mintbet.com Home Of Refreshing Odds Handicap

Off time: 14:46 | Winning time: 59.35s

(4)

Longroom³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: N Wilson| OR: 77| D

4/1

No win outside of Scotland (Musselburgh x3 and Ayr; all over 5f), and lost all chance with a slow start at Thirsk latest. Current handicap mark is probably high enough, but does drop marginally in grade today.

Form: 1200-60

(2)

African Friend^h1²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: B A Curtis| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife| OR: 72| D

10/1

Bought for 14,000 gns in November 2017, but disappointing so far for this trainer; blew the start at Hamilton latest (5f) so the hood is applied seeking a revival; feasibly handicapped.

Form: 3920-97

(3)

Computable^p1¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Rachel Richardson⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 72| D

2/1

Beaten just under 2L on his seasonal reappearance at Thirsk (5f) in early May, but below that level since and worryingly that's a similar pattern/profile to his 2017 form; cheekpieces now applied.

Form: 860-309

(6)

One Boy³²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: P Mulrennan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 67| DWS

11/2

5f specialist who is more than capable on his day (7 from 56); races from a mark which is midway between his last two winning figures of 64 and 70 and with the possibility of being sharper for wind surgery.

Form: 10-7749

(5)

Apricot Sky^p¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽³⁾| T: M Dods| OR: 67| CD

13/2

Tends to go well over 5f at Ripon, finishing runner up on both starts here since winning this race off a 5lb higher mark in 2016; not in such pleasing form so far in 2018, but merits consideration.

Form: 1744-90

(1)

Pearl Noir^b¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: P J McDonald| T: S Dixon| OR: 57| CD

4/1

Dual C&D winner who generally appreciates racing towards to fore; picked off easily by a well handicapped rival on his penultimate start at Beverley (5f), but remains just 2lb above his last winning mark (form fairly solid).

Form: 041734

Forecasts

Computable (2/1), Longroom (4/1), Pearl Noir (4/1), One Boy (11/2), Apricot Sky (13/2), African Friend (10/1)

A small field, but not overly easy to find the winner. Pearl Noir will be the pace angle and he continues to run fairly well on the whole without ever likely to be necessarily progressive, whilst the top-weight Longroom is noted dropping back into a Class 5 handicap. However, in an open looking race we'll take a punt on the feasibly handicapped AFRICAN FRIEND, and simply hope that the application of the hood helps to eradicate his tendency to start tardily.