17:40 Pontefract

Tuesday 11 April 2017

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:1017:40

See Bananarama At Pontefract 80s Night Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:44 | Winning time: 2m 12.61s

(5)

Theos Lolly¹⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 75| C

3/1

Won here over 1m and at Ripon over 1m4f last season, the latter from today's mark and both on his last two starts in this class. Gelded since last run and has an opportunity here, although has not yet won when fresh.

Form: 105607-

(3)

Kingthistle⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽³⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 73

11/4

Progressed nicely for Ian Williams on the All Weather in the winter, winning three of his last four starts to rise 10lb. Stiff 10f like this should be just the ticket for him and has run several good races in defeat before today on turf, so first win on the green stuff cannot be ruled out for yard going well.

Form: 751-131

(8)

Ravenhoe¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Richard Oliver⁽³⁾| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 73

10/1

Performs best on a sound surface and should be very competitive from this mark, although is 4lb higher than his best win. Not sure if there is much more improvement to some and looks worth taking on.

Form: 287453

(2)

Framley Garth²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Paula Muir⁽⁵⁾| T: P Holmes| OR: 71| D

14/1

Has popped up once a year in the three seasons he has been racing (38 starts), the most recent success being at Hamilton last summer (1m½f, good to soft) from a mark of 69. Went close from 2lb higher than today in a Redcar ladies' race a couple of runs later, though shown nothing since on Flat or over hurdles.

Form: 52900-7

(6)

Gulf Of Poets¹⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Nathan Evans| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 70| D

7/2

Sole win was from 3lb higher at Beverley almost a year ago, though not beaten far on three subsequent occasions from higher marks. Ran well when fresh with Dermot Weld and interesting if supported.

Form: 362088-

(11)

Melabi⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽⁵⁾| T: R Ford| OR: 67

10/1

Landed a Doncaster maiden in 2015 but has rarely come close to adding to that. Slipping to the sort of mark from which he will be competitive again, though may need further assistance from the handicapper before he ends the drought.

Form: 2700-54

(14)

We'll Shake Hands¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Russell Harris⁽⁷⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 65| D

25/1

Picked up back-to-back wins at Nottingham and Yarmouth last July and 3lb higher here. Has the benefit of a recent run but more needed today.

Form: 61192-0

(12)

Clayton Hall^p1¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Ben Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 65| D

33/1

Entitled to plenty of respect given that he is 7lb lower than his Haydock win in May (1m2½f, good) on his first start for Brian Ellison. Best effort since then was for current yard in a seller. Has run well both times he has been fresh and could be a likely candidate here in first-time headgear.

Form: 46039-0

(10)

Silver Alliance^b⁵²

Age: 9| Weight: 8-11| J: Shelley Birkett| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 65| CD

20/1

Notched back-to-back wins at Newbury and over C&D last summer, the latter from 3lb higher than today. Well beaten all starts since and probable that he will need this return outing.

Form: 1009-98

(7)

Bit Of A Quirke²¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Jordan Vaughan| T: M Walford| OR: 60

14/1

Runner-up three times in succession last summer in handicaps from 1m-1m1f. Starts from a mark higher than any of that trio of runs today and not easy to fancy for win purposes.

Form: 562226-

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to board prices only - deduction 10p in the pound

Non-Runners

(4)

Giantstepsahead²²

Weight: 9-9| Age: 8

T: A Bailey J: Non Runner

(9)

Indy¹⁶¹

Weight: 9-7| Age: 6

T: J & S Quinn J: Josh Quinn

(13)

Sugarloaf Mountain³²

Weight: 9-4| Age: 4

T: B Ellison J: Kieran Schofield

(1)

Le Deluge⁵⁸

Weight: 8-12| Age: 7

T: Micky Hammond J: Rowan Scott

Forecasts

Kingthistle (11/4), Theos Lolly (3/1), Gulf Of Poets (7/2), Sugarloaf Mountain (7/2), Indy (6/1), Giantstepsahead (8/1), Melabi (10/1), Ravenhoe (10/1), Bit Of A Quirke (14/1), Framley Garth (14/1), Le Deluge (14/1), Silver Alliance (20/1), We'll Shake Hands (25/1), Clayton Hall (33/1)

Admittedly, following Indy has proved an expensive pursuit, but John Quinn is well capable of turning things around and the six-year-old has his easiest task ever, so if there is support for him it could be significant. Nonetheless CLAYTON HALL appeals both as a fresh horse and in first-time headgear and he is preferred. Le Deluge, Kingthistle and Gulf Of Poets are others likely to be in the shake-up.