16:47 Thirsk

Saturday 16 May 2026

All13:5214:2315:0015:3716:1216:4717:2517:57

Sky Bet Club Handicap

  • 4YO plus  |   Class 3  |   7f 218y  |   14 Runners  |   Turf
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The word Betfair in black.
The words Paddy Power in green.
Cloth number
Odds
Star rating
Horse A-Z
1
(12)
Horse silk
City Of Poets14
Age: 4|  Weight: 9-11| J: P J McDonald| T: J Tate| OR:  92
Won 2 of first 3 starts and ended the year with a first handicap success at Wolverhampton in November. Shaping up well this season, coming from further back than the pair who beat him on return and then unable to open up (crossed line on bridle) in the Hunt Cup here latest. Leading claims.
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Timeform
2
(13)
Horse silk
Mr Professor324
Age: 7|  Weight: 9-9| J: S H James| T: K P De Foy| OR:  90| D
Winner of the Lincoln on 2024 return before losing his way. Raced only 3 times last season but showed better signs, hampered late on when sixth of 10 at Newcastle on final outing in June. Now below last winning mark on first run since leaving Raphael Freire and this is a big drop in grade.
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Timeform
3
(1)
Horse silk
New Image26
Age: 6|  Weight: 9-9| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR:  90| D
Progressive form when winning 4 times in 2024 but lightly raced since. Promising comeback at Redcar 4 weeks ago having been easy to back and one to note now 2 lb below last successful mark.
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Timeform
4
(11)
Horse silk
Esherannt14
Age: 4|  Weight: 9-9| J: Zak Wheatley(3)| T: D Carroll| OR:  90| D
Dual winner over 1m for Dermot Weld last season fitted with headgear (not worn yet this year). Stepped up on his comeback run without looking especially well treated in the Hunt Cup here a fortnight ago. More needed.
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Timeform
5
(3)
Horse silk
Oolong Poobongt1330
Age: 4|  Weight: 9-8| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: E Bethell| OR:  89| D
Continued to improve last season, winning at Haydock before a fine effort upped to this trip in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot, not so well placed as a couple who beat her. Gone well fresh and could have more to offer after just 7 starts. Tongue tie reached for on return.
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Timeform
6
(9)
Horse silk
Impartialityp34
Age: 4|  Weight: 9-4| J: Shane Gray| T: Phillip Makin| OR:  85| D
A three-time winner (around 1m) early last summer. Probably needed his Musselburgh return minus headgear (back on here) and could be much closer to form now.
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Timeform
7
(6)
Horse silk
Zapphirep251
Age: 6|  Weight: 9-4| J: Ryan Sexton| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR:  85| D
Reliable mare who won twice when the cheekpieces went on last season and was a good third at York when last seen. Might need this back from 8 months off.
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Timeform
8
(4)
Horse silk
Hot Cash28
Age: 4|  Weight: 9-2| J: Rose Dawes(5)| T: J Channon| OR:  83| D
Won the Carlisle Bell off 2 lb higher mark last summer. Form gradually tailed off thereafter and having been gelded, should have come on for his return in the Newbury Spring Cup.
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Timeform
9
(14)
Horse silk
Empire Of Light21
Age: 5|  Weight: 9-1| J: Oliver Stammers| T: Grant Tuer| OR:  82
Picked up where he left off in 2025 when gamely winning at Haydock (10.5f) 3 weeks ago. Exuberant sort and has more on his plate in hat-trick bid back down in trip in tougher race.
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Timeform
10
(10)
Horse silk
Capital Guarantee23
Age: 6|  Weight: 9-0| J: Mark Winn| T: D O'Meara| OR:  81| CD
Won 3 times last season (including a second success over C&D) and bounced back to his best with his reappearance behind him when just failing at Beverley, doing well under the circumstances having been caught further back than ideal. This is tougher but he's respected given his good record here.
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Timeform
11
(8)
Horse silk
Frankies Dreamh28
Age: 4|  Weight: 9-0| J: P Mulrennan| T: J Candlish| OR:  81
Won a competitive big-field 7f York handicap on firm ground this time last year. Well held in 3 runs since, including on return from 9 months off here 4 weeks ago.
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Timeform
12
(7)
Horse silk
Count Palatine28
Age: 5|  Weight: 9-0| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR:  81| C
Won at Carlisle and Ayr last season. Tends to need a run or 2 to get up to speed and shaped accordingly after 6 months off here 4 weeks ago. This trip may stretch him and he'll find easier openings.
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Timeform
13
(5)
Horse silk
Empirestateofmindb30
Age: 8|  Weight: 8-13| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR:  80| CD
Successful twice last season (long odds-on in 4-runner seller latest). Stepped up on reappearance at Ripon 4 weeks ago without looking a winner waiting to happen again. Passed over for all he's a dual C&D scorer.
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Timeform
14
(2)
Horse silk
Leadenhall17
Age: 6|  Weight: 8-7| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR:  74| D
Dual 1m scorer in 2025. Shaped well on his return when fifth of 9 in handicap at Pontefract (1m) 17 days ago, nearest finish having been set too much to do. Interesting off a 2 lb lower mark.
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Timeform

Forecasts

Oolong Poobong (9/2), City Of Poets (5/1), New Image (6/1), Empire Of Light (7/1), Zapphire (8/1), Leadenhall (10/1), Capital Guarantee (10/1), Empirestateofmind (12/1), Mr Professor (12/1), Impartiality (12/1), Hot Cash (20/1), Esherann (20/1), Frankies Dream (33/1), Count Palatine (33/1)

Verdict

CITY OF POETS is shaping up well and could resume winning ways having got no luck in the Hunt Cup here last time. Leadenhall also caught the eye on his return at Pontefract and could make his presence felt, while David O'Meara has a strong hand with Capital Guarantee and New Image.

Previous Winners

2025
Mirsky
Weight: 9-9  |Age: 6
J: D Tudhope  |  T: D O'Meara
9/4

Prize Money

1st: £9,421.002nd: £4,421.003rd: £2,209.004th: £1,105.005th: £551.00

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