15:55 Pontefract

Tuesday 7 July 2020

All12:1512:4513:1513:5014:2014:5015:2015:5516:30

King Richard III Handicap

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 1m 16.05s

(1)

Summerghand¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 105| D

1/1

Spent the early months of 2020 competing in Dubai, and that's clearly suited; has shown a strong level of form since the resumption of racing, only denied by the smallest of margins in the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot (6f, good).

Form: 446822

(2)

Watchable^p¹¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 9-0| J: S A Gray| T: D O'Meara| OR: 98| C| D

14/1

Veteran stablemate of Summerghand; successful over 5f on three occasions on the AW (Newcastle, Lingfield & Wolverhampton) during the winter; sits 5lb higher than when making all to score on Derby Day at Epsom (6f, good to firm) in June 2019.

Form: 671353

(5)

Walhaan²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: P Mulrennan| T: Ian Williams| OR: 94

20/1

Competitive in Listed/Conditions Stakes races in France (for J C Rouget); joined Ian Williams for £35,000 earlier this year; a moderate 21st of 23 in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot three weeks ago; swiftly turns his hand to sprinting instead.

Form: 21/234-0

(6)

Golden Apollo^p,t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 93| CD

5/1

Kept on strongly when winning the Ayr Silver Cup (6f, good) by a neck last September - now rated 5lb higher; ran a perfectly respectable race when finishing eighth of 19 in the Silver Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot (6f, good).

Form: 83461-8

(4)

Shawaamekh^t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-4| J: Zak Wheatley⁽⁷⁾| T: D Carroll| OR: 88

4/1

Is yet to race over this 6f trip, and his last couple of 7f wins (York & Thirsk) have come with plenty of ease underfoot; raced prominently when fifth of 12 to Northernpowerhouse at Redcar 16 days ago; others are more proven in this Class 2 grade.

Form: 21186-5

(3)

George Bowen^v³²

Age: 8| Weight: 8-2| J: P Mathers| T: R A Fahey| OR: 86| D

17/2

Continues to fall in the weights (some 20lb or so since May 2019); helped to force the early pace until weakening inside the final furlong on return to action at Newmarket (6f, good to firm) last month; others days lie ahead.

Form: 90000-8

Non-Runners

(7)

True Mason²

Weight: 8-6| Age: 4

T: K R Burke J: C Lee

Forecasts

Summerghand (1/1), Shawaamekh (4/1), Golden Apollo (5/1), George Bowen (17/2), True Mason (10/1), Watchable (14/1), Walhaan (20/1)

A good quality sprint. Shawaamekh (first attempt at 6f), Watchable and George Bowen are all possible pace-setters, and this should set the race up perfectly for a fast-finisher. The Ayr Silver Cup winner Golden Apollo turned in a solid display in the Silver Wokingham Stakes (eighth of 19), but a clear preference is for the top-weight SUMMERGHAND, who was only denied by the narrowest of margins (a nose) in the actual Wokingham Stakes itself.