15:25 Pontefract

Thursday 21 September 2017

All14:2014:5015:2516:0016:3017:0517:35

Book Your Christmas Party Here On 0113 2876387 Handicap

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 2m 17.44s

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(5)

Kharbetation²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: P Makin| T: D O'Meara| OR: 87

20/1

This will be the first time that he has contested a handicap in this lower grade, though he did win a class 4 maiden on debut at Thirsk last year. Acted well enough on good to soft at York in July and has ability, though clearly not easy to handle.

Form: 1-600

(8)

Save The Bees¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: G C O'Neill⁽⁷⁾| T: D Carroll| OR: 83| CD

13/2

Has recorded four of his 13 wins on good to soft, including at Redcar (1m2f) in August. Also scored since then at Beverley (1m2f, good to firm) and went very close from today's mark at York last time. Has claims again.

Form: 512102

(7)

Mister Belvedere¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽⁵⁾| T: M Dods| OR: 87

8/1

His sole win was on good to soft at Carlisle (7f) 13 months ago and he is much more at home when able to get his toe in. Steps up in trip, but unless he can find some improvement, he looks to have frame claims at best.

Form: 654320

(1)

Royal Shaheen^v¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: G Lee| T: A C Whillans| OR: 77

4/1

Won on the forecast ground earlier in his career and scored over 1m at Ayr (good) in July from the same mark as he is on today. Looks exposed and not fully proven over this far, but from this mark he could again be a danger to all.

Form: 316335

(6)

Azzir⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: C Lee⁽³⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 73| CD

7/1

Scored over C&D last year (good) from 1lb higher in a lower grade event. Acts well with cut in the ground and has been in decent form in defeat lately, so this 1lb drop could help him go very close again.

Form: 47-3324

(3)

Peterhouse³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: K Stott| T: J Ward| OR: 71| D

5/1

Very much at his best on fast ground and at Beverley, where he enjoyed both his turf wins (1m2f) in 2015. Should be very competitive from this mark and stays 1m4f, but there remain those questions to answer regarding the ground.

Form: 453453

(4)

Alfred Richardson²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: S H James| T: J J Davies| OR: 74| C

8/1

Both of his wins have come on fast ground at around 1m, though seemed to act well enough on good to soft at Ripon in June. Well held back there when tried over this trip last time out and will need improvement to win this.

Form: 7-41315

(2)

Ludorum¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: J Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 74| D

7/2

Best effort so far was here when beaten just over 4L in a 1m maiden (good) in August, although in terms of results, he bettered that with a win at Ripon last time (1m2f, good to firm). This will be a tough test from this mark for his handicap debut.

Form: 541

(9)

Invictus^p¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: B A Curtis| T: D Loughnane| OR: 65| D

33/1

Runner-up in a heavy ground C&D handicap here last year when rated 16lb higher, he has been on the downgrade since, though halted the slide with a Leicester win (1m2f, good) in June. 4lb higher today and not easy to fancy in this grade.

Form: 971843

Forecasts

Ludorum (7/2), Royal Shaheen (4/1), Peterhouse (5/1), Save The Bees (13/2), Azzir (7/1), Alfred Richardson (8/1), Mister Belvedere (8/1), Kharbetation (20/1), Invictus (33/1)

A field full of exposed performers, with the exception of Ludorum, though he will need to run to a higher level than he did when taking his Ripon maiden last time if he is to follow up. Azzir loves the ground and should be involved, while Royal Shaheen and Mister Belvedere both act on softer ground and are not ruled out. However, SAVE THE BEES is very much at home on good to soft and over this trip. He went very close from this mark at York last time and is very likely to hold his form, so he gets the vote.