18:30 Pontefract

Friday 25 May 2018

All18:3019:0019:3020:0020:3021:00

Alamo Business Systems Handicap

Off time: 18:30 | Winning time: 1m 45.74s

(7)

Zlatan^p¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Nathan Evans| T: E De Giles| OR: 75| D

7/2

Not scored for over 12 months, but that was in a stronger race off this very mark over an extended mile at Nottingham (good). Went mightily close at Chepstow latest when beaten a neck by Happy Escape (1m), so his turn looks to be near.

Form: 4-64442

(10)

Heir of Excitement¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: S A Gray| T: K A Ryan| OR: 74

33/1

Pulled up lame in October (7f soft), and hasn't really figured on either start this season, including over C&D in late April. Reasonably treated and ground versatile, but needs to take a step back in the right direction.

Form: 422P-06

(3)

Zeshov^p¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 72| BF| D

9/1

A winner off a similar mark at Musselburgh in May 2017 (1m gd/fm), this gelding is steadily working back to form on turf after some modest runs on the AW. Runner up; beaten just under 4L at Thirsk latest.

Form: 5-06532

(2)

Laqab⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: D Nolan| T: I Furtado| OR: 70

9/2

Didn't progress for previous trainer Derek Shaw after leaving the care of Roger Varian for £20,000 in November 2017. Down the weights for his stable debut and just his second ever start on turf.

Form: 57-6938

(6)

Pumaflor^p,t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: P Aspell| T: P A Kirby| OR: 69| CD

25/1

Didn't show much tried over hurdles during the winter and has also brought that level of form back to the Flat (1m2f-1m4f). Has 2015 C&D winning form from this sort of mark, but rates as risky overall.

Form: P08-709

(8)

Planetaria⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: P Mulrennan| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 68| D

12/1

Been a while since he last got his head in front (June 2016), but this trip/ground is what he would want and the return to turf has to be taken as a positive.

Form: 0026-54

(12)

Hanseatic^t²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-0| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁵⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 68| D

25/1

Beaten a keeping on 6L over 1m2f at Doncaster on his penultimate start, but finished in the ruck over this trip at Haydock latest. However, now races from a mark which is 7lb lower than when runner up in this race in 2017.

Form: 0548-48

(16)

Parole²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Rachel Richardson⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 67

25/1

Falling in the weights, but has done the bulk of his recent racing on soft ground so shouldn't be suited by conditions unless the rain arrives; very tough outside draw to overcome.

Form: 71346-0

(9)

Tagur^p¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 66| D

10/1

Added to his sole turf victory when winning twice on the AW during the early part of 2018 (1m); controversially awarded the race by the stewards at Chelmsford. Shown adequate, but not startling form back on turf more latterly.

Form: 391184

(4)

Kings Academy³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: G Lee| T: J Mackie| OR: 66

8/1

Not with current connections for all that long; bought out of a Leicester seller for £7,000 (ex Paul Cole). Stayed on for pressure to finish fifth of 17 to Lamloom at Nottingham latest (1m+ gd/sft).

Form: 1432-75

(5)

Trinity Star^b²³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: Jamie Gormley⁽⁵⁾| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 65| CD

15/2

C&D regular (two-time Pontefract winner) who represents an in-form handler. Should benefit from his seasonal reappearance, is feasibly treated and ground versatile; runner up to Pioneering over C&D in October 2017.

Form: 53642-0

(13)

Mont Royal^p1²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: Ollie Pears| OR: 65| D

40/1

Not convinced since winning over the extended mile at Beverley in July 2017, beating Pumaflor by a head. Blew the start at Musselburgh earlier this month, and that is becoming a consistent theme so needs the cheek-pieces to remain more focused.

Form: 1060-89

(11)

Beverley Bullet^p²³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: D C Costello| T: L A Mullaney| OR: 65| C

16/1

Course winner in July (1m2f soft), who also showed his versatility by winning over 7f at Carlisle. Mark more challenging, but continues to run well and will be suited by any ease in the ground.

Form: 5146-57

(14)

Ronnie The Rooster²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: P J McDonald| T: J L Eyre| OR: 63| D

25/1

Progressive juvenile on Tapeta for David Barron in late 2016 (7f-1m), but lost his way after a fair start to the previous campaign. First start on turf for current connections.

Form: 227-448

(1)

Totally Magic²²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: Cam Hardie| T: R M Whitaker| OR: 62| D

20/1

Better known for her AW exploits (2 from 6), and has only won once in 24 starts on turf. However, has no issues with a stiff mile; albeit with a bit to find with a few of these horses on previous Pontefract form.

Form: 227459-

(15)

Mr Cool Cash²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: Connor Beasley| T: R C Guest| OR: 62| CD

20/1

C&D winner from a 1lb lower mark in October 2016 (good to soft) who will probably find conditions quick enough unless the rain arrives. Shaped encouragingly on seasonal return at Doncaster in late April.

Form: 44240-5

Non-Runners

(17)

Almunther²⁹

Weight: 8-7| Age: 5

T: Micky Hammond J: P J McDonald

Forecasts

Zlatan (7/2), Laqab (9/2), Trinity Star (15/2), Almunther (15/2), Kings Academy (8/1), Zeshov (9/1), Tagur (10/1), Planetaria (12/1), Beverley Bullet (16/1), Totally Magic (20/1), Mr Cool Cash (20/1), Parole (25/1), Hanseatic (25/1), Pumaflor (25/1), Ronnie The Rooster (25/1), Heir of Excitement (33/1), Mont Royal (40/1)

With rain currently forecast for Friday, the ground could ease slightly ahead of racing bringing a few more of those with form on good to soft into the equation. However, at this stage we can only assume the ground will be riding no worse than good. A low draw is advantageous, so stall 12 is detrimental to the chances of the well-treated 2017 runner up Hanseatic, so we'll focus upon Zeshov, Zlatan and TRINITY STAR. Zlatan looks poised to strike and is impossible to keep out of the frame, but the Karen McLintock trained runner might reflect more value in the market. Her string are going well and this Pontefract specialist should be sharper for his recent comeback.