17:00 Pontefract

Monday 1 July 2019

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:00

Guide Dogs For The Blind Supporting Pontefract Handicap (Lady Amateur Riders)

Off time: 17:04 | Winning time: 2m 13.98s

(1)

Grandscape²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Miss Sophie Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 71| BF| D

5/1

Winner at Redcar in October but has been out of sorts since, including when well-beaten fifth of 12 at Goodwood (1m1f, good to soft) on latest start. Remains 7lb above last winning mark and has a bit to prove now.

Form: 214-445

(4)

Regal Mirage⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Miss J Gillam⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 70| C| D

11/2

Bounced back to form with solid second of eight at Beverley (1m2f, good to soft) on latest start and stays on the same handicap weight. Looks to be coming into form now and major player off this mark.

Form: 3-79702

(6)

Agar's Plough⁶⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Joanna Mason| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 68

5/1

Hasn't been able to win in 15 races to date but took his form to a new level when narrowly denied in 1m2f Beverley handicap in April. Not been seen since but remains unexposed at this trip. Solid each-way claims.

Form: 2509-52

(7)

Edgar Allan Poe¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Miss Serena Brotherton| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 68| C

9/1

In good form in last two starts, including when second of 14 at Carlisle (1m good to soft) last time out. Raised 2lb for that effort and forecasted quick conditions could be an issue.

Form: 6-05512

(8)

Quoteline Direct^h²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Miss Becky Smith| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 66| CD

7/1

Winner of this race last year. Had excuses in atrocious conditions when eighth of 12 at Haydock (1m2f, heavy) on latest start. Had good course form over the past two season and is an interesting contender.

Form: 60-9438

(3)

Beverley Bullet^p¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Miss S L Bowen⁽⁵⁾| T: L A Mullaney| OR: 66| BF| CD

7/1

Creditable runs this season without success, including when fourth of 14 in 1m Carlisle handicap last month. Slowly creeping up the handicap and forecasted ground could be a worry, but worth a look at.

Form: 848244

(10)

Thorntoun Care^p¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Miss Amy Collier⁽⁵⁾| T: K Tutty| OR: 65| D

20/1

Couldn't back up Haydock handicap victory when fifth of 10 at Ripon on last start. Remains on the same mark but up and trip and grade and others make more appeal.

Form: 0-55515

(5)

Celtic Artisan^b,t⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Miss Emily Bullock⁽⁵⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 64| D

7/1

Admirable veteran who has been in good form recently, including when third of 13 at Wolverhampton (1m1f, standard) last time out. Respectable third over C&D on previous turf start and has leading claims.

Form: 9-67313

(2)

Ezanak^t,v⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Miss Sarah Ann Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 64| BF

14/1

Hasn't won in 17 starts since his debut success and well beaten fifth in 1m2f Brighton handicap when last seen. Up in grade this time and likely to find this tough.

Form: 346005

(9)

Salam Zayed¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Mrs C Bartley| T: R A Fahey| OR: 63

16/1

Couldn't replicate encouraging start when well beaten in 1m3f Carlisle handicap last month. Dropped 3lb for that effort but plenty to prove now.

Form: 7606-49

(11)

Correggio^p²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-2| J: Miss C Walton| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 51| CD

25/1

Hasn't won in nearly four years but is an expert at this track, but disappointed on seasonal debut in similar contest here before respectable fifth at Haydock (1m3f, soft). Can't be discounted.

Form: 3396-75

Forecasts

Grandscape (5/1), Agar's Plough (5/1), Regal Mirage (11/2), Celtic Artisan (7/1), Beverley Bullet (7/1), Quoteline Direct (7/1), Edgar Allan Poe (9/1), Ezanak (14/1), Salam Zayed (16/1), Thorntoun Care (20/1), Correggio (25/1)

In a race where the likely ground conditions could play its part, the preference is for CELTIC ARTISAN who has been in tremendous form of late. His good third over C&D is the standout form guide and may be able to get win next to his name. Despite his preference for softer ground Edgar Allan Poe usually runs a respectable race and will be challenging at the finish, while Regal Mirage looks to be coming into form but may find the weight an issue.