19:10 Pontefract
Monday 12 June 2017
All18:4019:1019:4020:1020:4021:10
Tony Bethell Memorial Handicap
- 4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m 1f 27y | Good (Good to Firm in places) | 11 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 19:10 | Winning time: 3m 53.54s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Looks to still have some potential on the Flat over staying trips and scored on his first outing for this yard after seven months off the course. Travelled strongly and should be capable of going close to following up with few if any unexposed types in this.
Been given a break after completing an AW hat-trick around the turn of the year over 2m and now return on turf off a mark of 79 (career high). 0/5 so far on turf but all those attempts came over much shorter trips and the suspicion is that she could well be as good on the surface if she returns in the same form as before.
All his previous wins had come at Wolverhampton before he struck over 2m2f here in April finding plenty to win off a 3lb lower defeating Tuscan Gold by 2L with Riptide further back. Upped in grade and running from out the handicap last time back on the AW he didn't get the race run to suit and will benefit from a strongly run race here.
Fairly lightly raced on the Flat since taking two staying handicaps off lower marks in 2015 although he has won twice over hurdles in the interim. Showed he could be competitive off this mark when a good second on the Flat at Wolverhampton on his last Flat run (out over hurdles last time) coming from further back than was ideal and would benefit from a strong gallop.
Usually seen to best effect on the Fibresand at Southwell (dual winner there) but has never been tried over his far on the Flat. One of two runners in the race for this yard he faces some strong stayers here with his recent hurdles form rather underwhelming.
The second representative from this yard he has looked more and more awkward of late and looks a hard one to totally trust. Has won over a similar trip but has yet to hit form this year and his attitude looks to be holding him back.
C&D winner for whom the blinkers go on for the first time and he really does need a strongly run race even more so than some others in this race. Got outpaced over 2m at Ripon last time out so this longer trip will help but likely to get outpaced at some stage of the contest.
Six-time winner at Musselburgh who ended his season last year with a win at that same course off a mark of 62. Could well have been amiss when returning at Carlisle over 2m1f in a race won by Frederic and can only be watched here after that outing.
Winner of this race in 2015 off a 6lb higher mark when 11/4f with three of today's rivals behind he's returned in good form this year in two similar events (fit from hurdling) winning over C&D last time off a mark of 60 (again beating some of today's rivals). Does have work to do with Uncle Bernie on his previous run though but he's always worthy of respect in these staying events here and should run his usual sound race.
This will be the 29th time that he's run around here and he's pretty much part of the furniture in these staying events here (won this race in 2013). Ran a respectable race behind Frederic at Carlisle last time but he does have his quirks these days and whilst he's sure to be running on at the end he can look an unenthusiastic camper these days.
Formerly a very capable sort over obstacles and on the Flat but hasn't won since 2014 and failed to land a substantial gamble off a tumbling mark at Carlisle over 2m1f when runner-up to Frederic who won with plenty in hand. Not even in the same form last time out back on the AW in another change of headgear and although his stable remains in form he faces a tough task here from 1lb out of the handicap.
Non-Runners
6
(3)
Arrowtown23
Weight: 9-1| Age: 5
T: M & D Easterby J: Nathan Evans
NR
10
(12)
Waterclock30
Weight: 8-9| Age: 8
T: Micky Hammond J: Joey Haynes
NR
Forecasts
Frederic (5/4), Teak (5/1), All For The Best (11/2), Aurora Gray (8/1), Arrowtown (8/1), Medina Sidonia (12/1), Uncle Bernie (14/1), Waterclock (16/1), Tuscan Gold (25/1), Serenity Now (25/1), Riptide (33/1), La Bacouetteuse (33/1), Rock On Bollinski (50/1)
Plenty of the usual suspects here with several of these having taken each other on a few times before with previous winners of this event Riptide and Tuscan Gold probably able to go round here blindfolded. That duo may well be vulnerable now to some improvers with the unexposed Uncle Bernie, All For The Best and Aurora Gray all having claims in an open heat. Frederic is of obvious interest given his form for the Dalgleish yard on his debut at Carlisle and he looks capable of further improvement but a chance is taken with ARROWTOWN after she caught the eye at Doncaster in a race that she really should have won.
- Arrowtown
- Frederic
- All For The Best
Prize Money
1st: £5,822.002nd: £1,732.003rd: £866.004th: £433.00
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