Armstrong Memorial Handicap

Off time: 15:42 | Winning time: 1m 10.3s

(2)

Intrinsic Bond¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Connor Beasley| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 95| D

3/1

Career best when winning 8-runner handicap (9/2) at Catterick (6f, good) 19 days ago, forging clear. Hit with a 10 lb rise, but he's a major player nonetheless.

Form: 348561

(1)

Gale Force Maya^p¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 92| D

9/2

Six wins from 23 Flat runs. 11/2, good third of 6 in handicap at Newmarket (6f, good to firm) 17 days ago. Mark untouched and should be on the premises once more.

Form: 419303

(5)

Paws For Thought¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Jane Elliott| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 91| D

11/2

Latest win at Chester in May. Seventh of 11 in handicap (15/2) at Hamilton (6f, good to firm) 17 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Likely to find one or two too good.

Form: 44-1547

(3)

Bossipop^b²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 85| CD

4/1

Four-time C&D winner. Latest win at Pontefract in May. 17/2, creditable second of 5 in handicap at Hamilton (6f, good to firm) 2 days ago. Very dangerous to discount back at this venue.

Form: 134082

(6)

Fortamour²³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: P Hanagan| T: B Haslam| OR: 80| D

4/1

Visored for 1st time, bit below form eighth of 19 in handicap (25/1) at York (6f, good) 23 days ago. Yard saddles a far stronger candidate in Macho Pride.

Form: 363878

(4)

Macho Pride¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Harrison Shaw| T: B Haslam| OR: 81| D

11/2

7/2, career best when winning 9-runner handicap at Haydock (6f, good) 17 days ago, well on top finish. Now 6 lb higher in a better race, but this 3-y-o looks set for another bold show.

Form: 6-03321

Forecasts

Intrinsic Bond (3/1), Fortamour (4/1), Bossipop (4/1), Gale Force Maya (9/2), Paws For Thought (11/2), Macho Pride (11/2)

This looks very competitive, despite the small field. MACHO PRIDE took a step forward when striking at Haydock recently and while this demands another personal best, Ben Haslam's charge may well be equal to the task. Intrinsic Bond is greatly respected, for all that a 10 lb rise for his decisive Catterick success won't be easy to shrug off, and Bossipop needs considering, too.