Forest Caper, trained by David O’Meara and ridden by Daniel Tudhope, claimed the Thirsk handicap at 12/1 on Monday in the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme Saves Lives Handicap Stakes. The seven-furlong contest saw O’Meara’s gelding edge out The Childe Of Hale by half a length in 1m 26.19s.
The success came at the expense of the 9/4 favourite, which pressed hard in the closing stages but could not find enough. Tudhope’s patient approach—sitting midfield before moving decisively with two furlongs remaining—proved decisive. The Thirsk handicap delivered a decisive result that vindicated the 12/1 price in one of the afternoon’s most competitive contests.
Forest Caper Edges Favourite in Closing Thirsk Handicap
The novice stakes at 3:21 delivered the card’s standout performance. Majestic Jude, the 2/9F favourite for William Haggas and Cieren Fallon, remained unbeaten and travelled with superior ease to win by three lengths. Our morning assessment of the novice contest proved prescient, with Red Hat Eagle from David O’Meara’s yard taking third.
Bladey Lady (7/2) won the nursery for Tim Easterby and David Allan, while Fractional at 4/1 claimed the fillies’ handicap for Haggas and Fallon. Lamlash Bay dominated the six-furlong selling contest at 5/1 for the Easterby brothers and Billy Garritty, dictating throughout and denying the 7/4F favourite Fan Mail.
