17:40 Catterick

Friday 17 August 2018

All17:4018:1018:4019:1019:4520:15

Yorkshire Dales Distillery Amateur Riders' Handicap

Off time: 17:40 | Winning time: 2m 36.18s

(7)

Diamonds A Dancing^h¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Abbie McCain| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 70

20/1

Ran poorly last time at Carlisle last time in a race that he had won last year under today's rider. Still 7lb above his last winning mark and this looks a relatively tough task again given how he ran last time and others appeal more.

Form: 27-5427

(4)

Imperial Focus¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Amie Waugh| T: S Waugh| OR: 65

11/1

Been seen over hurdles of late running with credit twice in novice hurdles at Perth. Still a maiden in that sphere and on the level with this mark not looking to be a particularly lenient one; has pulled hard on occasions.

Form: 507055

(5)

Buyer Beware¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Ms S Brotherton| T: L A Mullaney| OR: 63| BF| CD

7/4

C&D winner when confidently ridden (first run for this yard)off a 2lb lower mark and ran well enough last time (not ideally placed). Should still be of interest off this mark and the jockey booking is one that takes the eye.

Form: 49-6015

(3)

Country'n'western¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: George Eddery⁽⁷⁾| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 63

17/2

Showed some useful bumper form early on (winner on debut) before he regressed slightly in that sphere. Switched to the Flat on the AW he's never really been in the hunt in any race; better chance now on handicap debut.

Form: 7-77

(1)

Bollin Joan^p¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 10-1| J: Mrs Emily Roberts| T: T D Easterby| OR: 66

9/2

Opened her account with a barnstorming display at Beverley over 1m2f (won 9L); followed that up under today's rider with a penalty at the same C&D. Likes to go from the front and well drawn to go forward again off a 7lb higher mark; leading player.

Form: 063211

(9)

Barnaby Brook^b¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-13| J: Ella McCain⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 55| D

9/1

Blew apart an AW seller on his debut for this yard over this trip before failing to repeat that sort of form back into an open handicap on turf (1m2f). Lacked the pace to get involved there and will be happier back up in trip.

Form: 122215

(6)

Grandscape¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: Miss Sophie Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 63

5/1

Not seen to best effect over 2f further last time but that was in a better race than this (left poorly placed). Still to win a race and this test will prove more suitable off a mark that has now fallen to a career-low level.

Form: 865646

(2)

Bentons Lad^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Miss E Todd| T: M Walford| OR: 50

25/1

Finished last in a handicap hurdle when most recently seen and now has cheekpieces on for the first-time on the Flat (has worn them over hurdles). Form is modest at best on the Flat (0-11) and more needed.

Form: 547238/

(10)

Midnight Warrior^t⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Miss C Walton| T: R E Barr| OR: 49| C

28/1

Course winner who has failed to take advantage of a falling mark this year and has to run from 2lb out of the handicap here. Bit below form last time out but not totally ignored here although others are more persuasive.

Form: 455364

(11)

Bulge Bracket^p1¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Tom Midgley⁽⁷⁾| T: A Berry| OR: 45

200/1

Cheekpieces go on for the first-time after he finished last at Musselburgh on his most recent outing over 1m5f. Has to run from 6lb out of the handicap and not hard to look elsewhere.

Form: 0/47770

Non-Runners

(8)

Excalibur¹⁷

Weight: 9-9| Age: 5

T: Micky Hammond J: Miss Becky Smith

Forecasts

Buyer Beware (7/4), Bollin Joan (9/2), Grandscape (5/1), Country'n'western (17/2), Barnaby Brook (9/1), Imperial Focus (11/1), Excalibur (12/1), Diamonds A Dancing (20/1), Bentons Lad (25/1), Midnight Warrior (28/1), Bulge Bracket (200/1)

The strides that BOLIN JOAN has made of late in handicaps make her of obvious interest here with the likelihood of more to come under a rider who knows her well. Buyer Beware has already won around here and has the considerable assistance of Serena Brotherton in the saddle although it’s hoped he can get a better track position this time around. None of the others make that much appeal although the dropped in class Grandscape and the previously useful in bumpers Country’N’Western now going handicapping on the Flat are two that are worth watching in the market.