20:15 Catterick

Friday 17 August 2018

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

Tony Welsh Farewell Handicap

Off time: 20:18 | Winning time: 59.03s

(5)

Pearl Acclaim^p¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 59| D

20/1

In better form on the Fibresand around the turn of the year he looks to have gone off the boil of late back on turf. Being given a chance by the handicapper but not looking as though he's about to take advantage; others appeal more.

Form: 890899

(1)

Life For Rent^b¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Rachel Richardson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 61| D

4/1

Blinkered for the first-time he ran well in selling handicap company last time out off a mark which had been reducing all year. Failed to quite see the 5f trip out there but a similar performance will see him go close here.

Form: 643372

(15)

Imperial Legend^b¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: A Mullen| T: A D Brown| OR: 56| D

12/1

Has a few placed efforts to his name over C&D but he's rather compromising his chances of late with a series of slow starts. Ran with credit over C&D last time to record one of those placed efforts; enters calculations again.

Form: 196332

(14)

Crosse Fire^b¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Theodore Ladd⁽⁷⁾| T: S Dixon| OR: 55| BF| D

15/8

Placed once here from six starts with that place being gained under today's apprentice last time out where the speed test suited him well. Likely to force the pace again but it may prove harder to dominate this field with other pace options present.

Form: 543602

(2)

First Excel^b⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Aled Beech⁽⁷⁾| T: S R Bowring| OR: 55

5/1

His runner-up slot over C&D in May proved that he can be effective off this mark on turf showing enough speed to cope with the minimum trip. Returned to 6f last time he did too much (raced freely) and is now returned to 5f off a workable mark.

Form: 116-020

(9)

Coiste Bodhar^p¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: B A Curtis| T: S Dixon| OR: 54| D

16/1

One of the pace angles in the race he looked to need the run on the AW last time after a three-month break (forced wide, dropped away). Has run well here before but a contested pace looks to hamper his prospects.

Form: 743259

(3)

Thornaby Princess^p¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-8| J: Paula Muir⁽⁵⁾| T: C J Teague| OR: 46| D

28/1

On a long losing run and whilst there is the odd reasonable run in the collection of losing starts she's not one to pin too many hope on. Becoming harder and harder to predict and best left alone here.

Form: 946258

(4)

Mightaswellsmile¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: T Eaves| T: R E Barr| OR: 45| D

9/1

Yet to win a handicap her last run was at least a step back in the right direction finishing 3rd over 5f at Musselburgh in a slightly better contest. Given her overall record though she does need to back that up and doubts remain.

Form: 008303

(13)

On The High Tops^p¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 8-8| J: D Fentiman| T: C J Teague| OR: 45| CD

100/1

Has won over C&D but that was an awfully long time ago (August 2012) and the win column is bare since then. Now back in cheekpieces but expectations are low and hard to give him a sound chance.

Form: 938898

(7)

Mr Enthusiastic^b1²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Shane Gray| T: N Wilson| OR: 45| CD

66/1

Blinkers are now popped on for the first-time in an effort to see if they will bring about a change in fortune (well below form all three starts this year). Has won over C&D but need to see some spark before support is given.

Form: 650-000

(10)

Lackaday^b²³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: Barry McHugh| T: N Wilson| OR: 45| CD

40/1

Last two runs here over 6f have failed to inspire and he's twice been beaten in selling company this year. Folded up fairly quickly last time and hard to have confidence in him here as he reverts to 5f; has won over C&D.

Form: 7-90650

(8)

Your Just Desserts¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: R M Whitaker| OR: 45

16/1

Finally found some sort of form last time out when taking 4th at Ayr over 5f but overall that was still a moderate effort in a weak race. Would need others to falter to gain her first victory here.

Form: 80-0644

Non-Runners

(11)

Arnold¹

Weight: 10-1| Age: 4

T: Mrs A Duffield J: J Fanning

(6)

Perfect Words¹¹

Weight: 9-8| Age: 8

T: Mrs Marjorie Fife J: Harrison Shaw

(12)

Go Bananas³⁵¹

Weight: 9-2| Age: 3

T: R E Barr J: Nathan Evans

Forecasts

Crosse Fire (15/8), Life For Rent (4/1), First Excel (5/1), Arnold (7/1), Mightaswellsmile (9/1), Imperial Legend (12/1), Your Just Desserts (16/1), Coiste Bodhar (16/1), Perfect Words (16/1), Pearl Acclaim (20/1), Thornaby Princess (28/1), Lackaday (40/1), Mr Enthusiastic (66/1), Go Bananas (66/1), On The High Tops (100/1)

An unappealing event for betting purposes although Arnold would be high on the shortlist if connections go for a quick return to the course under a penalty. This course is a sharper test than Beverley though he may be found wanting in the closing stages. Plenty of pace setters here with the main ones being Crosse Fire and Coiste Bodhar and the drop to 5f may well suit the former if he can beat off the other quick types. Life For Rent enters the mix if he can repeat his Ripon runner-up slot with IMPERIAL LEGEND the overall suggestion in the hope that he can get away on something like level terms this time.