14:40 York

Saturday 23 May 2026

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

William Hill Epic Boost Handicap

3YO plus | Class 2 | 5f | 21 Runners | Turf

(13)

Pilgrim¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: William Pyle| T: T D Barron| OR: 95| C| D

9/1

Royal Ascot winner back in 2024. Mixed form since, but having had excuses on first 2 outings this year he bounced back to winning ways in Scottish Sprint Cup at Musselburgh (5f) last month and backed that up with a good fourth in a 22-runner race here (6f, good to soft) 10 days ago.

Form: 29-9814

(10)

Stratusnine¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: O J Orr| T: H Palmer| OR: 92

10/1

Won at Wolverhampton in December and shaped well when chasing home a better-treated one in a useful sprint at Newcastle (6f) in March. Pulled up having slipped at Chester 16 days ago and a well-run 5f remains likely to suit.

Form: 12-U52P

(20)

Partisan Hero^p¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: R Havlin| T: D Loughnane| OR: 92

11/1

Reliable performer won 4 times at 7f/1m last season, including twice at Epsom. Campaigned as a sprinter in Bahrain over the winter but did too much too soon back up in trip when seventh of 13 in handicap at Chester (7.6f, good to firm, 3/1) 17 days ago. Draw is a negative here.

Form: 1-83827

(7)

King Of Light^t,p²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Sean Kirrane| T: S C Williams| OR: 91| D

7/1

Really found form in a cheekpieces and tongue tie combination for Stuart Williams last autumn, winning 5f Haydock handicap before creditable fourth of 11 at Ascot (5f, soft). Returned with a good second in a 11-runner handicap at Goodwood (5f) 3 weeks ago and he's in the mix with a good draw.

Form: 79014-2

(12)

Ziggy's Triton^p⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Ben Robinson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 91| D

28/1

Won 4 times in 2025 and resumed his progress with victory in 12-runner 0-85 handicap at Musselburgh (5f) last month, showing a good attitude. On the wrong side of the track when down the field at C&D last week but this remains better company than he usually keeps.

Form: 539510

(8)

Elegant Erin⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-8| J: Barry McHugh| T: P T Midgley| OR: 91| D

50/1

A dual 5f Beverley winner last September. Yet to fire in 2 outings this term, ninth of 13 in handicap at Pontefract (5f, soft) 46 days ago but is easing in the weights.

Form: 6114-09

(16)

Air Force One^v⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: P J McDonald| T: G R Oldroyd| OR: 90| CD

15/2

C&D winner last July who resumed winning ways in 10-runner handicap at Beverley (5f) in April. Never travelling having reportedly lost both front shoes when only twelfth of 21 in handicap (5/1) at this C&D (good) 9 days ago. Difficult draw to overcome this time.

Form: 206-510

(3)

We Never Stop^b¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 89| D

66/1

Won twice on all-weather last spring, including a valuable 6f handicap at Newcastle. Ran well when third over the same C&D in March but below-par on turf last 2 starts and seems of greater interest on an artificial surface.

Form: 4-79380

(1)

Vantheman^b⁶^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Jack Nicholls⁽⁵⁾| T: K A Ryan| OR: 84| D

15/2

Gained second win of the season in a 13-runner handicap at Hamilton (5f, good to firm, 10/1) 6 days ago by ½ length from Reigning Profit, blinkers seeming to have a positive effect. Consistency hasn't always been his strong suit but he's not ruled out if in same form under a penalty.

Form: 5-18701

(14)

Master Of My Fate²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Shane Gray| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 86| D

40/1

Twice successful on the all-weather this year and while he matched the form when fifth of 10 on return to turf at Nottingham last time, others look better treated.

Form: 614815

(11)

Vintage Clarets¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Ethan Tindall⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 86| CD

10/1

Successful at Ascot in August but ended last season with a whimper and hasn't really threatened across 3 starts this year, albeit showing a glimmer of promise when seventh of 10 in handicap at Chester (5f, good to firm) 16 days ago. Back on a handy mark.

Form: 508-007

(4)

Toca Madera⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 84

6/1

Edged down weights in 2025 for Brian Meehan. Prominent in the betting on return/yard debut at Thirsk but shaped as if the run might've been needed and was on the wrong side of the track at C&D last week, so worth betting check for yard that do well with new recruits.

Form: 3049-70

(2)

Francisco's Piece⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Mikey Sheehy| T: A Keatley| OR: 83| D

40/1

Went wrong way from an encouraging return here last season and though he didn't stop the slide when seventh of 9 in handicap (12/1) at Catterick (6f, good to firm) 45 days ago, it's possible that outing was needed.

Form: 50005-7

(5)

Squealer²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Faye McManoman| T: N Tinkler| OR: 81| CD

16/1

C&D winner last June. Never dangerous after a slow start when ninth of 10 in handicap at Thirsk (5f) 21 days ago so needs to bounce back, though is well drawn and there was some encouragement to be taken from his Beverley reappearance.

Form: 0800-69

(6)

Lethal Nymph⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: A Mullen| T: P T Midgley| OR: 80| D

10/1

Successful twice over 5f last autumn and got back on track granted a better track position when fourth of 21 in handicap at this C&D (good) 9 days ago, faring best of those held up. Player again,

Form: 83-2604

(21)

Alvin¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Darragh Keenan| T: George Scott| OR: 88| D

11/1

Promising sort made amends for his unlucky third on All-Weather Finals Day when comfortably winning a Bath handicap at the end of April. Shaped well again from a disadvantageous draw when fourth of 12 in handicap (6/1) at Chester (5f, good to firm) 15 days ago, but Stall 21 is a concern again.

Form: 418314

(18)

Temple Of Athena⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Billy Garritty| T: B Ellison| OR: 87| D

28/1

Improved to make a successful reappearance in 5f handicap at Wolverhampton in March. However, failed to back up that improvement in a listed event at Bath before finishing well beaten in a 6f handicap at Chester. Badly hampered here last week but others still make greater appeal.

Form: 63-1708

(15)

Sports Coach⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 78| D

14/1

Scored at Southwell (5f) in March and bounced back from a rare poor effort when sixth of 21 in handicap at this C&D (good) 9 days ago. Draw could've been kinder here, though.

Form: 215486

(19)

Spoof⁵⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 8-9| J: Alec Voikhansky| T: K Frost| OR: 78| D

18/1

Veteran has been sparingly campaigned in recent seasons but notched his first win since 2023 in a 17-runner handicap at Doncaster (5f, good to soft) 55 days ago. Remains well treated on old form, though whether he can back that up at his age remains to be seen.

Form: 0/9487-1

(17)

Fortification⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Connor Beasley| T: B Ellison| OR: 85| CD

6/1

Novice winner at Wolverhampton (5f) in November and was in frame in handicaps on his next 3 starts prior to leaving Archie Watson for 26,000 gns. Much improved on debut for this yard to win a 17-runner handicap at this C&D (good) 8 days ago and he has to be respected from 5 lb higher.

Form: 21-3241

(9)

Reigning Profit^v⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-7| J: Warren Fentiman⁽³⁾| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 76| D

12/1

A 3-time winner in 2025 and he ran creditably when ½-length second of 13 to Vantheman in handicap (13/2) at Hamilton (5f, good to firm) 6 days ago. This is more competitive but he remains below his last winning mark.

Form: 8-57852

Forecasts

Fortification (13/2), King Of Light (7/1), Air Force One (8/1), Vantheman (8/1), Pilgrim (10/1), Sports Coach (10/1), Stratusnine (10/1), Alvin (10/1), Reigning Profit (14/1), Vintage Clarets (14/1), Toca Madera (14/1), Partisan Hero (16/1), Lethal Nymph (20/1), Temple Of Athena (25/1), Squealer (25/1), We Never Stop (25/1), Master Of My Fate (25/1), Ziggy's Triton (33/1), Elegant Erin (33/1), Spoof (33/1), Francisco's Piece (33/1)

KING OF LIGHT more than confirmed the progress he made at 3 yrs when a good second at Goodwood on return and he can go one place better with the benefit of a good draw. Lethal Nymph was in the frame over C&D last week and should also be in the mix whilst Fortification, successful himself in a C&D contest last week, can't be dismissed despite his draw being possibly higher than ideal.