17:15 Pontefract

Monday 23 April 2018

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:1517:45

Bootleg Beatles On 20th July Handicap

Off time: 17:17 | Winning time: 1m 4.28s

(3)

Dragstone Rock¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: S Donohoe| T: R Spencer| OR: 72

6/1

Improved to place at Kempton last time out. Drop back in trip could work and respected on handicap debut from a nice draw.

Form: 363

(7)

Amazing Grazing^e/s¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Jason Hart| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 70

10/1

Winner at Wolverhampton in January and has been kept busy since. Trip could prove too sharp on his return to turf.

Form: 317364

(8)

B Fifty Two^t⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-6| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife| OR: 69| D

7/2

Finished eighth of 15 on first start since wind surgery at Ripon last week. Very well-handicapped on old form but on a long losing run and needs to improve here.

Form: 34024-8

(9)

Oriental Splendour^p¹⁸¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 68| CD

14/1

On a losing run now but latest win came over C&D and he's only 1lb higher here. Two wins from 33 starts tells its own story though and may struggle in what will be softer conditions than would be ideal.

Form: 307369-

(1)

Silvanus²³

Age: 13| Weight: 9-5| J: G Lee| T: P T Midgley| OR: 68| CD

5/1

Doesn't winner all that often these days but on a really nice mark if he comes on for his recent return at Musselburgh. Can't be dismissed if he bounces back and Graham Lee was on board last time he won.

Form: 554-346

(4)

Perfect Words^p¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: Barry McHugh| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife| OR: 67| D

25/1

Catterick winner in August, making it eight career wins but struggled from his revised mark since. Should come on from his reappearance at Wolverhampton but not won off a mark this high and has his 72nd start here so may need relief from assessor.

Form: 13000-4

(6)

Hot Hannah²⁰⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽³⁾| T: M Dods| OR: 65| D

18/1

Winner at Ayr in July in an apprentice race but struggling in tougher contests since and very poor when last of 19 at Redcar last time. Trainer does well with his fillies so she can't be discounted but entitled to need this on return.

Form: 501280-

(5)

Crosse Fire¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: D Allan| T: S Dixon| OR: 65| CD

11/4

Useful front-runner who won over C&D off a 1lb lower mark last year. Has been a little below form on AW of late though and may need a little more relief from the handicapper.

Form: 212254

(2)

Bop It^b,t⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 8-7| J: Nathan Evans| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 55| D

8/1

Has just one win to his name since 2015 but on a very nice mark if it all clicks and placed at Newcastle last week. Needs to build on that now.

Form: 028403

Forecasts

Crosse Fire (11/4), B Fifty Two (7/2), Silvanus (5/1), Dragstone Rock (6/1), Bop It (8/1), Amazing Grazing (10/1), Oriental Splendour (14/1), Hot Hannah (18/1), Perfect Words (25/1)

DRAGSTONE ROCK is worthy of plenty of respect on handicap debut and he improved on his latest start at Kempton when placed. Cross Fire has course and distance form to his name and could be hard to pass if allowed to dictate on the front end. Silvanus is too well-handicapped to ignore and is worthy of respect with Graham Lee back in the saddle.