Thirsk - Sat 18 Apr 2026
The market may prove the best guide in this novice heat full of newcomers, but Karl Burke usually has his juveniles forward enough to do themselves justice at this time of year and BAI TONG gets the nod on that basis for last year's winning handler. Kevin Ryan saddled a juvenile winner at this track eight days ago so his pair Silesia and Moonlight Tango are also very interesting.
If INISHBEG can run up to his rating of 87 he ought to go very close to winning a maiden like this. He's had a pipe-opener on the all-weather at Newcastle and was last seen on the turf at Redcar finishing second to a potentially smart horse in Yazin. Advance Twentyfive is rated 84 and, with more experience than the selection, he won't go down without a fight, while Weffaag is noted for a top Newmarket yard.
IRIS DANCER gets just a tentative vote in a competitive sprint handicap as she performed well for the silver medal on her return to fray at Pontefract, an outing she's entitled to have come forward for. Mr Dreamseller will no doubt prove popular given his unexposed profile and rightly so. The Wolverhampton winner joins Stirrup Cup and Pal Joey on the shortlist.
Having made a triumphant stable debut at Doncaster 20 days ago, there should be more to come from MELVIN UDALL. The four-year-old scored with enough in hand to suggest that a 5lb higher mark is surmountable and he's fancied to follow up. U Sure Do ended last year's campaign with a close-up second at Musselburgh and the market may guide on his return to action. With that in mind, a bigger threat may emerge from the race-fit Alpha Capture, who has filled the frame on both outings this season.
Narmar looked more than capable of picking up a race judged on last summer's efforts, but he would make more appeal over further than today's 7f trip. With that in mind, IT'SNEVERJUSTONE could prove the port of call after finishing a good fourth on his return at Doncaster last month. Newcastle third Mudamer also boasts a recent run and is a feasible alternative.
The hat-trick seeking Cougar looked capable of better judged on his Hamilton triumph 209 days ago, but he makes his reappearance without the blinkers worn on that occasion. It's probably best to look elsewhere, with DON SIMON topping the list. The five-year-old has been eased a 1lb for last month's runner-up effort at Southwell and the booking of 7lb apprentice Toby Moore catches the eye. Gallivanted and Hackney Diamonds are also worth closer inspection.
MO OF CAIRO didn't quite last home over 6f at York's Ebor meeting on his last start as a juvenile. However, this low-mileage son of Havana Grey could be tough to overhaul with dropping back to the minimum trip very much in his favour based on his previous maiden success at Beverley. Simplify, who cosily won a 6f novice here last September, resumed to complete a brace at Wolverhampton last month. He's a key player off 3lb higher. Fellow hat-trick seeker Merlier and C&D winner Dazzling Haze are other attractive propositions.
GOLDEN PROSPERITY is a previous C&D winner that makes plenty of appeal after bouncing back to form at Catterick 10 days ago. A 3lb higher mark should be manageable in this company. Piperstown has been in fine form on the all-weather but his hat-trick bid might come a cropper unless he improves greatly on his past turf form. Therefore, Emerald Army, who won this off 1lb lower after a similar break last year, could be a bigger danger on his debut for Ruth Carr. Tommytwohoots is also considered.
BAI TONG represents a yard that has won the last two renewals of this race, and with a strong sprinting pedigree, she looks capable of making a winning debut, especially given the stable’s current good form. Silesia appears to be the first choice from Kevin Ryan’s runners, the trainer had a debut winner at this track just over a week ago, so she commands serious respect on debut. And Havana Gift shapes like one who will improve for the experience, but could still do enough to get involved in the places.
INISHBEG has the benefit of a recent run, and if he can get anywhere near his mark of 87, he should prove far too strong for this field. His solid second last time out behind a rival now rated 90 reads very well in the context of this race, and he is likely to come on again for that effort. Advance Twentyfive drops in class here and brings valuable experience to the table. He should run well, although he may just find one too good on the day. Blue Boy Junior, a breeze-up purchase, has been given time to develop and is something of an unknown quantity on debut. That said, he has the profile to run a big race first time out.
STIRRUP CUP produced a very solid second over this course and distance last time, an effort that caught the eye given he was short of room mid-race. With a clearer run, he looks well capable of backing that up and could notch a third career success by landing this. Mr Dreamseller was an impressive winner of a novice contest last time and now makes his handicap debut off what could prove to be a lenient mark. He’s open to further improvement and should go well. Iris Dancer showed a return to form when finishing second on his latest outing. He’s likely to come on for that run and can make his presence felt once again.
ALPHA CAPTURE was formerly trained by Willie Mullins, and was a multiple winner in Ireland. He has shaped encouragingly on his first two starts for his new yard, finishing third on both occasions. Those efforts suggest he’s ready to get off the mark here, especially carrying a light weight for a stable in good form. Woodstock should benefit from this drop back in class, and with both rider and trainer going well at present, he has every chance of making his presence felt. Quest For Fun was slightly unlucky not to finish closer last time after meeting trouble in running. With a bit more luck, he’s capable of putting up a much better performance here.
PACKETOFBISCUITS was in very good form on the all-weather over the winter and shaped well at Doncaster on his first run of the turf season. He looks the type to build on that effort, and with that run now under his belt, he could be ready to return to winning ways. Stanage was a shade unlucky on his seasonal debut at Doncaster and is likely to come on for that outing. With improvement expected, he should go well here. It'sneverjustone also ran a solid race on his reappearance and is another who should strip fitter for the run. He can build on that and is likely to put in another dependable performance.
HACKNEY DIAMONDS faces a slight step up in class here, but arrives in very good form and has race fitness on his side. After posting two solid third-place efforts, the Ian Williams trained runner got back to winning ways at Southwell last time. He could still be well treated on the turf, and his yard is more than capable of keeping runners in winning form. Don Simon remains a maiden, but benefits from Toby Moore’s valuable 7lb claim, which brings him into the equation. He’s been consistent enough to suggest he can run another solid race. Cougar was in excellent form prior to a break and may still be well handicapped, though he does have a 209-day absence to overcome, which adds an element of uncertainty.
A decent contest on paper, and one that can see SIMPLIFY continue her upward trajectory by completing a hat-trick. She was a tidy winner of a novice contest at this venue on her final start as a two-year-old, and returned with another success at Wolverhampton on her seasonal debut. Now just 3lb higher and with that run under her belt, she looks capable of following up at a track where she already has winning form. Mo Of Cairo drops in class after a very solid second at York last time. That form gives him strong claims here, although a lack of race fitness could mean he has to settle for a place. And The Lost Sock should appreciate the drop back in trip. A five-furlong novice winner, he ran well last time and looks capable of making another bold bid in this company.
TOMMYTWOHOOTS arrives in solid form after another consistent effort at Catterick and, with conditions to suit, he looks capable of getting involved again off a workable mark. Piperstown is in red-hot form chasing a hat-trick and remains capable of going close again despite another rise. What What What has returned to form with a recent win and is not ruled out if building on that latest success from a price.
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