14:52 Pontefract

Monday 22 April 2024

All13:5214:2214:5215:2215:5517:0017:30

RIU Hotels And Resorts Handicap

Off time: 15:22 | Winning time: 2m 21.27s

(1)

Bolster²⁸³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin| T: K R Burke| OR: 97| D

13/2

Landed first 2 starts in novice company 8 months apart and ran with credit without being seen to best effect when tenth in Royal Ascot Group 3 last June. Below best at Newmarket a month later but he remains low mileage ahead of this return for new stable.

Form: 1/100-

(2)

Lord Protector¹⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 95| DWS

33/1

Bolstered his good record at Sandown (10f) in July but seemed anchored by small rise in weights thereafter and well held on yard debut at York (10.2f) in October. Probably best watched on return/following wind surgery.

Form: 821600-

(7)

Euchen Glen²⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 9-4| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 92| D

33/1

Veteran who typically gave his running in a host of big-field handicaps last summer. Shaped as if amiss back from 4 months off when last of 10 in handicap at Doncaster (10.2f, soft, 22/1) 29 days ago and he's probably more effective over further nowadays.

Form: 02440-0

(5)

Forceful Speed^t¹⁹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Billy Loughnane| T: G Boughey| OR: 89| BF| CD

15/2

Steady improver as a 3-y-o who completed hat-trick at Epsom (12f) in October. May of found race coming too soon when fourth at Leicester (10f) 9 days later but he could yet resume progress now embarking on his 4-y-o campaign.

Form: 5/51114-

(6)

Lightening Company²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: A Mullen| T: B Haslam| OR: 84| CD

6/1

Took this race 12 months ago from a 2 lb lower mark and he ran well on back of 6 months off when third of 10 in handicap at Doncaster (10.2f, soft) 29 days ago, a slow start not helping his cause. That should have teed him up nicely ahead of this.

Form: 10435-3

(4)

Toshizou¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Jonny Peate⁽³⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 84

6/1

Eighteen runs since last win in 2020 but stripped fitter for his reappearance when third of 7 in handicap (18/1) at Newcastle (10.2f) 14 days ago, running on. Forecast conditions will hold no fears for all losing run tempers enthusiasm.

Form: 0328-93

(9)

Baryshnikov²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: Connor Beasley| T: T D Barron| OR: 83| CD

17/2

C&D winner who comes here on a long losing run but he ran respectably on the back of 5 months off when fourth of 10 in handicap at Doncaster (10.2f, soft, 12/1) 29 days ago. Has won on his second start of the campaign for 2 of last 3 years and not dismissed from a good mark.

Form: 77235-4

(8)

Thundering¹⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Shane Gray| T: K A Ryan| OR: 83| D

16/1

Took advantage of much-reduced mark at Ayr (10f) in September. Finished midfield in Cambridgeshire next start and caught the eye when fifth of 9 in handicap at Lingfield (10f) on final start in November. Returns just 1 lb above last winning mark.

Form: 470105-

(3)

Esmeray²¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: S De Sousa| T: R M Beckett| OR: 78| BF| D

13/8

Sea The Moon filly who displayed race-by-race progress in novice/maidens, off the mark at Ffos Las (10f, soft) in August. Shaped better than bare result when third on handicap debut at Newbury (12f, heavy) a month later and she's very much one to be interested in on return.

Form: 3213-

Forecasts

Esmeray (13/8), Lightening Company (6/1), Toshizou (6/1), Bolster (13/2), Forceful Speed (15/2), Baryshnikov (17/2), Thundering (16/1), Lord Protector (33/1), Euchen Glen (33/1)

Steadily progressive in novice/maidens, ESMERAY shaped better than the bare result when third on handicap debut at Newbury when last seen in September, making her effort earlier than ideal. Appealing as being on a handy mark, she looks a big player on return. Last year's winner Lightening Company and Forceful Speed are others to consider, with Baryshnikov another in the mix.