16:30 Pontefract

Sunday 30 July 2017

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:00

Pontefract And District Golf Club Ltd Maiden Stakes

Off time: 16:31 | Winning time: 1m 48.36s

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Selected odds by:

(7)

Danny Mc D¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Jamie Gormley⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine

66/1

Not shown much in a couple of maidens so far, though did improve in the most recent of those at Thirsk (1m, good to firm). Should be able to build on that again here but looks likely to be showing more when going handicapping.

Form: 56

(9)

Good Man^p1³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: D C Costello| T: Karen McLintock

66/1

Unraced when with Saeed bin Suroor and has been well beaten on both starts since joining current handler, the first of them a Perth bumper (2m, good) and more recently at Newcastle (7f, AW). Cheekpieces now applied but needs plenty of improvement and probably one to watch until handicapping.

Form: 0

(4)

Excellent Story¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: P Makin| T: J J Davies

25/1

14-1 and was both green and keen on his debut at Carlisle (1m, good to firm) earlier in the month. Both that run and his pedigree suggest that he will need a bit more time and a step up in trip before he begins to make an impact.

Form: 4

(6)

Kings Will Dream²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: P Mulrennan| T: Micky Hammond

10/1

Has run to a similar level of form in two Ripon maidens so far (both 1m on good/good to soft ground). Probably another who will do better when handicapping, but on what he has shown you couldn't rule him out picking up a maiden such as this. Each-way shout.

Form: 33

(11)

Little Jo

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: G Lee| T: C Grant

33/1

Half-brother to three winners over 5f/6f, two of them as juveniles. Dam was a maiden plater and half-sister to Dewhurst winner Milk It Mick (also US Grade One winner). Yard not know for debut winners and looks very much one to watch this time.

Form:

(2)

Sharja Bridge⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian

2/7

Outperformed his 7-1 SP when beaten just ¾L into third at Haydock on debut (1m, good to soft) last month. Has been given a bit of time before coming out again and if he can repeat or better that opening effort then he will be very tough to topple today.

Form: 3

(1)

Soldier Blue³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: B A Curtis| T: B Ellison

20/1

Ran once for Charlie Appleby in April before joining current yard and made marginal improvement last time over 7f (AW) at Newcastle. Will need a fair bit of improvement to be winning this, but could have an each-way squeak. Will receive a handicap mark after this run.

Form: 86

(5)

Tuscany⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: J P Spencer| T: P & O Cole

8/1

Showed promise on debut at Chelmsford last year (7f, AW) but ran just the once and was gelded before returning at Salisbury last month (7f, good to firm). Another who will have a mark to work with after this run, though he may be good enough to pick up some prize money today.

Form: 4-5

(3)

Zihaam⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: T Hamilton| T: R Fell & S Murray

7/1

Improved for his first run when a 4L third in a big field at Gowran Park last month, though not yet shaping as though his sale price as a yearling (170,000gns) was realistic and changed hands for just 22,000gns last month. First start for new yard here and should be competitive, with a market check suggested. Can go handicapping after this run.

Form: 03

(8)

Callaloo

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Josh Doyle⁽³⁾| T: T Coyle & K Wood

50/1

8,000gns yearling, who dropped to 3,000gns at the sales in May. Half-sister to four winners from 1m½f-1m5f, out of a French 1m/1m1½f winner. Yard yet to have a 3yo placed on turf this year and she looks best watched on debut.

Form:

(10)

Pantera

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara

10/1

Half-sister to 2m AW winner Dubawi Fifty, out of an unraced full-sister to Racing Post Trophy/St Leger winner Brian Boru and to the dam of Derby/Arc winner Workforce, closely related to 1m4f Group Two winner Sea Moon out of a Park Hill winner. Lovely pedigree and it wouldn't be a big surprise if she could make an impact first time.

Form:

Forecasts

Sharja Bridge (2/7), Zihaam (7/1), Tuscany (8/1), Kings Will Dream (10/1), Pantera (10/1), Soldier Blue (20/1), Excellent Story (25/1), Little Jo (33/1), Callaloo (50/1), Good Man (66/1), Danny Mc D (66/1)

SHARJA BRIDGE is the standout candidate here and looks to have been found a good opportunity to break his duck after a decent debut effort. Pantera is a very interesting newcomer for David O'Meara, whose three-year-olds are outperforming their usual strike rate this term. She could be good enough first time out to have a say here, with no other outstanding contestant in the line-up. Several of these will receive a handicap mark after this race, so a market check looks advisable in terms of who might be able to improve today, with Kings Will Dream, Tuscany, Zihaam and Soldier Blue those concerned.