13y

Class 3

18:15 Thirsk

New York Minute

9st 6lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Joey Ramsden

Headgear helped on AW last September-December, including for 1m6f/2m hat-trick; peak form was not repeated this year, including in two small fields this spring but they were at 1m3f/1m4f; returning to 2m should be a big help but none of his turf form (five races) approaches this mark.

12/1

2nd

2

(4)

1st May 2026

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 4

17:53 Newcastle (AW)

New York Minute

9st 9lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Joey Ramsden

Headgear helped last autumn, with him landing a hat-trick, including two over 2m round Southwell, latterly off a 4lb lower mark; solid effort there last Thursday, back from a few months off (1m3f), but he'll want a similarly strong pace this evening.

3/1

Form: 95033

Last run: 27 days

W: 8st 2lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 53

Form & Verdict
Staying-on third at Redcar (1m6f, good to firm) and Carlisle (1m3f, good to soft) in his two handicaps; lightly raced 3yo who may well have the required stamina; one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(7)

7th Jul 2026

Good

1m 4f 5y

Class 6

15:48 Pontefract

Jedhi Knight

9st 7lb

J: David Nolan

T: Paul Midgley

Was having his second start for the yard and first since wind surgery when fifth of 11 at Newcastle (1m4f, AW) five weeks ago; 2lb lower than when winning at Ffos Las (2m, good to soft; first-time cheekpieces) last August and worth a second look, especially if backed.

8/1

5th

8

(10)

2nd Jun 2026

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

18:45 Newcastle (AW)

Jedhi Knight

9st 2lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Paul Midgley

Won over 2m at Ffos Las for Jedd O'Keeffe last August (good to soft; awarded race by the stewards) and some fair efforts after that; not done as well since (tailed off over hurdles last time) and has been well beaten all three AW runs; back after wind surgery.

13/2

Non-runners

Diamand De Vindecy, Action Pact, Byron Hill, Perseus Way

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.90
Straight Forecast £14.00
Tricast £104.86
Trifecta £79.70

Selections

WEST COUNTRY:

Queen Of Steel

SPOTLIGHT:

New York Minute

POSTDATA:

Captain Potter

RP RATINGS:

Diamand De Vindecy

NEWMARKET:

Merrijig

The Times:

New York Minute

Daily Mail:

New York Minute

D Express:

New York Minute

Telegraph:

Captain Potter

The Sun:

Captain Potter

The Guardian:

Queen Of Steel

Daily Mirror:

Queen Of Steel

The Star:

Queen Of Steel

Daily Record:

Queen Of Steel