16:30 Pontefract

Wednesday 2 May 2018

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:40

Ladbrokes Supporting The Northern Racing College Handicap

Off time: 16:32 | Winning time: 1m 20.53s

(4)

Short Work^b¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 82| CD

7/1

6f specialist who is a previous winner on soft ground. However, sits high in the weights now and well beaten on his reappearance at Ripon.

Form: 11318-0

(2)

Tawny Port¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: P Mulrennan| T: J G Given| OR: 80| D

7/1

Off track for nearly a year before fair comeback effort at Windsor (6f, heavy) 16 days ago. Still higher than last winning mark though which makes life tough.

Form: 1610/0-6

(6)

Inner Circle⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: T Hamilton| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 79

9/2

Previously with Richard Hannon and made a good start with this yard when second of 15 on reappearance at Catterick (7f, good to soft) off this mark. Step back in trip not obviously a good thing but well drawn to attack.

Form: 24020-2

(1)

Van Gerwen¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: D Allan| T: J L Eyre| OR: 78| C| D

7/1

Won off 3lb lower mark here over 5f back in October. Well beaten at Ripon on latest start though and needs to do better. Has a box draw in stall 1.

Form: 5210-80

(5)

Lexington Times^p¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 78| D

10/1

Listed winner on his day but has struggled to show anywhere near that form of late. All three runs so far this year have been disappointing. He is sliding to a very dangerous mark though and has a good draw so a revival is possible.

Form: 567-660

(11)

Araqeel³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: G Lee| T: P T Midgley| OR: 75

50/1

Won a maiden on heavy ground at Listowel when with Dermot Weld. Mark is slipping and this is only his second run for new yard. Wind surgery had no positive effect last time but expected to do better at some stage.

Form: 431/80-0

(7)

Mr Orange^v¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁵⁾| T: P T Midgley| OR: 73| CD

7/2

Won back-to-back races last year so is the type to back up his wins. Raised 5lbs for good win at Thirsk (6f, good to soft) 11 days ago. Riders claim negates the rise in the weights and no reason why he won't go well again.

Form: 3577-91

(3)

Storm Melody²⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Jason Hart| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 72| D

14/1

Goes well with cut in the ground but tends to find marks in the 70's a bit beyond him. Decent draw in 3 however so may run well without winning.

Form: 744528-

(10)

Cosmic Chatter^p¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: K Stott| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 70| CD

14/1

Over a stone lower in the weights than this time last year so certainly has potential from a handicapping point of view. Better than the bare form suggests last time when hampered and would be no surprise to see a bold showing from C&D winner.

Form: 4535-70

(9)

Geoff Potts¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 68| D

7/1

Still on a reasonable mark and can be forgiven last run at Bath when stumbling close home. Yard won this race last year and every chance he could go well.

Form: 3437-37

Non-Runners

(8)

Dandy Highwayman¹³

Weight: 9-9| Age: 4

T: Ollie Pears J: A Mullen

(12)

Kaeso²⁴⁷

Weight: 9-3| Age: 4

T: N Tinkler J: Rowan Scott

Forecasts

Mr Orange (7/2), Inner Circle (9/2), Tawny Port (7/1), Van Gerwen (7/1), Geoff Potts (7/1), Short Work (7/1), Kaeso (7/1), Lexington Times (10/1), Cosmic Chatter (14/1), Storm Melody (14/1), Dandy Highwayman (16/1), Araqeel (50/1)

Van Gerwen might be seen to better effect back here and from a gun draw in stall one. Kaeso was a rapid improver last season winning his first four handicap starts and is likely to improve again this year although his draw today tempers enthusiasm. Geoff Potts could go well for last years winning yard but preference is for COSMIC CHATTER who is lurking on a dangerous mark and was a bit unlucky last time. If he gets the splits today he’s a danger to all.