15:00 Pontefract

Monday 24 April 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:15

RIU Hotels And Resorts Handicap

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 2m 13.63s

(5)

Ajero^t¹⁹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: G Lee| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 98| BF

9/2

Won a 9f Glorious Goodwood handicap last summer. Ended his campaign with a creditable third of 8 there off this mark in October. Thereabouts if ready to roll after a break.

Form: 222103-

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(7)

Marie's Diamond⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: D Tudhope| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 97| C

11/1

Course winner. Twenty four runs since last win in 2021. Struggled in Bahrain at the start of this year and watching brief is the percentage call.

Form: 464-600

(12)

Baryshnikov²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Connor Beasley| T: T D Barron| OR: 91| CD

25/1

Went off the boil towards the end of last year and fared no better on his Doncaster reappearance. C&D winner last spring but has something to prove for the time being.

Form: 11300-9

(9)

Dark Moon Rising⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Shane Gray| T: K A Ryan| OR: 90

28/1

Produced a useful effort when landing 6-runner conditions event on 1m Chelmsford reapperance last spring. Failed to progress in the face of some stiff tasks later in 2022 and also well held on last month's AW reappearance at Wolverhampton.

Form: 45580-0

(11)

Sun King^t¹⁰⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: B A Curtis| T: G Boughey| OR: 88

17/2

11/2, first run since leaving Aidan O'Brien when creditable fifth of 13 in handicap at Kempton (1m) in January. Step back up in trip should suit now returning to turf after a further 107 days off. One of the more interesting runners.

Form: 2/2163-5

(10)

Kenzai Warrior¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Jason Watson| T: R A Teal| OR: 87

33/1

Not beaten far back on the Flat at Kempton a fortnight ago and he's beginning to look well handicapped. One to consider.

Form: 20639-0

(6)

Piecederesistance¹⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Aiden Brookes⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 87| CD

12/1

C&D winner last summer but not in the same form at York and Newmarket subsequently. Placed twice over hurdles at the end of 2022. First outing for 143 days.

Form: 33/2195-

(8)

Zealandia³¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: C Lee| T: Ian Williams| OR: 86

12/1

French recruit who returned from 7 months off to spring a 33/1 surprise on his York stable debut last June. Slight worry that he's failed to make it to the track since but he's clearly capable when fresh.

Form: 52430/1-

(3)

Cumulonimbus¹⁹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Hollie Doyle| T: C Fellowes| OR: 86| D

9/4

Won back to back over this trip at Yarmouth (under Hollie Doyle) and Haydock last September. Another good run when third of 9 at Haydock (soft) on final start. Low-mileage 4-y-o who could easily have more to offer. Respected.

Form: 667113-

(4)

Reel Rosie^p²¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Rowan Scott| T: E Bethell| OR: 86| D

22/1

Well held in handicaps over this trip at York and Newmarket on her final 2 starts last year but she does return to action with her stable among the winners.

Form: 157188-

(2)

Lightening Company¹⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: A Mullen| T: B Haslam| OR: 82

6/1

Pretty useful at his best and he reappears off a mark only 1 lb higher than the one he defied at Redcar last spring. Stable among the winners, too, so there are reasons to be hopeful.

Form: 215349-

(1)

Wootton'sun¹⁹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: Cam Hardie| T: R A Fahey| OR: 81| D

8/1

Latest win at Windsor in September. Struggled on soft ground final start but a reappearance win last year shows he's capable when fresh and he could bounce back.

Form: 328155-

Non-Runners

(13)

Zealot³⁹

Weight: 9-9| Age: 5

T: M Appleby J: Billy Loughnane

Forecasts

Cumulonimbus (9/4), Ajero (9/2), Zealot (9/2), Lightening Company (6/1), Wootton'sun (8/1), Sun King (17/2), Marie's Diamond (11/1), Piecederesistance (12/1), Zealandia (12/1), Reel Rosie (22/1), Baryshnikov (25/1), Dark Moon Rising (28/1), Kenzai Warrior (33/1)

CUMULONIMBUS was steadily progressive in turf handicaps last autumn and might prove the answer to this tricky-looking handicap. Zealot is an obvious danger if able to transfer this winter's AW improvement to the grass. Kenzai Warrior, who is starting to look well handicapped, and George Boughey's Sun King are others who could go well.