Today / 14.10 Ripon

14.10

Good

Napoleons Casino And Restaurant Leeds Apprentice Handicap

  • Prize money: £4710.6
  • 1m 1f 170y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
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Napoleons Casino And Restaurant Leeds Apprentice Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

Form: 311179 CD

Last run: 10 days

W: 10st 0lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
17-134; had the run of the race when battling on gamely to edge out Polygram and His Finest Hour over C&D (good; 2-1) last month; disappointing at Doncaster (1m2f) and Redcar (1m) since; needs to bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

7

(6)

22nd Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 219y

Class 4

17:25 Redcar

Poets Dawn

9st 9lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

Admirable veteran who recently completed a hat-trick over 1m2f before disappointing last week at Doncaster; has to bounce back from that, but he should be fine returned to 1m.

10/1

7th

4

(4)

15th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 43y

Class 5

14:00 Doncaster

Poets Dawn

9st 5lb

J: Jake Dickson

T: Tim Easterby

Veteran who is enjoying a fine season and bagged win number five when completing a hat-trick in 1m2f handicap at Ripon 12 days ago; this likeable front runner merits serious consideration nudged up 1lb.

5/2

OUR TIP

Form: 8-0434 D

Last run: 66 days

W: 9st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
4-18 turf; solid effort at York (1m2f, good; third, 40-1) penultimate start and ran to a similar level without fully seeing out 12.5f at Chester (fourth) a fortnight later; is yet to win from a mark in the 70s and does have a ten-week absence to overcome.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

(9)

27th Jun 2026

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 5

17:50 Chester

Triple Force

9st 13lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Craig Lidster

Has won four of his 17 turf races at up to 1m2f; respectable 2.75l third of 18 at York last time (1m2.5f good); interesting, although pulled hard and didn't seem to get home on only previous try at 1m4f.

11/2

3rd

16

(5)

12th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 56y

Class 4

17:18 York

Triple Force

9st 1lb

J: Sam James

T: Craig Lidster

Went up 20lb for his four wins last season and has found life much tougher this term; fair run last time at Beverley but plenty to find with the winner, Mao Shang Wong.

25/1

Form: 262-32 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Dual winner for Ian Williams; sold for 20,000gns last October; third to Poet's Dawn over C&D (stable debut) early last month and runner-up to a progressive rival over 1m here subsequently; highly likely to make presence felt.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

10

(5)

15th Aug 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:55 Ripon

His Finest Hour

9st 2lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Tina Jackson

Successful over 1m2f at Newbury (good to firm) off this mark for Ian Williams last summer; creditable start for new yard after nine months off (had wind surgery) when third of five over 1m2f here (good) 12 days ago; entitled to build on that but 9.4f at Wolverhampton is the shortest trip he's tackled prior to this.

12/1

3rd

3

(2)

3rd Aug 2026

Good

1m 1f 170y

Class 4

16:24 Ripon

His Finest Hour

9st 5lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Tina Jackson

Won for Ian Williams at Newbury (1m2f, good to firm) last July and runner-up three times subsequently; sold for 20,000gns last October and absent since (wind op in interim); may be best watched on stable debut.

8/1

Form: 051226 CD

Last run: 8 days

W: 9st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Dug in to repel Qitaal over C&D (good; from 5lb lower) in June and lost out narrowly to stablemate Poet's Dawn back here the following month; met with trouble at Musselburgh (1m1f, selling handicap) latest; Rhys Elliott takes off 3lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(2)

24th Aug 2026

Good

1m 0f 208y

Class 5

15:15 Musselburgh

Yermanthere

10st 0lb

J: Jake Dickson

T: Tim Easterby

Comes here in decent form having won at Ripon in June and finished a close second to a stablemate there last month (also 1m2f, good); contender.

7/2

2nd

3

(3)

18th Jul 2026

Good

1m 1f 170y

Class 4

15:53 Ripon

Yermanthere

9st 4lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

8yo who capitalised on a reduced mark to win over C&D (good) last month before 7l second to easy winner in amateur jockeys' race at Pontefract (1m2f, good); he's not ruled out back here.

9/2

Form: 350306

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Four AW wins (6f-8.5f) but yet to register (0-16) on turf; placed at Nottingham (8.5f, good to firm) in mid July but less competitive at Wolverhampton (9.5f) and Beverley (1m2f) since; easing mark isn't enough to tempt.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(5)

12th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 207y

Class 5

16:15 Beverley

No Knee Never

10st 1lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: James Owen

All four wins on the AW and 0-15 on turf, though has been running well at 1m-1m2f on grass this year without getting the job done; does have to bounce back from a poor one, however.

6/1

10th

4

(4)

21st Jul 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 5

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

No Knee Never

9st 8lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: James Owen

Held off his revised mark on turf since two AW wins, including here, in April; wins have all come over shorter but he stays this far and is one to consider back on Tapeta.

7/1

Form: 353705

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Sole win from 13 came at Thirsk (7f, soft) last September; placed at Thirsk (7f) in April and Hamilton (1m1f) in June, before a slight dip in form; latest Ayr fifth (1m2f, beaten under 5l) respectable; 2lb lower, with claiming rider Shay Farmer booked, so isn't discounted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(6)

8th Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

18:30 Ayr

Draupnir

9st 11lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Michael & David Easterby

1-12; fair third over 1m1f at Hamilton three starts back but lesser efforts at York (1m6f and 1m) since; still 3lb above his winning mark and best form is at up to 1m1f; others more appealing.

20/1

10th

14

(16)

25th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 192y

Class 4

15:05 York

Draupnir

9st 2lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

Upped markedly in trip here (1m6f) four weeks ago and predictably failed to stay; previous form (7f-1m1f) is solid enough but a wide draw could be difficult to overcome.

28/1

Form: 766441 CD

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
10-50 turf; made all, clinging on, at Redcar (1m2f, good; 20-1) ten days ago; 3lb higher, but with 3lb claimer Conor Whiteley taking over in the saddle; is better known as a miler, so stamina could be the thorny issue, especially if more rain arrives.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(3)

22nd Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 1y

Class 5

18:30 Redcar

Cosmos Raj

9st 9lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: David O’Meara

A three-time 1m winner in 2025 but yet to hit top form this season, finishing just fourth of six in 1m Pontefract handicap 17 days ago; on a falling mark but more is required.

10/1

4th

5

(2)

5th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 6y

Class 5

15:45 Pontefract

Cosmos Raj

8st 13lb

J: Conor Whiteley

T: David O’Meara

Multiple winner over 1m-1m2f; versatile regarding going; 12lb lower than his most recent win at Ripon 13 months ago; plenty to prove based on five of his six starts this season.

10/1

Form: 73-980 C

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 60

Form & Verdict
Won three times here (1m) in his first four starts for this trainer in 2025; has found life tough from an elevated mark since; "stopped quickly" in added cheekpieces at Ayr (1m2f; 22-1, beaten 36l) latest; risky proposition.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

4

(9)

10th Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

16:15 Ayr

Precious Spartan

9st 13lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Patrick Neville

Did well for new stable last season, winning three times over 1m at Ripon; also suited by 1m2f, but launched this campaign with two low-key runs (7f/1m) and needs a good boost from the new cheekpieces.

12/1

8th

8

(5)

6th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

19:09 Ripon

Precious Spartan

9st 3lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Patrick Neville

Never dangerous over 7f in sole outing this term; has a record of 3-3 over C&D (all on good ground last term; 0-17 elsewhere) and looks very interesting returned to this scenario; favourably treated off 1lb below last winning mark.

5/1

Betting Forcast

14/1 Poets Dawn, 8/1 Triple Force, 9/4 His Finest Hour, 5/1 Yermanthere, 10/1 No Knee Never, 5/1 Draupnir, 7/2 Cosmos Raj, 25/1 Precious Spartan

Verdict

Conor Whiteley’s 3lb claim serves to reduce the burden for the narrow Redcar winner Cosmos Raj, while Draupnir – who could prove suited by further rain – is slipping back to a more competitive mark. However, the preferred choice is Tina Jackson’s HIS FINEST HOUR, with the 5yo having been in decent fettle at this track on his last two starts. [Mark Rowntree]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

His Finest Hour

RP RATINGS:

Cosmos Raj

POSTDATA:

Poet's Dawn

Daily Mirror:

Draupnir

D Express:

Triple Force

NEWMARKET:

No Knee Never

The Times:

His Finest Hour

Telegraph:

His Finest Hour

The Guardian:

His Finest Hour

The Sun:

His Finest Hour

The Star:

His Finest Hour

Daily Record:

Cosmos Raj

Daily Mail:

Poet's Dawn