Tomorrow / 20.00 Pontefract

20.00

Good

Tony Bethell Memorial Handicap

  • Prize money: £3402.1
  • 2m 1f 27y
  • Class 6
  • 12 runners
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Tony Bethell Memorial Handicap

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Form: 4471-6 D BF

Last run: 63 days

W: 9st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 65

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

6th

6

(4)

6th Apr 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 5

17:50 Kempton (AW)

Merrijig

9st 10lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: John Berry

Won first time out on Polytrack two years ago and made it 2-3 on the AW when closing out last season with a Newcastle victory off 4lb lower; perhaps a bit surprising to see no blinkers tonight but he's one to consider.

5/1

1st

4

(12)

18th Nov 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 6

15:45 Newcastle (AW)

Merrijig

9st 13lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: John Berry

Record of 0-8 this term; however, drops back two grades and is far less exposed on AW than on turf, having raced only twice in this sphere (won the first attempt); interesting off current mark.

9/1

Form: 749511

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 65

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

1st

7

(2)

11th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 189y

Class 6

15:30 Catterick

Laravie

9st 6lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: James Owen

Unplaced when just 2-1 for last month's Flat handicap debut at Lingfield (2m, AW) but justified favouritism in good style at Salisbury (1m6f, good to firm) subsequently; did it in good style and she still appeals as being well treated under a 4lb penalty, especially in view of her hurdling ability.

13/8

1st

6

3rd May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 44y

Class 6

16:55 Salisbury

Laravie

9st 0lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: James Owen

Developed into fairly useful hurdler when fitted with a visor last year, winning four times (2m4f-2m7f); didn't show a great deal in three AW novice races (8.6f-1m3f) in March and was soundly beaten when upped to 2m for recent handicap debut (visor refitted) but she may yet transfer some of that hurdling ability to this code.

4/1

OUR TIP

Form: 38-623

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 63

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

3rd

2

(4)

21st May 2026

Good

1m 7f 217y

Class 6

14:20 Musselburgh

Zimmerman

11st 1lb

J: Mr Thomas Easterby

T: Tim Easterby

Solid effort when second of eight at Catterick ten days ago (2m, good; first run in this combination of accessories); should remain competitive.

11/2

2nd

2

(4)

11th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 189y

Class 6

15:30 Catterick

Zimmerman

9st 11lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

The odd sign of spark last season and he may have needed his recent comeback run; down to a dangerous mark but this 7yo has been regressive and is winless since July 2024; cheekpieces return for first time since last May.

6/1

Form: 334-60

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 63

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

12th

15

(16)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

18:10 Newbury

Simiyann

8st 13lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Ian Williams

Dual 2m winner last year; two heavy defeats over hurdles before perking up somewhat on return to Flat in January, but absent since; well handicapped on plenty of turf and AW form, so needs a close look, but the last time he raced over a trip this short was February 2024.

16/1

6th

3

(8)

22nd Jan 2026

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 5

16:00 Southwell (AW)

Simiyann

9st 10lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Ian Williams

Returns to the Flat after two heavy defeats over hurdles; ran below market expectations on last attempt under this code but is competitively treated on best AW/turf form.

10/1

Form: 573116

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 62

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

6th

7

(5)

18th May 2026

Good

1m 6f 32y

Class 5

15:30 Carlisle

Charlie Darling

8st 10lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Alan Brown

Has gradually found his feet on AW for new yard since returning from lengthy absence and gained neck wins at Southwell (2m) the last twice; at the top of his game and he was effective on turf in Ireland.

6/1

1st

1

(7)

7th May 2026

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 6

21:00 Southwell (AW)

Charlie Darling

9st 10lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Alan Brown

Bounced back from a lesser effort when third of eight here last month and built on that to record his first success for this stable over C&D nine days ago; lively contender under a 5lb penalty.

4/1

Form: 121-34 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 61

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

4th

7

(3)

17th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:17 Ripon

Rupert The Prince

9st 1lb

J: Jack Dace

T: Rebecca Menzies

Won three times (once from rear, twice making all) at up to 2m last term on the Flat for Paddy Butler; remote this year in his two hurdle races (three-runner race last time) but he was a fair third over C&D (a head behind No More Bolero) in between and peak form gives him a good shout.

7/2

2nd

3

6th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

13:55 Kelso

Rupert The Prince

10st 7lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Rebecca Menzies

Won three times at up to 2m on the Flat for Paddy Butler; bought for 36,000gns in October; third in a 2m handicap at Ripon 11 days ago having disappointed in a Newcastle maiden hurdle on jumps debut in January (2m1f, good to soft; cheekpieces on instead of visor); visor back on, this longer trip should suit, and improvement likely.

7/1

Form: 320-14 C

Last run: 20 days

W: 8st 12lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 54

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

4th

1

(2)

19th May 2026

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 6

14:30 Newcastle (AW)

Lady Phoebe

9st 9lb

J: Jake Dickson

T: Adam Nicol

Not achieved much in previous visits here but always over shorter and she's been found the right race having won comfortably over the extended 2m5f at Pontefract four weeks ago; holds obvious claims upped 5lb.

7/4

1st

10

(6)

21st Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 139y

Class 6

16:32 Pontefract

Lady Phoebe

8st 13lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Adam Nicol

Just one win from her 28 starts and she needs to prove her stamina, but she's on a competitive mark on her Flat form last August/September and she ran pretty well over hurdles three weeks ago; trainer won this last year.

11/1

Form: 0336-9

Last run: 10 days

W: 8st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 52

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

9th

13

29th May 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 5

18:05 Wolverhampton (AW)

Someones Wish

10st 0lb

J: Mr Jack Loughnane

T: Patrick Morris

Course scorer (for Robert Eddery) in 2023; a fair winning hurdler/chaser for Gordon Elliott since but pulled up over hurdles at Perth last month on final run for yard; more needed for his new stable.

25/1

10

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

16:10 Perth

Someones Wish

11st 4lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Gordon Elliott

Dual AW Flat winner who has won a chase and a handicap hurdle at Downpatrick since joining Gordon Elliott; hasn't been at his best since winning over hurdles in October (2m1f, yielding); stable has a fine record here.

12/1

Form: 218482

Last run: 20 days

W: 8st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 50

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

2nd

3

(5)

19th May 2026

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 6

14:30 Newcastle (AW)

Angelardo

9st 4lb

J: Conor Whiteley

T: Liam Bailey

Inconsistent but likes it here (C&D winner in March off 4lb lower) and should fare better, the blinkers experiment having been binned following a below-par effort last time.

6/1

8th

3

(3)

30th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 6

17:17 Southwell (AW)

Angelardo

11st 0lb

J: Miss Pippa Brown

T: Liam Bailey

Off the mark at the seventh attempt when forging clear at Newcastle (2m, Tapeta) last month but he's been well held on Polytrack and Tapeta since; has bit to prove again and he needs more progress in first-time blinkers; stablemate of Yakhabar.

13/2

Form: /54-48

Last run: 32 days

W: 8st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 47

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

8th

8

(9)

7th May 2026

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 6

21:00 Southwell (AW)

Cold Henry

8st 13lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: Sara Ender

Made all over hurdles at Catterick in March but pulled up at Hexham next time; bounced back to form returned to the Flat nine days ago, keeping on into fourth over this C&D; each-way chance.

14/1

4th

8

(6)

28th Apr 2026

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 6

16:35 Southwell (AW)

Cold Henry

9st 3lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: Sara Ender

Returns to the Flat after showing mixed form over hurdles; placed three times in seven visits here including over this trip, but others are more compelling.

11/1

Form: 63-843

Last run: 21 days

W: 8st 4lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 45

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

3rd

11

(3)

18th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 68y

Class 6

14:50 Lingfield

Golden Samba

8st 8lb

J: Olivia Tubb

T: Ed de Giles

Lightly raced maiden who hasn't achieved much in two runs back this year, latterly when a remote fourth of five back on turf.

16/1

4th

9

3rd May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 44y

Class 6

16:55 Salisbury

Golden Samba

8st 4lb

J: Olivia Tubb

T: Ed de Giles

Made low-key seasonal reappearance on Tapeta last month but was placed on handicap debut at Bath (1m6f, soft) in September and remains lightly raced; could have a say if suited by today's much faster ground.

10/1

Form: 23-544

Last run: 113 days

W: 8st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 45

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

4th

6

(5)

15th Feb 2026

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 5

14:12 Newcastle (AW)

Arcimboldo

8st 5lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Mike Sowersby

Nine-race maiden; started off for Mike Sowersby with three good runs in the autumn (all 2m, Tapeta) but form has dipped recently and he's out of the weights in this higher-grade race; needs help from the new cheeekpieces.

8/1

3rd

14

(9)

18th Nov 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 6

15:45 Newcastle (AW)

Arcimboldo

8st 6lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Mike Sowersby

Six-race maiden; has shown improvement in 2m handicaps at Newcastle (finished third) and Southwell (close second) since joining new yard and switched to AW; turn may be near.

10/1

Betting Forcast

6/1 Merrijig, 7/2 Laravie, 13/2 Zimmerman, 10/1 Simiyann, 10/1 Charlie Darling, 10/1 Rupert The Prince, 8/1 Lady Phoebe, 33/1 Someones Wish, 8/1 Angelardo, 20/1 Cold Henry, 6/1 Golden Samba, 20/1 Arcimboldo