16:25 Pontefract

Monday 15 June 2020

All12:2012:5013:2013:5014:2014:5015:2515:5516:2517:00

Wayne Conway Memorial Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 16:26 | Winning time: 2m 12.03s

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Selected odds by:

(6)

Lexington Law^v¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: D Nolan| T: A King| OR: 70

7/1

Yet to win a turf handicap but did land a claimer at Thirsk 1m4f last July. Not in best of form on AW since but ran well enough until tiring late on return at Newcastle recently. Given chance by handicapper on pick of old form.

Form: 15-7638

(12)

Royal Shaheen²²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: G Lee| T: A C Whillans| OR: 68| CD

28/1

C&D winner September 2017 but absent since November when pulled up over hurdles at Musselburgh. Hopes rest on return here sparking a revival.

Form: 541350-

(2)

Epaneema⁶⁰⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Jason Hart| T: K Frost| OR: 67

11/1

Runner-up twice form five maiden outings for Jim Bolger in Ireland prior to joining current yard last week. Drops back in trip on British bow and worth noting for any market interest.

Form: 28520/

(9)

Greengage^h⁹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Phil Dennis| T: T Davidson| OR: 67| BF

16/1

Three wins from last six starts on AW rising 13lb in the wieghts. Looks to face stiff task off current mark on previous turf form and will do well to maintain the improvement.

Form: 112-163

(11)

Going Native^b⁹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Rachel Richardson| T: Olly Williams| OR: 66

50/1

All four wins have come at Southwell including hat-trick this winter and returns to turf 13lb higher than when well beaten at Yarmouth in May last year. Break may have halted improvement but not without interest if still in form.

Form: 584111

(3)

Beach Break^b²⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: P Mulrennan| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 65

10/1

Successful hurdler but has had few Flat outings since landing a Catterick 1m4f maiden in 2017 for Ralph Beckett. 5lb lower than last run in this sphere at Haydock last June.

Form: 1668/60-

(1)

Framley Garth^p¹⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: D Tudhope| T: L Bailey| OR: 64| D

6/1

Hasn't won since third win of 2018 exactly two years ago at York 1m4f for Lawrence Mullaney. Blank 2019 means he has come some way down the weights but hasn't run since January. Usually needs a few runs to find his form.

Form: 75850-0

(4)

Highwaygrey²⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 64| D

10/3

Gained first success over this trip in Haydock 1m2f h'cap last May and runs off same mark. Ran with credit on a number of occasions after that and wouldn't surprise to see him figure if ready for action after the break.

Form: 236456-

(10)

Zihaam^p²⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: B A Curtis| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 63| D

7/1

Landed handicaps at Beverley and Carlisle last summer, scrambling home on both occasions. Didn't shine after but now 2lb lower than last win and is very much a summer horse. Yard among the winners so is one to consider.

Form: 157447-

(7)

Celtic Artisan^p,t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-1| J: Cam Hardie| T: R Menzies| OR: 62| D

14/1

Ranm with credit on first outing for 242 days when solid fourth over 1m at Newcastle two weeks ago. 8 AW wins to his name at around 1m but 0-22 on turf is a concern so with stamina to prove he is not easy to recommend.

Form: 13206-4

(8)

Bahkit¹⁸⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: A Elliott| T: P A Kirby| OR: 55| D

14/1

Won two handicaps at this trip for Sally Haynes in 2017 but with the exception of one fair effort when second at Redcar in April 2019 has generally struggled since. Fair effort though on return at Newcastle and is at the right end of the weights.

Form: 257606-

(5)

Majestic Stone¹⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-2| J: J P Sullivan| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 46

11/1

Only win from 29 attempts came on soft ground at Carlisle 1m3f just over a year ago. Runs from 3lb out of the handicap on return from five months off and will do well to make his presence felt.

Form: 35237-8

Forecasts

Highwaygrey (10/3), Framley Garth (6/1), Lexington Law (7/1), Zihaam (7/1), Beach Break (10/1), Majestic Stone (11/1), Epaneema (11/1), Celtic Artisan (14/1), Bahkit (14/1), Greengage (16/1), Royal Shaheen (28/1), Going Native (50/1)

Most of these have questions to answer so ZIHAAM is the choice. He likes the sun on his back and won at this time last year, and there's no doubt he's fairly handicapped if fit on his first start for over eight months. Going Native was in fine form on the AW this winter but showed little on turf in the past and has shot up the weights, while Greengage has a similar profile and similar questions to answer. Despite top weight, Lexington Law could prove competitive in this grade, and some sort of a case can also be made for Bahkit and Highwaygrey.