16:25 Pontefract

Thursday 27 September 2018

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:3518:05

Simon Scrope Dalby Screw-Driver Handicap

Off time: 16:26 | Winning time: 2m 11.58s

(9)

Mooltazem^p¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: M Dods| OR: 91| D

25/1

Having a good season and won back-to-back events back in June. Still 3lb higher than for last of those and cheekpieces didn't have a positive effect last time. Capable of going well on a going day.

Form: 114260

(1)

Francis Xavier¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Joshua Bryan⁽³⁾| T: K Frost| OR: 90| D

5/2

Won on reappearance at Doncaster for Hugo Palmer and then followed up in good style at York on first start for this yard last time. This stiff finish should suit and he looks progressive. 6lb rise unlikely to stop a major hat-trick bid.

Form: 321-11

(11)

Dark Pearl²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Liam Keniry| T: E Walker| OR: 88| D

9/1

Stays well and bounded up the hill at Sandown when dropped down to the trip last time. 6lb rise more than fair and the stiff finish here should suit so follow-up chances are fairly obvious.

Form: 7-52361

(4)

Vale Do Sol¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: M M Monaghan⁽³⁾| T: G Peckham| OR: 88| D

33/1

Much-traveled campaigner with eight wins to his name from his time Bahrain. Three starts so far in the UK have not amounted to much and is slowly dropping down the weights. Should come good at some stage and suspicion is that this track will suit.

Form: 427875

(2)

Mukhayyam^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 88

9/2

Tends to run his race and was a winner earlier on in the year off a 2lb lower mark. Vulnerable to improvers once again but yard had the winner of this race last year and can't be discounted.

Form: 442946

(5)

Dance King^p,t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Cam Hardie| T: T D Easterby| OR: 87| CD

20/1

Winner of this race last year off a 2lb lower mark. Back in the winners enclosure at Musselbutgh (1m4f) in June but not so good after. Hinted last time he's on the way back and it would be no surprise if he were to go well again.

Form: 108005

(6)

Busy Street¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Theodore Ladd⁽⁵⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 87

11/2

Been a revelation since switching to this yard having won off 10lb lower at Yarmouth and then running cracking races at Haydock and Doncaster. Nudged up the weights again but hard to say where that progress will end and another with each-way claims.

Form: 2-43122

(12)

Mulligatawny^p⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: B A Curtis| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 82| D

8/1

took advantage of a drop in the weights to win well at Ripon two starts back. Almost followed up over this C&D last time and gets to race off the same mark again here today. Player once again.

Form: 034612

(7)

Celestial Force^p1⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: C Lee⁽³⁾| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 86| D

14/1

Won first two starts but has taken a backwards step the last twice. His run at Goodwood last time was too bad to be true and a line can be put through that. Cheekpieces go on and he is unexposed but needs to bounce back here.

Form: 1140

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 20p in the pound

Non-Runners

(8)

Custom Cut¹³

Weight: 9-12| Age: 9

T: D O'Meara J: D Tudhope

(10)

Empress Ali¹⁹

Weight: 9-9| Age: 7

T: T P Tate J: J P Sullivan

(3)

Frontispiece²⁰

Weight: 9-8| Age: 4

T: Sir Michael Stoute J: P Cosgrave

Forecasts

Francis Xavier (5/2), Mukhayyam (9/2), Frontispiece (5/1), Busy Street (11/2), Mulligatawny (8/1), Dark Pearl (9/1), Empress Ali (12/1), Celestial Force (14/1), Custom Cut (14/1), Dance King (20/1), Mooltazem (25/1), Vale Do Sol (33/1)

A good looking contest with plenty of chances. Last years winner Dance King looked on the way back at Haydock three weeks ago and is sure to go well in a repeat bid. Frontispiece, Busy Street and Mulligatawny are in in good form and very much warrant plenty of respect. FRANCIS XAVIER is unbeaten in two starts so far this year and looks firmly on the upgrade. This is only his second start for Kevin Frost and he shapes like this stiff finish will really suit. The four-timer may very much be on the cards.