16:00 Pontefract

Sunday 30 July 2017

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:00

tiesplanet.com - Ties For Every Occasion Handicap

Off time: 16:02 | Winning time: 1m 17.54s

(2)

Gin In The Inn¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 90| CD

9/2

Dual C&D scorer, the most recent by 6L in May when rated 9lb lower. Has faced a couple of tough tasks just lately and a 1lb drop plus a drop into this grade again should help him get much more competitive again. Claims.

Form: 6-11208

(15)

Michele Strogoff^b³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Josh Doyle⁽³⁾| T: T Coyle & K Wood| OR: 89

20/1

Was last seen winning a Chester claimer (7½f, good to soft) last month and went close over 1m earlier in the season, so not sure that this drop to 6f looks ideal. Handicapper has not raised him for that latest win, but he is likely to need more to win a handicap from this mark.

Form: 9-52881

(6)

Avon Breeze⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-13| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽⁵⁾| T: R M Whitaker| OR: 89| CD

7/1

Loves this venue, having won twice over 5f and once over C&D here, with two of those successes being this season. Holding her form very well this time, though will need to eek out a bit more again now raised 4lb to a mark from which she has never previously won.

Form: 87-1421

(11)

Intense Style^p²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Jane Elliott⁽⁵⁾| T: J L Eyre| OR: 85| D

16/1

Both his turf wins have been over this trip and on soft/heavy ground, so conditions are likely to suit him here. Went close off this mark over 7f (soft) at Doncaster last month. Same pilot back up today and this stiff track will play to his strengths, so looks a leading player.

Form: 400270

(13)

Art Obsession²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: P Mulrennan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 82| D

14/1

Has won two of his last three races in a lower grade, one of them under today's jockey. Will need to raise his game to add to that from 3lb higher, but should be able to give another good account.

Form: 0-32151

(3)

Russian Realm¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: G Lee| T: P T Midgley| OR: 82

16/1

Goes into this just 1lb higher than his best effort so far this season, when a short-head runner-up over this trip at Chester (soft) last month. Beaten from a higher mark in two better races since, but this look to be his level and he could again make a serious impact.

Form: 650207

(1)

Giant Spark^b1⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: L Morris| T: P T Midgley| OR: 82| D

9/1

Relishes this trip and some cut in the ground, but has been in the grip of the handicapper in 2017 so far, after doing well last year. Now back down to the sort of mark from which we know he can be competitive, so if first-time blinkers can help spark a revival he could be thereabouts.

Form: 880475

(7)

Bossipop^b¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 82| D

8/1

Another lover of cut in the ground whose two wins have been over this trip. Nudged up 1lb after making the frame at both Thirsk and Carlisle (5f, good to firm) on his last two starts and his CV suggests that he could go well but find a couple come home ahead of him.

Form: 0-05823

(4)

Johnny Cavagin^t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: A Mullen| T: Ronald Thompson| OR: 81| CD

9/1

Has won on soft ground, although most of his winning form has been on a sound surface. 2lb lower than the last of those and went close from 1lb higher at Doncaster earlier in the month, so has to enter calculations again as a triple C&D scorer.

Form: 327525

(8)

Magical Effect¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 80| D

11/2

Won at Ripon on his reappearance in April (6f, good to firm) before finishing 1½L behind Art Obsession at Thirsk from today's mark. Weighted to turn the tables on that reopposing rival today and with cut in the ground no problem, he has each-way claims.

Form: 32-1263

(12)

Hilary J^h²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Joey Haynes| T: Mrs A Duffield| OR: 79| D

20/1

Won over both 5f/6f last year and her best effort in three runs this term was at York two starts ago (6f, good to firm). Was a shade disappointing back there last time, so has a little to prove now. Acts with cut in the ground.

Form: 134-547

(9)

Mishaal⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: Joe Doyle| T: M Herrington| OR: 74| CD

20/1

Won this race last year (good to firm) from a 6lb higher mark and went close in a better race at Ripon next time, but the handicapper then took control until recently relenting. Well held last time but if he could reproduce his run over C&D from two starts ago he would have decent claims from 1lb lower.

Form: 770227

(14)

Duke Cosimo⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: T Eaves| T: M Herrington| OR: 74| CD

25/1

Won a C&D maiden in 2013. At his best on good ground, though handles a bit of cut. Back to form from today's mark at Redcar last time and should be on the premises again, though draw not ideal.

Form: 4-70593

(5)

Royal Connoisseur⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Sammy Jo Bell⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 73| D

14/1

Won back-to-back races over 6f on soft ground last autumn and would look well handicapped if able to return to that level of form today. Recent efforts (including here over C&D last time) have not been tremendously encouraging and others preferred.

Form: 784505

Non-Runners

(10)

Highland Acclaim¹⁷

Weight: 9-13| Age: 6

T: D O'Meara J: D Nolan

Forecasts

Gin In The Inn (9/2), Magical Effect (11/2), Avon Breeze (7/1), Bossipop (8/1), Highland Acclaim (8/1), Johnny Cavagin (9/1), Giant Spark (9/1), Royal Connoisseur (14/1), Art Obsession (14/1), Russian Realm (16/1), Intense Style (16/1), Michele Strogoff (20/1), Mishaal (20/1), Hilary J (20/1), Duke Cosimo (25/1)

Competitive fayre for its grade and there will be several here who fancy their chances should things drop right. The suggestion at a price is INTENSE STYLE, who should by both conditions, a decent pace and this stiff track. Gin In The Inn should do better for this slight drop in class, while Paul Midgley's pair Russian Realm and Giant Spark are both contenders. Last year's winner Mishaal can't be ruled out of a repeat from 6lb lower, if he can put his last run behind him, while Johnny Cavagin, Avon Breeze and Bossipop are others likely to be involved.