17:50 Pontefract

Thursday 28 September 2017

All14:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:1517:5018:20

Racing UK HD On Sky 432 Handicap

Off time: 17:53 | Winning time: 1m 7.41s

(16)

Muatadel¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: T Hamilton| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 80| BF| D

7/1

Improved during the latter half of the season, and has now won three times since mid July, including twice at Doncaster (5f and 6f). Ran well there again latest, but up another 1lb and just about has the worst of the draw.

Form: 112123

(3)

Musharrif³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: T Eaves| T: D Carroll| OR: 80| D

10/1

His last two victories have come at Beverley from a mark of 75, and he has not quite been able to cope with a revised mark since the latest of those two successes in July.

Form: 996145

(9)

Gamesome²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: P Mulrennan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 79

7/1

Won just once in 30 career starts (at Nottingham in 2013), but promises to take advantage of a falling mark one day. Finished 2¾L third to the in foal Avon Breeze on his last visit here in July and is now 10lb lower.

Form: 603075

(17)

Adam's Ale^e/s¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Barry McHugh| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife| OR: 79| C| D

14/1

No win-machine but pops up now and again, as he did for this yard when scoring decisively on soft ground at Haydock in June. Gets in off just a 3lb higher mark than that here and ran well latest, but wide draw a negative.

Form: 6-18865

(11)

Quick Look¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Cam Hardie| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 77

11/1

Not won since his debut for William Jarvis at Brighton in June 2015, but has been getting nearer from this mark for this yard. His Thirsk second (6f soft) to Kenny The Captain represents solid form, and no surprise to see him run well.

Form: 874320

(8)

Elysian Flyer²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: G Lee| T: P T Midgley| OR: 77| D

5/1

Not the easiest to predict and has won just once since his juvenile days with Richard Hannon; from this mark at Thirsk in May (5f soft). Out of his depth in a Beverley conditions stakes on Tuesday.

Form: 073754

(5)

Paddy Power¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 76| D

10/3

Kicked off the campaign on turf by winning at Newmarket in May (5f good to soft), but not so good since until a return to form when third to Buccaneers Vault at Doncaster latest. Well drawn, on a fair mark and could be ready to strike.

Form: 0U0503

(1)

Impart¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Patrick Vaughan⁽⁷⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 76| D

16/1

A winner in Ireland for Dermot Weld, but the switch to these shores reaped almost immediate dividends when winning at Ripon in June (6f good to soft). No obvious joy since, but 7lb below last winning mark, and on that score is dangerous.

Form: 866759

(14)

Van Gerwen⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: P J McDonald| T: J L Eyre| OR: 73| CD

20/1

Represents a trainer in form (Beverley winner on Tuesday), and this gelding took this contest in 2016 by 2½L (made all). Not such a force since, but this is his mark (73) and he showed much more verve at Beverley last week.

Form: 0-30005

(10)

Lexington Place²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Jamie Gormley⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 73| CD

12/1

Beat Mutadel (and Seamster) in the Chaplins Club handicap over C&D last month (soft) but has posted a couple of lesser efforts since. Just 2lb above that winning mark and a talented 7lb claimer now booked, so another success looks possible.

Form: 744168

(15)

Berlios²¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: P Makin| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 73| BF| D

25/1

Has left David Barron since his last start in March (Newcastle) and the suspicion is that this race will help prepare him for another winter AW campaign. Moderate draw.

Form: 2/13-527

(7)

Oriental Splendour^p²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 68| CD

10/1

Doesn't win all that often, but no disputing that Pontefract is his manor, with career form figures here reading; 2,1,8,1,4,3. Mid summer looks the time to catch him, but he's 3lb lower than when 3½L third to Crosse Fire over C&D in July.

Form: 644307

(12)

Crosse Fire^v¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: B A Curtis| T: S Dixon| OR: 67| CD

25/1

C&D winner in July (beat Oriental Splendour), and his recent Catterick fourth to stablemate Penny Dreadful reads fairly well. Showed up early at Doncaster latest before weakening, but his current mark is fair and no shock to see him on the premises.

Form: 018840

Non-Runners

(6)

Sheepscar Lad¹⁹

Weight: 9-7| Age: 3

T: N Tinkler J: Lewis Edmunds

(4)

Straightothepoint⁷¹

Weight: 9-6| Age: 5

T: B Smart J: Adam J McNamara

(13)

Singeur¹⁵

Weight: 9-6| Age: 10

T: Rebecca Bastiman J: David Probert

(2)

Seamster¹¹

Weight: 9-1| Age: 10

T: D Loughnane J: Laura Coughlan

Forecasts

Paddy Power (10/3), Elysian Flyer (5/1), Gamesome (7/1), Muatadel (7/1), Sheepscar Lad (7/1), Oriental Splendour (10/1), Musharrif (10/1), Quick Look (11/1), Lexington Place (12/1), Straightothepoint (12/1), Adam's Ale (14/1), Singeur (14/1), Impart (16/1), Van Gerwen (20/1), Berlios (25/1), Crosse Fire (25/1), Seamster (25/1)

Devilishly tough and there's scope for building a case for a number of these runners including hat-trick seeker Sheepscar Lad, Quick Look, Impart and Van Gerwen. However, we need to make a firm decision and focus on a couple of the runners. Gamesome represents a trainer who has a proven knack of getting the best out of sprinters (often tricky customers) and this infrequent winner appears incredibly well treated from a 10lb lower mark than when finishing third to the then in-foal Avon Breeze over C&D in July. However, preference is for the slightly more 'regular' PADDY POWER. He enjoyed a strong start the year (and end to the AW campaign for that matter), and he served notice that his turn was near again when third to Buccaneers Vault and Kenny The Captain at Doncaster a fortnight ago.