September 25 / 14.08 Pontefract

14.08

Soft

Happy Birthday Keith Chesters Apprentice Handicap

  • Prize money: £3402.1
  • 0m 5f 3y
  • Class 6
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
Happy Birthday Keith Chesters Apprentice Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

Form: 232242 D BF

Last run: 105 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 60

Form & Verdict
This is his first run since June and he's not easy to win with, while the forecast soft ground poses a question; however, he was in good form when last seen and can be thereabouts if returning at the top of his game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(5)

2nd Sep 2026

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

16:45 Newcastle (AW)

Papa Dont Preach

9st 9lb

J: Oliver Stammers

T: Kevin & Lauren Frost

Placed in a classified stakes and a Yarmouth handicap (both over 5f on good to firm) earlier in the summer; not so good last time (6f); all four wins have been on AW, including over C&D; should go well.

6/1

6th

9

(1)

17th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 212y

Class 6

15:15 Catterick

Papa Dont Preach

9st 4lb

J: William Pyle

T: Kevin & Lauren Frost

Prominent racer; beaten favourite in two 5f handicaps on fast ground this summer but he has still run with credit; stays 6f but still seeking a first win at the trip.

4/1

2nd

1

(4)

2nd Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 42y

Class 6

17:08 Yarmouth

Papa Dont Preach

9st 9lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Kevin & Lauren Frost

0-31 on turf but scored off 3lb higher on AW in December and returned from ten-week break with pretty good third in 0-70 grade at Doncaster (5f, good to firm) last month; major player in this grade.

15/8

Form: 120487 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 57

Form & Verdict
Won at Haydock (5f, good) in July and near-miss at Doncaster (5.5f, good) seven days later, both under Harry Smith; versatile ground-wise; however, he's gone off the boil more recently and needs to get back on track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

(9)

22nd Apr 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

13:52 Catterick

Fortunate Star

9st 7lb

J: Conor Whiteley

T: Stephen Hanlon

C&D winner who also finished third in this last year; has been in good nick since the visor went on, winning a classified at Southwell and Newcastle (February/March) and placed in three handicaps (also 5f, AW) subsequently; can take a grip so today's likely good pace will suit and he gets on well with Conor Whiteley; player.

9/2

3rd

1

(9)

15th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 6

17:57 Southwell (AW)

Fortunate Star

9st 9lb

J: Conor Whiteley

T: Stephen Hanlon

Won classified events over C&D in February and at Newcastle in March; placed in handicap company on both starts since, latest when a close third of 13 here 13 days; good claims once again.

7/2

3rd

3

(2)

2nd Apr 2026

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 6

18:48 Southwell (AW)

Fortunate Star

9st 7lb

J: Conor Whiteley

T: Stephen Hanlon

Won classified events over C&D and at Newcastle (penalised) before being brushed aside by Little Mi Mi at Newcastle three weeks ago; a 5lb turnaround in the weights should see things finish closer today.

9/2

OUR TIP

Form: 113712 D

Last run: 4 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 56

Form & Verdict
Won twice in July (5f, good) and back on the scoresheet at Carlisle (5f, soft) this month; another big run when second at Hamilton (5f, soft) on Sunday and she's a very solid contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

(1)

31st Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:10 Ripon

Canaria Queen

9st 6lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

Eight-time winner who has finished runner-up in three of her last four starts, including at Catterick (5f) last week; should be in the mix again and she won't mind what the weather does.

11/2

2nd

10

(1)

26th Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

16:15 Catterick

Canaria Queen

8st 11lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

Eight-time winner; bounced back from a lesser effort when second over C&D nine days ago but she was 4l behind Our Absent Friends; this is tougher.

10/1

2nd

6

(2)

17th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:15 Catterick

Canaria Queen

9st 12lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

She is enjoying a good campaign and today's return to Class 5 company is in her favour; she has run well over C&D in the past and a big run looks on the cards from a handy draw.

13/2

Form: 325830 D

Last run: 4 days

W: 9st 4lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
Inconsistent and can be awkward at the start, which perhaps excuses her below-par run at Hamilton on Sunday; prior to that she was a close third of 14 to Canaria Queen at Carlisle (5f, soft) and is not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

13

(11)

27th Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

16:00 Carlisle

Kyber Crystal

8st 12lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Rebecca Menzies

Her last win came at Pontefract (5f, good to soft) 11 months ago but after a promising reappearance in April it's largely been a struggle; seventh of ten at Hamilton off 1lb higher last Friday will need improving on.

20/1

7th

13

(11)

21st Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 7y

Class 6

20:15 Hamilton

Kyber Crystal

8st 12lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Rebecca Menzies

C&D winner in September 2024 (good to soft); two wins in 2025, but hasn't shown her best form so far this term; on a good mark as a result, so not out of it.

25/1

5th

10

(1)

9th Jul 2026

Good

0m 5f 182y

Class 6

15:45 Carlisle

Kyber Crystal

9st 2lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Rebecca Menzies

Ran okay on her seasonal return in April but she hasn't built on it in four runs since; had 17 runs at 6f+ and she has been unplaced in all of them.

12/1

Form: 657263 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 54

Form & Verdict
He can be in and out but he won at Nottingham (5f, good to firm) in May and was runner-up at Hamilton last month (5f, good to soft; unraced on softer); returned to form with close third at Newcastle (5f, AW) recently and he can be in the mix if he's on another going day.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

(7)

19th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 8y

Class 6

16:55 Nottingham

Masterclass

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Paul Midgley

Ended a long losing run in this race last year but he's 0-15 since and has been hard to predict; now 3lb lower than for that last success but he faded at Doncaster last time and he comes with risks attached.

11/2

8th

8

(9)

24th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 3y

Class 6

13:40 Doncaster

Masterclass

9st 5lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Paul Midgley

Ended a losing run when the comfortable winner of a 5f handicap at Nottingham last May (5f, good to firm) off a 1lb higher mark; he was returning from a short break when fourth of 13 at Pontefract 17 days ago and that effort can be upgraded as he was wider than ideal as the field turned for home; each-way shout.

8/1

4th

14

(5)

7th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 3y

Class 6

17:35 Pontefract

Masterclass

8st 10lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Paul Midgley

Hold-up sprinter who is on the same mark as when seeing off nine rivals at Nottingham last May (5f, good to firm); in and out afterwards but the return of blinkers should help now back from 138 days off.

14/1

Form: 349906 CD

Last run: 27 days

W: 8st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 50

Form & Verdict
C&D winner who is down to a dangerous mark judged on form as recent as this June but he's struggled on his last few runs; major turnaround needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

8

(10)

24th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 6

18:00 Southwell (AW)

Glendown

9st 1lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

Five wins include one on AW, over C&D in late 2024; beaten under a length three times on turf in 2025 and he wasn't far away in a recent C&D classified event after a short break; weights chance back in a handicap.

10/1

3rd

7

(7)

5th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 6

16:25 Southwell (AW)

Glendown

9st 9lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

Multiple turf sprint and C&D winner; losing run stands at 18 starts and although he went close on turf at Redcar in November, he was below par in two AW starts since.

16/1

6

(8)

18th Nov 2025

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

19:15 Newcastle (AW)

Glendown

9st 4lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

Close second at Redcar last time; 0-15 this year and ran poorly in last four AW attempts but defied a 10lb higher mark at Southwell a year ago; very attractively handicapped and enters calculations.

4/1

Form: -93468 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 8st 10lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 47

Form & Verdict
Hasn't shone on her last two starts and a return to form is needed but she ran some reasonable races earlier this summer and is set to encounter slow ground for the first time this season, which could be a plus given her last win came on soft ground at Catterick (5f) last October.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

11

(2)

5th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

14:50 Thirsk

Ninety Nine

8st 9lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: John Wainwright

2-29; her best form is on soft, even heavy, ground; runner-up at Catterick (5f, soft) last October; hasn't offered much in four starts since, finishing seventh (two places behind Kyber Crystal) at odds of 50-1 at Carlisle latest.

33/1

7th

7

(9)

26th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

16:50 Redcar

Ninety Nine

9st 1lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: John Wainwright

Both wins have come on ground on the soft side of good, but she does handle good to firm; back off her last winning mark, but she finished over 20l behind Lady Bouquet on her Catterick reappearance 15 days ago; first-time blinkers replace the usual cheekpieces.

25/1

10th

6

(11)

11th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

16:00 Catterick

Ninety Nine

9st 1lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: John Wainwright

Last season ended with two poor runs and she's without a win since October 2024; however, that came over C&D and her best performance last season also came here; not written off on her reappearance.

16/1

Form: 995546 BF

Last run: 29 days

W: 8st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 45

Form & Verdict
He's produced some reasonable performances this season, including over 6f here, but he remains a maiden after 15 starts and needs something extra today in first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(8)

25th Sep 2025

Soft

0m 5f 3y

Class 6

14:08 Pontefract

Brazen Rascal

8st 9lb

J: Zak Wheatley

T: Simon Whitaker

He's produced some reasonable performances this season, including over 6f here, but he remains a maiden after 15 starts and needs something extra today in first-time cheekpieces.

10/1

6th

3

(2)

27th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 6y

Class 6

16:45 Catterick

Brazen Rascal

9st 9lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Simon Whitaker

Yet to place in 14 runs but was fourth of 12 at Redcar last time (6f handicap) and returning to 7f can help.

8/1

10

(12)

30th Jul 2025

Good

0m 5f 217y

Class 6

16:35 Redcar

Brazen Rascal

9st 0lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Simon Whitaker

Unplaced in all 13 starts but his last two efforts have been respectable, finishing fifth at Ripon (6f, good) and Pontefract (6f, good to firm); place chance.

7/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £95.00
Straight Forecast £104.84
Tricast £945.60
Trifecta £886.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Canaria Queen

RP RATINGS:

Papa Don't Preach

POSTDATA:

Kyber Crystal

The Times:

Canaria Queen

Telegraph:

Canaria Queen

The Guardian:

Canaria Queen

D Express:

Canaria Queen

The Sun:

Canaria Queen

The Star:

Canaria Queen

Daily Record:

Canaria Queen

Daily Mail:

Papa Don't Preach

Daily Mirror:

Papa Don't Preach