14:20 Pontefract

Monday 23 October 2017

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5017:20

toteplacepot EBF Nursery

Off time: 14:21 | Winning time: 1m 51.81s

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(14)

Gamesters Icon³⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-6| J: G Lee| T: B Smart| OR: 73

20/1

Another one of the handicap debutantes although the mark doesn't look that generous and she'll need improve to overcome this mark. Her second last time out reads well enough but car-park draw won't help here.

Form: 5822

(11)

Sinaloa³¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: D Nolan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 70

14/1

Looks to have one standout effort to his name when he was second in a Hamilton nursery back in August off a 1lb higher mark. Failed to build on that in a couple of subsequent outings and the draw makes life difficult once again.

Form: 355257

(10)

Voice of The North²⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 70

10/1

Could be expected to do better now he goes handicapping having failed to settle last time out in his qualifying run at Goodwood over 2f further. His form prior to that would give him a chance although stable are 0/12 with handicap debutantes here.

Form: 447

(5)

Hemingford¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: P Mulrennan| T: C Fellowes| OR: 68| D

7/1

Made a winning handicap debut at Nottingham in August off a mark of 63 and handling the heavy ground well. Failed to show much since and threw in a temperamental display here last time out over 1m2f and one to take care with.

Form: 869147

(2)

Hyanna¹⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 67

9/2

Handicaps have always looked as though they would show her in a better light and she makes her debut in this sphere now. One of three from her stable she's been blessed with a low draw and is of interest here off a decent mark.

Form: 347

(13)

French Resistance⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 8-12| J: T Hamilton| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 65

16/1

Showed some fair form in maidens but failed to make anything like a step forward on his handicap debut last time. More needed here and landed with a difficult double-figure draw and can be slow away.

Form: 6638

(7)

Normandy Blue²³

Age: 2| Weight: 8-12| J: P J McDonald| T: R A Fahey| OR: 65

10/1

His third run in a maiden brought about some improvement over 7f at Chester but he failed to back that run up on his handicap debut. That going could have been against him on that occasion and the soft ground may not be ideal here either.

Form: 0626

(8)

Iconic Code⁴⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 8-11| J: J F Egan| T: M R Channon| OR: 64

16/1

Yet to finish better than fourth in any of her three runs and makes her handicap debut here without looking as though handicaps will bring about any immediate improvement. Others make more appeal in this competitive heat.

Form: 446

(1)

Barney George²⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 8-8| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 61

10/1

Form in maidens was only modest and looked the sort to do better in handicaps but dispelled that theory when finishing well held on his first try in this sphere. Faces testing conditions again here and may well need better ground.

Form: 7858

(4)

Milan Reef²⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 8-6| J: J P Sullivan| T: D Loughnane| OR: 59| D

8/1

Turned in a career best when winning a nursery at Chepstow over a mile on her penultimate start. Wasn't in anything like the same form last time at Redcar and has proved a rather inconsistent sort in the past.

Form: 902819

(3)

Ventura Crest²⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 8-5| J: Rachel Richardson⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 58

5/1

Stepped up on his previous form when taking the runner-up slot last time out at Redcar only narrowly touched off. Well drawn for a front runner in stall 3 and a repeat of his last run would see him go close here.

Form: 646802

(6)

El Bertie¹³

Age: 2| Weight: 8-2| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 55

28/1

It has looked as though his best form has come on the AW with the soft ground at Catterick last time out over 6f looking as though it tested him to the limit. Wouldn't be sure that this mile would see him at his best either and others preferred.

Form: 08956

(9)

Bee Machine²⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 8-0| J: Cam Hardie| T: D Carroll| OR: 48

12/1

Never nearer than at the finish last time out on his second nursery start and further would probably suit. Runs from out of the handicap here but may be open to further improvement and not written off.

Form: 97005

Non-Runners

(12)

Dance Emperor¹⁹

Weight: 9-7| Age: 2

T: E Walker J: J P Spencer

Forecasts

Hyanna (9/2), Ventura Crest (5/1), Dance Emperor (11/2), Hemingford (7/1), Milan Reef (8/1), Normandy Blue (10/1), Barney George (10/1), Voice of The North (10/1), Bee Machine (12/1), Sinaloa (14/1), Iconic Code (16/1), French Resistance (16/1), Gamesters Icon (20/1), El Bertie (28/1)

A typically competitive opener to the final meeting of the year at Pontefract where the draw may well play its part in the result. VENTURA CREST is one of three that Tim Easterby runs in the race and he’s well drawn to go forward here and should make a bold bid to build on his runner-up spot from last time. Plenty will fancy Gamesters Icon but she faces a difficult task from stall 14 as do most of those running from double-figure draws. Bee Machine is bred to be better than his current mark and showed some promise last time out and this trip should suit. Hyanna is another Easterby runner of interest as handicaps have always looked as though they will see her in a better light than the stiffer tasks she’s faced in maidens.