17:20 Pontefract

Monday 23 October 2017

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5017:20

Collect totepool Winnings From Betfred Shops Handicap

Off time: 17:24 | Winning time: 1m 7.08s

(2)

Royal Brave¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: D Tudhope| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 86| D

7/2

Has had a long season albeit a productive one and he did much the best of those who came from off the pace in his recent York outing. Nicely drawn here and could well add to his victories this season.

Form: 144276

(7)

Escalating^p,t¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽³⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 85| D

11/1

His best form this year came when he won at Nottingham over 5f but three subsequent runs haven't seen him at his best although he's been poorly placed in his last two starts. Still above his last winning mark and may find this just as tough.

Form: 331790

(1)

My Name Is Rio⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 84| C| D

12/1

A winner at Ayr in the summer over 5f on soft ground off a mark of 82 he's struggled since then off higher marks. May well need a lot more than a decent draw here to regain the winning thread.

Form: 216858

(13)

Eccleston^v²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Joe Doyle| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 84| D

14/1

Makes his second start for this yard having failed to win for a while but did look to need the run last time out and ought to be able to win off a mark as low as this. This is a rare try over 5f however and the draw makes life tough.

Form: 447260

(10)

Muatadel¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: T Hamilton| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 79| D

7/1

Paying now for his consistency with the handicapper looking to know plenty about him and having him where he wants him. Won three handicaps in the summer but the draw and mark make life difficult to add another win here.

Form: 123743

(15)

Gamesome¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: D C Costello| T: P T Midgley| OR: 78

16/1

A really frustrating sort who has had multiple winning chances and deigned to throw them all away. Often comes there travelling well but his finishing effort leaves a lot to be desired and a hard one to trust to put it all in.

Form: 307545

(12)

Henley¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Barry McHugh| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 78| D

28/1

Needs to recapture his winning form earlier in the year when he won three 5f handicaps but has always enjoyed his visits here. His mark has slipped back to a winning one although his cause isn't helped by the double-figure draw.

Form: 110650

(14)

Straightothepoint¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: G Lee| T: B Smart| OR: 78

28/1

Would have been of more interest from a better draw as he's dropped to a mark where he should be competitive. It's a while since he's won though although he did shape well on a recent start at Newcastle (not knocked about).

Form: 266339

(6)

Van Gerwen²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: J Fanning| T: J L Eyre| OR: 75| CD

4/1

Will always be seen to the best effect in a strongly run race and this C&D winner is now back on a winning mark. He ran well here last time when second to a subsequent winner and should get an ideal scenario to go close in this.

Form: 300052

(11)

Cosmic Chatter^p¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 73| CD

10/1

Should always be respected around here (won a division of this last year) and added to his tally here in the summer. Not shown that much lately though and his yard are having a very lean time of things at the moment.

Form: 216977

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 20p in the pound

Non-Runners

(4)

Tahoo⁵

Weight: 9-11| Age: 3

T: K R Burke J: B A Curtis

(9)

Hoofalong²³

Weight: 9-8| Age: 7

T: M & D Easterby J: D Allan

(5)

Aleef²

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: D O'Meara J: D Nolan

(8)

Rosina⁵⁴

Weight: 9-4| Age: 4

T: Mrs A Duffield J: Shane Gray

(3)

Ziggy Lee³⁸⁸

Weight: 9-3| Age: 11

T: L A Mullaney J: Adam J McNamara

Forecasts

Royal Brave (7/2), Van Gerwen (4/1), Tahoo (11/2), Muatadel (7/1), Hoofalong (8/1), Cosmic Chatter (10/1), Aleef (10/1), Escalating (11/1), My Name Is Rio (12/1), Eccleston (14/1), Rosina (14/1), Gamesome (16/1), Ziggy Lee (20/1), Henley (28/1), Straightothepoint (28/1)

This handicap is a complex punting puzzle to close the year at the Yorkshire track with a few candidates that have dropped to marks that they ought to be able to win off. Hoofalong would come into that category and he should not be taken lightly off this mark and neither should Straightothepoint although he could have been blessed with a better draw. Neither Royal Brave nor Tahoo the pair who head the weights can be written off although the former would been the preference from that duo. Ziggy Lee is likely to need this run but should be watched for signs of potential after he showed that he was a useful sprinter last year. A strong pace is required for VAN GERWEN to show his best and he should get that here and he’ll be finishing fast and late at a track that suits him well.