Your Harrogate Ladies' Day Handicap

Off time: 17:44 | Winning time: 1m 38.08s

(5)

Flamborough Head^p¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 58| D

9/4

Won at Redcar in April and ran well when second over this C&D in May. Bounced back to form returned to this C&D when third in a 9-runner handicap 15 days ago, though didn't help his cause by lugging right under pressure. Should be in the mix again.

Form: 314273

(6)

Sovereign Class¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: S H James| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 58

11/2

Given a stiff opening mark but has gradually come down the weights and ran her best race to date when second of 9 in handicap at this C&D (good to firm, 16/1) 15 days ago. Respected from the same mark.

Form: 552572

(4)

Keats House^v1⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Billy Garritty| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 58

7/2

Some promise in handicaps but hasn't looked straightforward, reared and unseated in stalls at Pontefract prior to finishing sixth at Hamilton (8.3f) 8 days ago, travelled well in hood (removed) but awkward head carriage under pressure. Not ruled out if a first-time visor has a positive effect.

Form: 65-65U6

(3)

Groundhog³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: D Nolan| T: T D Barron| OR: 57

5/1

Lightly-raced sort has improved for the switch to handicaps. Back on the up under a change of tactics (patiently ridden without usual hood) when second of 11 in handicap at Carlisle (7.8f, good to firm) 31 days ago, again raced freely. Remains on a good mark if he can learn to race more efficiently.

Form: 005-382

(2)

Perfidia²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Sean Kirrane| T: T D Easterby| OR: 57| BF

10/3

Ran right up to form when runner-up over 7f at Redcar last month but couldn't better that when fourth over the same C&D 23 days ago. Remains to be seen whether the step up to 1m can bring out any improvement.

Form: 37-2224

(1)

Ziva's Star²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Andrew Breslin⁽³⁾| T: S Whitaker| OR: 45

22/1

Good fourth in novice at Pontefract in April but hasn't built on that effort in 3 handicaps since, the latest when well held over 5f at Catterick. Steps up considerably in trip and has plenty to prove from out of the weights.

Form: 0-54475

Forecasts

Flamborough Head (9/4), Perfidia (10/3), Keats House (7/2), Groundhog (5/1), Sovereign Class (11/2), Ziva's Star (22/1)

If racing more efficiently, the lightly-raced GROUNDHOG could prove the best handicapped of these and he's taken to go one better than at Carlisle last month. Flamborough Head has run creditably on both visits to this track and should give another good account, while Keats House could be the fly in the ointment if a first-time visor has the desired effect.