16:20 Pontefract

Thursday 20 September 2018

All14:1014:4015:1515:4516:2016:5517:25

Pontefract Stayers Championship Handicap

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 4m 2.65s

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Selected odds by:

(7)

Angel Gabrial¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-12| J: Oakley Brown⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 73

9/1

Without a win since 2014, but has gone close twice in better races of late at Chester and York. Remains on the same mark today, but with 7lb now claimed and he would not be an undeserving winner.

Form: 393332

(1)

Cousin Khee^b²⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 9-7| J: Charlie Bennett| T: H Morrison| OR: 68| D

50/1

Has race solely on AW surfaces this year and without a turf win since 2015. Other make more appeal.

Form: 152967

(9)

Becky The Thatcher^p³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Rob J Fitzpatrick⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 67| BF| CD

14/1

6lb better off with Cray for a 7L defeat by him over C&D last month (good to firm). Has won over C&D herself. Not ground dependent and with a useful 5lb claimed, she should again be to the fore.

Form: 6-21122

(3)

Galileo's Spear^b,t¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Ryan Tate| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 66

20/1

1-20, having scored in France (1m1½f, good) in 2016. Another win, even for this trainer, has proved beyond her in 12 attempts since coming to these shores. Each-way claims from decent draw.

Form: 342544

(5)

Rubenesque^t¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Rachel Richardson| T: T Davidson| OR: 65| BF| D

2/1

Won a Cartmel maiden hurdle (2m6f) and a Carlisle Flat handicap (2m1f), both on fast ground, in the summer. 9lb higher than the latter here, but only just held from this mark last time. Claims.

Form: 454613

(11)

Airmax¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: R M Beckett| OR: 72

7/1

0-8, but placed in four of his last five starts from 1m3½f-2m. Same mark again today, so more improvement needed, but that is not out of the question. Probably wouldn't want much rain.

Form: 423722

(4)

Forbidding^t,v¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: J F Egan| T: J Butler| OR: 58

33/1

Won when stepped up to 2m½f at Newcastle (AW) in July, from 3lb lower. Below that level on his last two starts, so needs to bounce back.

Form: 065187

(10)

St Andrews^b⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Oliver Stammers⁽⁷⁾| T: G Boanas| OR: 54

20/1

1-31, but has run well in all of his last four starts. More needed here in tougher company, but not written off on an each-way basis.

Form: 283332

(8)

Pepper Street²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: J Fanning| T: H Palmer| OR: 64

3/1

Raced freely but overcame that to record a staying-on win over 1m6f (good to soft) at Ffos Las last month. Shapes as though she will stay, but she will need improvement to follow up in this field.

Form: 0-56531

(2)

So Near So Farhh⁸^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: K T O'Neill| T: M R Channon| OR: 50

4/1

Came good at the ninth attempt at Carlisle (1m6f, heavy), for which she is penalised here. General level of form suggests that she has a tough task on her hands.

Form: 602431

Non-Runners

(6)

Cray¹³

Weight: 10-0| Age: 4

T: J D Bethell J: P Hanagan

Forecasts

Rubenesque (2/1), Pepper Street (3/1), So Near So Farhh (4/1), Airmax (7/1), Cray (8/1), Angel Gabrial (9/1), Becky The Thatcher (14/1), St Andrews (20/1), Galileo's Spear (20/1), Forbidding (33/1), Cousin Khee (50/1)

Another competitive event and the suggestion is RUBENESQUE, who went close from this mark last time and is in the form of her life. Angel Gabrial should be in the mix again, with Becky The Thatcher a danger, Airmax a likely player and Galileo's Spear and Cray having each-way claims.