20:00 Pontefract

Friday 26 May 2017

All18:3019:0019:3020:0020:3021:00

Constant Security Services Handicap

Off time: 20:01 | Winning time: 1m 3.23s

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Selected odds by:

(5)

B Fifty Two^t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: P Makin| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife| OR: 85| D

14/1

A six time career winner with his last two victories coming from a handicap mark of 96. Joined this yard for 10,000 gns in the autumn and little impact in two starts this term. However, has been dropped 8lb and runs from a fair mark (85), with some claims if revived now dropped in trip.

Form: 0478-00

(3)

Tumblewind⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽⁵⁾| T: R M Whitaker| OR: 85| D

7/2

Posted a good effort when beaten just under 2L by Southern Belle in a 6F fillies handicap at Ripon on Sunday. However, doesn't win too often and remains high in the weights back in an open handicap. Drop in trip won't worry and well drawn.

Form: 1067-63

(12)

Escalating^t⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: S De Sousa| T: M Appleby| OR: 83| BF| D

8/1

In good form on synthetics lately, winning over this trip at Southwell in February. Competitive from this mark over 5F since, but poorly drawn and must continue that progress switched back to turf.

Form: 005-123

(10)

Stanghow²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 83| CD

20/1

Beat Majestic Hero a short head in this contest in 2016, but races from a 5lb higher mark tonight. Rounded off last term with a fair second placed effort at Chelmsford in October, but not so sharp so far in 2017 in two starts over this trip.

Form: 1302-90

(4)

Highly Sprung¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 83| BF| C

7/1

All of his four career wins on turf have come over 6F (won here from an 8lb lower mark in June 2016). Didn't have the breaks fall his way in a competitive event at Chelmsford (5F) won by Dynamo Walt and a return to this stiff track will prove beneficial. Obvious chance.

Form: 0-50323

(9)

Black Grass^v1³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁷⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 81| D

10/1

Absent since July 2016, but that proved no barrier on his return to action at Ripon last month when dead-heating with Foxtrot Knight in a 5F apprentices handicap. Up 3lb with the same rider aboard, and the first time visor added.

Form: 11120-1

(1)

First Bombardment^h²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 81| D

7/1

Not the easiest to catch right, and has been held in three starts this year from similar marks, so others have stronger claims tonight despite the positive draw.

Form: 417-576

(6)

Grandad's World²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Adam J McNamara⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 80| BF| CD

13/2

A two time career winner from 20 starts, with both of those successes coming at this track (5F August 2014, and 6F April 2015). Rather strangely hasn't raced here since during a career in which he's been highly tried. A shade to find based upon what he's shown so far this year (beaten favourite latest), but will a return to this venue revive?

Form: 0079-35

(7)

Oriental Relation^b¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: P Mulrennan| T: J G Given| OR: 79| BF| CD

9/1

Has thrived for a switch back to turf and is 2 from 2 already over C&D this season, winning here in both April and May. He's risen 11lb combined and was only third when seeking the hat-trick at Catterick recently, but is much respected despite this being his toughest task in a long while.

Form: 903113

(11)

Silvanus¹⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 9-0| J: G Lee| T: P T Midgley| OR: 78| CD

16/1

Dual C&D winner, but the elder statesman of this field at the age of twelve. However, remains in good shape and finished runner up on each of his last two starts at Musselburgh and Catterick.

Form: 867622

(2)

Musharrif²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: T Hamilton| T: D Carroll| OR: 76| D

10/1

Won twice last season over this trip on fast ground at Nottingham and Beverley and has claims to be in the shake up from a mark just 1lb above his last winning one. However, hasn't been seeing his races out this term after racing prominently and needs to find more off the front end to take full advantage of this draw.

Form: 316-999

(8)

Astrophysics¹⁸⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: P Aspell| T: Miss L C Siddall| OR: 73| D

33/1

5F Beverley winner in September 2016 and solid enough in three outings on Tapeta at Newcastle at the backend of the year. Returns to the track following a six month break and likely to need this from a mark of 73.

Form: 421443-

Forecasts

Tumblewind (7/2), Grandad's World (13/2), First Bombardment (7/1), Highly Sprung (7/1), Escalating (8/1), Oriental Relation (9/1), Musharrif (10/1), Black Grass (10/1), B Fifty Two (14/1), Silvanus (16/1), Stanghow (20/1), Astrophysics (33/1)

Plenty of Pontefract specialists line up for a competitive sprint handicap on a typically trappy Friday Night fixture. The handicapper probably has Oriental Relation in his pocket, and Grandad's World needs to find more on his return to a track on which he's unbeaten. Black Grass should go close for Harrison Shaw with the visor added seeking to squeeze out that extra few pounds of improvement which will help defy a 3lb rise for his Ripon 'success'. 2016 winner Stanghow returns, whilst B Fifty Two is slipping in the weights, but the horse with the strongest claims is the Mark Johnston trained HIGHLY SPRUNG. He'd have went close with better breaks in a good race at Chelmsford recently and whilst most effective over 6F, he's likely to be rattling home up a hill he knows very well (a previous 6F winner here).