First Race 6.00

THETRUEYORKSHIREMANTRAININGSERIESAPPRENTICE HANDICAPSTAKES(CLASS5)(PartoftheRacingExcellenceSeries)

for four yrs old and upwards x Total prize fund £8000

Owners Prize Money. 1st £3303, 2nd £1652, 3rd £826, 4th £413, 5th £206. (Penalty Value £4187.20) Weights raised 1lb and paragraphs 27 to 31 of the Weights and Handicapping Code complied with where applicable.

For conditions of this race, see page 35

LEADING COURSE TRAINER (17-22): D O’Meara (26 wins from 153 runners, 17%) runs SOUL SEEKER

TRAINER-IN-FORM (LAST 14 DAYS): D O’Meara (5 wins from 57 runners, 9%) runs SOUL SEEKER

LONGEST TRAVELLER: JARVIS trained by A Duffield, Leyburn, 60 miles.

5 days ago. Likely to be thereabouts.

2 JARVIS (IRE) (34) 20000-5 D

HHHHI BHA72

4 9-11 (1)

Br Ch g Profitable (IRE) - Sorry Woman (FR) William Pyle J

O Ingham Racing Syndicate Ann Duffield, Leyburn T

B Newtown Stud Syndicate Sims Suzuki S

TIMEFORM VIEW Dual 5f winner for Ger Lyons. Didn’t hit the ground running for this yard last autumn but better signs after a break when fifth of 10 at Newcastle (5f) last month, showing good speed. Entitled to be sharper for run and he’s well treated on peak form.

3 BERT KIBBLER (GB) (13) 150205 D

HHHHH BHA71

5 9-10 (5)

Br B g Fountain of Youth (IRE) - Annie Beach (IRE) Liam Wright (3) J

O Mrs D. Dalby & Harrowgate Bloodstock Ltd David & Nicola Barron, Thirsk T

B Mrs S. C. Barron Tote S

TIMEFORM VIEW Latest win at Southwell in March. Best not judged on latest last of 5 at Nottingham as he reared badly leaving the stalls. Cheekpieces on first time.

4 COTTAM LANE (GB) (7) 05330-0 C D

TFRHHHII BHA70

5 9-9 (3)

Br B g Twilight Son - Alsium (IRE) Alex Jary (3) J

O The Racing Emporium Nigel Tinkler, Malton T

B Callipygian Bloodstock Racing Emporium Ltd S

TIMEFORM VIEW Course winner Fifteen runs since last win in 2021. Ninth of 13 in handicap at Thirsk (6f, good, 25/1) on reappearance 7 days ago. Needs to have come on a fair bit in a short time. TFRHHIII BHA69

5 BLAZING HOT (GB) (10) 3151-05 D

Br Ch g Hot Streak (IRE) - A Great Beauty

6 9-8 (2)

Mia Nicholls (3) J

O Mr Ron Hull David C. Griffiths, Wiseton T

B Plantation Stud Ron Hull Group Of Companies S

TIMEFORM VIEW Latest win at Southwell in December Off 4 months, first run since leaving David Brown when fifth of 7 in handicap at Catterick (5f, good to firm) 10 days ago. Should be sharper for the outing.

6 INDIAN SOUNDS (IRE) (7) 4-04044 D BF

Br B g Exceed And Excel (AUS) - Sarinda

O I Massheder g shields sandfield racing

B Godolphin

TFRHHHII BHA68

7 9-4 (4)

Elle-May Croot (3) J

Paul Midgley, Westow T

TIMEFORM VIEW Not an obvious one having had 26 runs since his last win in 2020 but his stable has an excellent record in this race (has won last 4 runnings).

DECLARED RUNNERS 6

TFRHHHHI BHA64

2022: NO CORRESPONDING RACE LAST YEAR

Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn first time by No 3. Blinkers worn by No 5.

Visor, Tongue Strap worn by No 1. Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn by No 2.

Record Time: 1min 0.49secs; Median Time: 1min 3.30secs

Stewards Note:

JARVIS: Following its run on 9/5/2023 it was reported that the horse suffered interference.

BERT KIBBLER: Following its run on 30/5/2023 it was reported that the horse jumped awkwardly from the stalls.

Probable S.P.’s: 5-2 Soul Seeker (IRE), 3-1 Indian Sounds (IRE), 7-2 Jarvis (IRE), 7-1 Bert Kibbler (GB), 11-1 Blazing Hot (GB), 12-1 Cottam Lane (GB)

There were quite encouraging signs from the well-handicapped JARVIS on his AW reappearance 5 weeks ago and he’s given a chance to build on that. Indian Sounds is on a long losing run but the Paul Midgley stable does very well in this race so he’s feared most ahead of last week’s Ripon second Soul Seeker.

TIMEFORM PREDICTION: 1.JARVIS (IRE) 2.INDIAN SOUNDS (IRE) 3.SOUL SEEKER (IRE)

Pontefract Racecourse will present a memento to the winning owner in the Winner’s Enclosure after this race A cash prize of £30 will be presented to the stable employee in charge of the best turned out horse in this race.

The winning horse will also receive a sack of carrots kindly donated by Poskitts Vegetable Farmers and Growers

Position Of Stalls

Unless an announcement is made to the contrary, Starting Stalls will be positioned against the INSIDE RUNNING RAIL for all races.