15:35 Pontefract

Monday 24 April 2017

All14:0014:3015:0515:3516:1016:4017:1017:40

Pontefract Marathon Handicap

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 4m 53.25s

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Selected odds by:

(2)

Rock On Bollinski^p¹⁹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: B A Curtis| T: B Ellison| OR: 73

8/1

Looked to be going the wrong way in his last two starts last year often looking lazy and temperamental. Did manage to win over 2m last year at Thirsk but not certain to stay what is a marathon trip on a stiff track.

Form: 375189-

(7)

Dan Emmett¹⁰⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: G Lee| T: M Scudamore| OR: 68

3/1

Useful handicap hurdler although he's only won once in that sphere and not run on the Flat since October 2015 over 2m. Stays well over hurdles and should stay this trip (win came over 2m on Flat) and has run well here over 2m2f once before.

Form: 01320/7

(1)

Waterclock^v⁵⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: T Eaves| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 67

9/1

Has shown some useful form over hurdles in the past but has rather lost his way this year in that sphere. Best run on the Flat came around this course last year over shorter although was typically lazy and the return of the visor last time out over hurdles didn't appear to help him travel any better.

Form: 4/72099-

(3)

Needless Shouting¹³²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Gemma Tutty⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 67

20/1

Has won a couple of times in the Flat but they both came over much shorter trips (1m6f) and he's been badly out of sorts of late over hurdles/fences. Unlikely to stay this far and others are much preferred.

Form: 242005/

(8)

Gran Paradiso^p,t¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: P Mulrennan| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 65

16/1

Only win so far has come over hurdles (2m4f) and he produced a very laboured effort here last time out over 2m2f. Went with very little fluency and this increased trip looks unlikely to provide an improved display.

Form: 72/90-6

(5)

Riptide¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 9-6| J: D C Costello| T: M Scudamore| OR: 65

14/1

Never looks an easy ride but has run well in countless events here and is dual course winner over shorter. Has run his last five races here but hardly likely to be improving at his age and was well beaten here last time out and has work to do with several of his rivals.

Form: 2737-73

(4)

La Fritillaire¹⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: A Mullen| T: J G Given| OR: 61

5/2

Course winner (2m2f) who showed progressive form over staying trips last year and has a pedigree that suggests she will be better as a five-year-old (half-brother to Dandino who got better with age). Has her first try at a real marathon trip like this but should go close if she stays.

Form: 13217-6

(10)

Tuscan Gold^p¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 9-1| J: P J McDonald| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 60

6/1

Stable have a good record in this race and this one looks to be the best of their three representatives here. Won here in 2015 over 2m1f and has run some other good races here with a second last time out over 2m2f on his CV. Has won over this trip hurdling and off the same mark as last time out has a leading chance here.

Form: 54886-2

(6)

Madam Lilibet¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: Joey Haynes| T: Mrs S A Watt| OR: 53

10/1

Capable on her day but very much has her own way of going about things and often needs plenty of driving along throughout a race especially in the early stages. Capable of winning a race such as this and her last Flat win came here (2m2f) but that was back in 2014. On balance one best left alone and treated with caution.

Form: 6508-52

(9)

Duc de Seville⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Phil Dennis⁽⁵⁾| T: M C Chapman| OR: 47

150/1

Runs from 7lb out of the handicap and has looked badly out of sorts lately in all spheres. Looks unlikely to stay this far and would be a shock winner.

Form: 3/P849-9

Forecasts

La Fritillaire (5/2), Dan Emmett (3/1), Tuscan Gold (6/1), Rock On Bollinski (8/1), Waterclock (9/1), Madam Lilibet (10/1), Riptide (14/1), Gran Paradiso (16/1), Needless Shouting (20/1), Duc de Seville (150/1)

Even with the ground riding good this is going to be a stiff test of stamina and there must be a doubt about some of these staying. Dan Emmett is of interest having run well on his only similar start on the level and La Fritillaire is the one in the field capable of some real improvement although her stamina has yet to be tested. The Hammond yard has a good record in the race and he has three representatives here with the best very much looking to be TUSCAN GOLD a very sound second here last time out and a winner over further when hurdling.