16:30 Pontefract

Sunday 28 July 2019

All14:2014:5015:2015:5516:3017:0517:40

tiesplanet.com - Ties For Every Occasion Handicap

Off time: 16:31 | Winning time: 1m 18.39s

(9)

Diamond Dougal⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Scott McCullagh⁽⁵⁾| T: M R Channon| OR: 89| D

11/2

Won on return this season and finds himself back on that last winning handicap mark after some below par runs since. Probably wants a bit of juice in the ground to be seen at his best.

Form: 7-12547

(7)

Dark Defender^b⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: D Tudhope| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 85| D

7/1

All recent wins have come in a lower grade and remains 2lb higher than his all-the-way Ripon success in May. Well below that level in three starts since and probably needs a further drop in class.

Form: 0-51977

(3)

Big Les¹⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Jason Hart| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 83| CD

8/1

Three-time 6f turf winner with a thoroughly honest and willing attitude and just 1lb higher than last winning mark. Concern that he finished last season with a poor run and returned likewise, failing to beat a rival home both times.

Form: 34710-9

(4)

Musharrif^t⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Zak Wheatley⁽⁷⁾| T: D Carroll| OR: 79| CD

8/1

Very impressive winner off 6lb lower and then just a bit below that when third again over this C&D off 2lb lower. Clearly likes it here but revised mark means he'd need a career best.

Form: 409413

(1)

Magical Effect²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 77| CD

11/4

Won his first race since August 2017 when narrowly denying Tricky Dicky over this C&D. Came from off the pace on a track favouring front runners and no reason why he shouldn't go close again.

Form: 744281

(5)

Arcavallo^p⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: T Eaves| T: M Dods| OR: 77| CD

16/1

Slowly coming to hand in three starts this campaign and now 4lb below last winning mark which came over this C&D. His form is still nowhere near that level and this is a much tougher race.

Form: 089-956

(10)

Highland Acclaim^h¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: L P Keniry| T: D O'Meara| OR: 76| D

20/1

Last eight wins have come twice on the AW at Lingfield and six times at Epsom. On an attractive mark but he's not racing to the required level in a grade this high.

Form: 560433

(6)

Highly Sprung³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁵⁾| T: J L Eyre| OR: 72| CD

6/1

A four-time C&D winner who was only narrowly denied again here by Tricky Dicky last time. Gets a decent pull at the weights although all his winning form is at a lower level.

Form: 031002

(2)

Society Queen²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 77| D

11/2

Won a nursery over 5f (good to soft) at York last season and not disgraced in a couple of decent races at Chester. Below par the last twice and she'll need to be back to her best.

Form: 01-4485

Non-Runners

(8)

Tricky Dicky²

Weight: 9-7| Age: 6

T: R Fell & S Murray J: B A Curtis

Forecasts

Magical Effect (11/4), Tricky Dicky (7/2), Society Queen (11/2), Diamond Dougal (11/2), Highly Sprung (6/1), Dark Defender (7/1), Musharrif (8/1), Big Les (8/1), Arcavallo (16/1), Highland Acclaim (20/1)

Three runners are very closely matched and set the standard on recent form that all revolves around the very tough TRICKY DICKY who gets the narrow verdict based on his success in a very strong York handicap on Friday. He previously found Magical Effect narrowly too good in a tight finish here and there's nothing between them. Likewise the previous defeat of Highly Sprung brings that rival very much into the equation off these terms and at a track he loves.