20:00 Pontefract

Friday 25 May 2018

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

Constant Security Services Handicap

Off time: 20:01 | Winning time: 1m 4.23s

(1)

Tavener^p¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: D Allan| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 81| D

8/1

Stepped up in grade, making all to take a Class 3 5f handicap at Chelmsford in April by 2L. Races off a 3lb higher mark from the inside draw after a couple of lesser efforts back on turf.

Form: 615179

(11)

Patrick¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: P Mulrennan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 79| D

12/1

Ex-Irish trained gelding who is dropping back down the weights, and lines up here for his third start for this trainer off the back of a fair run at Thirsk (5f good to firm); beaten 3½L. Wide draw.

Form: 3577-74

(5)

Henley⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Barry McHugh| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 78| D

8/1

Developed into a regular winner over this trip last summer on good/good to soft ground. Finished runner up on three of his last four visits to this track, including off a 2lb higher mark in October 2017.

Form: 6502-48

(4)

Liquid¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: P J McDonald| T: T D Barron| OR: 77| D

10/1

Struggled off his revised mark since winning at Wolverhampton in February (5f), with the pick of his turf efforts coming on quicker ground, so will find things tough if the forecast rain arrives.

Form: 419607

(8)

Singeur²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 9-3| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 75| D

20/1

Veteran who is a winner of 10 of his 92 races, but drew a blank last season and was never involved back on turf at Doncaster earlier this month (6f good).

Form: 54575-8

(9)

Musharrif¹⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: T Eaves| T: D Carroll| OR: 75| D

20/1

Absent since early January after a spell on the Fibresand at Southwell, trying trips ranging from 5f to 7f. His last victory came off this mark over this trip at Beverley in July (5f good to soft).

Form: 35555-7

(3)

Alsvinder¹⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 74| BF| D

2/1

AW specialist (3 from 6) who has had a break since finishing a close up third to Gracious John in a Class 2 handicap at Lingfield in December (5f). Rated 20lb lower on turf (0/6), so holds obvious claims.

Form: 481213-

(6)

Bosham^b,t¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁵⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 74| D

14/1

Grand old campaigner who won twice on the AW in early April (Wolverhampton and Lingfield) before giving way to the winner Merry Banter inside the final furlong at Catterick recently (beaten 2L); up another 1lb but remains competitive.

Form: 7-79112

(2)

Foxtrot Knight¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Jane Elliott⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 73| BF| CD

4/1

Always to the fore when scoring decisively over C&D in early May and went close to following up (unpenalised) at Brighton just six days later (5½f). Riders 5lb claim helpful, so should run another solid race.

Form: 8-46213

(7)

Case Key^p¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: A Mullen| T: M Appleby| OR: 72| D

33/1

All out to score over 6f at Newmarket in August 2017 (soft), but below that level of form since. Entitled to come on for his seasonal return at Nottingham (5f good to firm), but needs to do so.

Form: 10300-0

(10)

Grandad's World^p¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 69| CD

12/1

Both career successes have come at this track (early in his career), but he's not proved the most consistent of performers since. Chance on his Epsom second (6f good) in September, but hasn't kicked off this campaign startlingly well.

Form: 6429-70

Forecasts

Alsvinder (2/1), Foxtrot Knight (4/1), Henley (8/1), Tavener (8/1), Liquid (10/1), Patrick (12/1), Grandad's World (12/1), Bosham (14/1), Singeur (20/1), Musharrif (20/1), Case Key (33/1)

Early pace will be plentiful with the likes of Taverner, Henley, Bosham and Foxtrot Knight all known for racing towards the fore. Plenty of those with winning form over further (6f+) are likely to struggle to land a competitive blow unless the heavens really open and conditions are riding on the slow side of good. The David O'Meara trained ALSVINDER is another who will almost certainly be in there pitching early from his handy draw (stall 3) and whilst he has to prove that he can deliver the goods on turf (0 from 6), there's no denying that he's very well handicapped based on his much improved AW form.