May 16 / 15.00 Thirsk

15.00

Good

Metaxas Handicap

  • Prize money: £3925.5
  • 1m 4f 8y
  • Class 5
  • 11 runners
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Metaxas Handicap

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.50
  • Place: £2.10

Form: 77-646 BF

Last run: 8 days

W: 8st 11lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 58

Form & Verdict
Five-race maiden who has not finished closer than 7l to a winner but she ran into lots of trouble when 6-5 favourite for a Wolverhampton handicap (1m4f) last week; still has potential for top yard and she needs a close look back on turf.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(4)

11th Jun 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 6

16:17 Nottingham

Caraway

9st 9lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

Off the mark at the sixth attempt when winning a Class 5 handicap at Thirsk last month (1m4f, good), travelling strongly but taking a while to pick up before seeing her race out well; up 5lb but she's bred to be smart and this additional distance looks a big plus; strong contender.

Evs

1st

6

(4)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 8y

Class 5

15:00 Thirsk

Caraway

8st 11lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: William Haggas

Five-race maiden who has not finished closer than 7l to a winner but she ran into lots of trouble when 6-5 favourite for a Wolverhampton handicap (1m4f) last week; still has potential for top yard and she needs a close look back on turf.

3/1

6th

4

(3)

8th May 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Caraway

9st 8lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

No better than sixth in her three qualifying runs (6f-1m) and she didn't take a step forward when fourth of seven on her handicap debut over this C&D (first-time hood) 32 days ago; hood is quickly discarded and she may yet to better.

4/1

OUR TIP

4/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 777-4

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
Brother to a fairly useful 1m4f winner; finished seventh in three qualifying runs last year and he returned after a gelding operation with a well-held fourth on handicap debut at Yarmouth (1m2f, good to firm) in April; needs to find more but it's still early days and he's a possible improver on his step up to this trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

(1)

18th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 197y

Class 5

19:50 Doncaster

Boilermaker

9st 0lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Harry Charlton

0-6 but he went close in a Thirsk handicap (1m4f, good) in May and backed that up with a creditable third in similar conditions at Goodwood last month; on the same mark as last time and he should be in the mix again; cheekpieces added.

7/2

3rd

6

(1)

19th Jun 2026

Good

1m 3f 218y

Class 5

18:20 Goodwood

Boilermaker

9st 5lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Harry Charlton

Shaped with encouragement on his handicap debut at Yarmouth (1m2f) in April and built on that at Thirsk (1m4f, good) 34 days ago, finishing second of 11; up 3lb but he should have more to offer over this trip; major contender.

9/4

2nd

3

(5)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 8y

Class 5

15:00 Thirsk

Boilermaker

9st 2lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Harry Charlton

Brother to a fairly useful 1m4f winner; finished seventh in three qualifying runs last year and he returned after a gelding operation with a well-held fourth on handicap debut at Yarmouth (1m2f, good to firm) in April; needs to find more but it's still early days and he's a possible improver on his step up to this trip.

4/1

7/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 74-8

Last run: 49 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Didn't live up to market expectations in two juvenile runs and was tailed off on his reappearance here (1m2f, good to soft) in March; been gelded since and now goes handicapping but he needs a transformation on this step up to 1m4f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

(3)

28th Jun 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 5

14:37 Wolverhampton (AW)

Faeberon

9st 7lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Best effort when third of 11 on handicap debut at Thirsk (1m4f, good; first start since being gelded) last month; drop in trip may be no bad thing and cheekpieces are given a go; shortlisted.

3/1

3rd

1

(9)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 8y

Class 5

15:00 Thirsk

Faeberon

9st 9lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Didn't live up to market expectations in two juvenile runs and was tailed off on his reappearance here (1m2f, good to soft) in March; been gelded since and now goes handicapping but he needs a transformation on this step up to 1m4f.

7/1

20/1

Form: 905-5

Last run: 17 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 60

Form & Verdict
Struggled in three maidens in Ireland last year and same story when upped to 1m3f on handicap/stable debut at Southwell (AW; 20-1) last month; one of two runners for yard and she needs a transformation back on turf.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(5)

11th Jun 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 6

16:17 Nottingham

Gemical

9st 1lb

J: Harry Burns

T: Rebecca Menzies

Respectable efforts in 1m4f handicaps on her last two runs, the latest at Catterick when tried in a visor for the first time; dropped 3lb and now tackles a longer trip; place claims again.

10/1

3rd

3

(4)

30th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 13y

Class 6

17:17 Catterick

Gemical

9st 5lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Rebecca Menzies

Unplaced in five starts over 7f-1m4f but did show some improvement over a similar trip at Thirsk (good) last time, when racing prominently; 2lb drop should help, while headgear is now tried; player.

100/30

4th

5

(11)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 8y

Class 5

15:00 Thirsk

Gemical

8st 13lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Rebecca Menzies

Struggled in three maidens in Ireland last year and same story when upped to 1m3f on handicap/stable debut at Southwell (AW; 20-1) last month; one of two runners for yard and she needs a transformation back on turf.

20/1

33/1

Form: 809-87

Last run: 23 days

W: 8st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 47

Form & Verdict
Has finished tailed off in four of his five runs including in a Beverley handicap (1m2f, good to firm) last month; has lots to prove back up in trip and he's 4lb out of the weights; cheekpieces added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

6th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

17:05 Hexham

Jambearee

10st 12lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Brian Ellison

Lowly rated on the Flat (0-6); never better than midfield in added cheekpieces at Thirsk (1m4f, Class 5; beaten over 10l, 40-1) three weeks ago; trainers sole representative in this in 2024 was an early casualty; stablemate of Steel Fixer.

25/1

6th

11

(7)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 8y

Class 5

15:00 Thirsk

Jambearee

8st 4lb

J: Alex Jary

T: Brian Ellison

Has finished tailed off in four of his five runs including in a Beverley handicap (1m2f, good to firm) last month; has lots to prove back up in trip and he's 4lb out of the weights; cheekpieces added.

33/1

7th

12

(10)

23rd Apr 2026

Good

1m 1f 207y

Class 6

17:25 Beverley

Jambearee

8st 11lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Brian Ellison

Only eighth of 11 but showed improvement on RPRs at Kempton (1m4f) on handicap/seasonal debut, while shaping as if this return to shorter will suit; could go well.

14/1

Form: 57-656

Last run: 15 days

W: 8st 6lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 53

Form & Verdict
Regressive ten-race maiden who has been well held in five handicaps at up to 1m4f; continues to drop down the weights but she was always in rear at Newcastle two weeks ago and others are preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

(10)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 8y

Class 5

15:00 Thirsk

Sweet Love

8st 6lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Charlie Johnston

Regressive ten-race maiden who has been well held in five handicaps at up to 1m4f; continues to drop down the weights but she was always in rear at Newcastle two weeks ago and others are preferred.

16/1

6th

4

(3)

1st May 2026

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 6

16:45 Newcastle (AW)

Sweet Love

9st 0lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Charlie Johnston

Exposed, regressive maiden who again finished weakly on her first crack at 1m4f two months ago; handicapper giving her every chance but she's vulnerable to improvers and not obviously fancied.

12/1

5th

3

(5)

9th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

20:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Sweet Love

9st 8lb

J: Callum Shepherd

T: Charlie Johnston

Her limitations have been exposed over shorter trips, most recently sixth of nine on her seasonal return here two weeks ago (9.5f); by Dream Ahead but she is related to several strong stayers so this new, longer trip could unlock something extra.

6/1

Form: 636-61 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Off the mark at the fifth attempt when making all in a Kempton handicap (1m4f, AW; cheekpieces added) two weeks ago; up 6lb but that was a dominant display and she's open to more progress on this switch to turf; key player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

(2)

19th Jun 2026

Good

1m 3f 218y

Class 5

18:20 Goodwood

Blackisthenewblack

9st 6lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Andrew Balding

Had cheekpieces on for the first time when making all (dictated a steady gallop) in a 0-65 at Kempton (1m4f, AW) in April but she was disappointing on her turf debut at Thirsk (1m4f, good) last month; needs to bounce back.

8/1

10th

2

(1)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 8y

Class 5

15:00 Thirsk

Blackisthenewblack

9st 7lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Off the mark at the fifth attempt when making all in a Kempton handicap (1m4f, AW; cheekpieces added) two weeks ago; up 6lb but that was a dominant display and she's open to more progress on this switch to turf; key player.

15/8

1st

2

(3)

30th Apr 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 6

20:15 Kempton (AW)

Blackisthenewblack

9st 8lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Ties in with two of tonight's rivals as she finished alongside Wedonttellthetruth in the C&D event won by Cospicua when making handicap/seasonal debut; may build on that effort and show progress, provided she takes well to first-time headgear; shortlisted.

5/1

33/1

Form: 4023-7

Last run: 33 days

W: 8st 4lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 47

Form & Verdict
Low-level maiden who reappeared with a heavy defeat at Newcastle (1m2f, AW; 33-1) last month; that took her record to 0-6 and she's not finished close than 6l to a winner so far; opposable from out of the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

10

(8)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 8y

Class 5

15:00 Thirsk

Due To Shine

8st 4lb

J: Shay Farmer

T: Brian Ellison

Low-level maiden who reappeared with a heavy defeat at Newcastle (1m2f, AW; 33-1) last month; that took her record to 0-6 and she's not finished close than 6l to a winner so far; opposable from out of the weights.

33/1

Form: 555-

Last run: 154 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 67-694

Last run: 33 days

W: 8st 8lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 6690

Last run: 23 days

W: 8st 4lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 50

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £23.60
Straight Forecast £21.68
Tricast £41.15
Trifecta £74.70

Selections

Daily Mirror:

Boilermaker

RP RATINGS:

Caraway

SPOTLIGHT:

Blackisthenewblack

NEWMARKET:

Faeberon

The Times:

Raven's View

Telegraph:

Sweet Love

The Guardian:

Blackisthenewblack

Daily Mail:

Faeberon

The Sun:

Boilermaker

The Star:

Boilermaker

Daily Record:

Boilermaker

POSTDATA:

Caraway

D Express:

Caraway