17:20 Pontefract

Wednesday 7 August 2019

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5017:2017:50

Riu Hotels And Resorts Ladies Day Veterans' Handicap

Off time: 17:20 | Winning time: 1m 44.28s

(8)

Tukhoom^p⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 79| BF| D

4/1

Unable to justify favouritism (sent off 100-30f) at Musselburgh (7f; good) on Friday when he could only manage fourth. That wasn't a bad run though, and he has been in good form since making seasonal return in April. Player.

Form: 315424

(6)

Calder Prince¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 77| C| D

3/1

Risky proposition but nothing wrong with the strength of his latest third at Haydock (1m; good to soft). Unchanged mark but the problem is he needs to reproduce that effort, and he is not the most consistent of sorts.

Form: 038783

(1)

Capton²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Nathan Evans| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 77

7/1

Shown very little on the level in three runs this season. Has dropped 13lb in the weights since the first of those efforts, and has plenty to prove. 10lb below last winning mark. Not one to have any faith in at present.

Form: 640-078

(7)

Storm Ahead^b⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 76| D

4/1

Still 5lb higher than for smooth Doncaster (1m; soft) success four starts ago. Not disgraced the last twice and holds fair place claims if able to find something. Any rain would be a plus considering the conditions he won in at Doncaster.

Form: 081054

(3)

Dream Walker^p,t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 9-2| J: B A Curtis| T: B Ellison| OR: 74| D

8/1

Well-beaten in four-runner affair at Beverley (1m; good to firm) when last seen. Not in great form before then since returning to these shores and is hard to get enthusiastic about.

Form: 7-74004

(5)

Noble Peace²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: P J McDonald| T: Mrs L Pearce| OR: 70| D

12/1

Finished last, but didn't run badly when fourth at Yarmouth (1m; good to firm) last time out. That was his best run for some time, but the mood he was in before that tempers enthusiasm. Not a solid proposition.

Form: 0-66694

(2)

Bollihope¹⁷⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-8| J: Jason Hart| T: S L Keightley| OR: 66

7/1

Returns from 174-day break and makes first turf appearance since September 2017. In good form on the AW when last seen, and has won when fresh. Could get competitive off reduced mark as he drops down to 1m.

Form: 7/43-124

(4)

Echo Of Lightning^p²²

Age: 9| Weight: 8-7| J: Izzy Clifton⁽⁷⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 65| CD

18/1

C&D winner in August 2017 but woefully out of form of late. Failed to beat a single rival at Beverley (7f; good to firm) last time out. Plummeted in the weights in recent months, but not shown any signs of taking advantage of that. Opposed.

Form: 00/0098

Forecasts

Calder Prince (3/1), Tukhoom (4/1), Storm Ahead (4/1), Bollihope (7/1), Capton (7/1), Dream Walker (8/1), Noble Peace (12/1), Echo Of Lightning (18/1)

After showing he goes well fresh, Bollihope must hold solid claims. He signed off his winter AW campaign in fine form and should be competitive on this return to turf/drop back to 1m. Meanwhile, any chance Storm Ahead has will likely be significantly boosted by the chances of rain. His latest victory came on soft ground at Doncaster in June. The selection is TUKHOOM though, whose consistency has been hard to fault in recent months. He produced another good effort in defeat at Musselburgh on Friday, and David O'Meara's charge can resume winning ways off this 4lb higher mark.