14:20 Pontefract

Thursday 23 July 2020

All13:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:2517:0017:35

New Sporting Life App Handicap

Off time: 14:24 | Winning time: 1m 2.39s

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Selected odds by:

(8)

Choosey^t²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Nathan Evans| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 68| D

22/1

Back to form from out of the blue at Wolverhampton (5.1f) in October helped by an ease in grade/mark and a strongly-run race. Different tactics used in both starts since, should strip fitter here and is eased in grade again, note a market move.

Form: 84410-5

(14)

Sheepscar Lad^t1¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁵⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 68| BF| CD

12/1

On a long losing sequence; not disgraced last time over 6f here but didn't look that keen to give his all despite having a wide trip. Tongue-tie now used first-time (had wind op in the winter), capable of winning at this level but comes with risks.

Form: 3334-44

(10)

Araifjan^p1¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: D Nolan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 70

7/1

Easy to back over C&D last time returning to handicaps, gave the impression that 6f would suit better (lacks pace for this trip). Travelled well enough through the race, first-time cheekpieces now used to sharpen him up, wide draw to contend with.

Form: 744-343

(12)

Robot Boy¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 9-9| J: Rowan Scott⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife| OR: 65| D

100/1

Double-figure draw is an immediate negative as is his form since returning from the enforced break. Below-par both recent starts over 5f, doubts remain about his attitude (has refused to race), safer/better options amongst this field.

Form: 3-26249

(13)

Lezardrieux⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: S H James| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 68| D

16/1

Still in good form having won three from four prior to his last two creditable runs (placed on both occasions). Wins have all come at 5f, forced wide by the draw at Catterick last time (same problem here), work to do taking on his elders once more.

Form: 151-133

(4)

Equipped¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: M Harley| T: M R Channon| OR: 64| BF

11/1

6f AW winner on handicap debut showing improved form; best performances since have come on the AW (below-par one turf race). Usually races prominently (well placed to do so here), just her second try at 5f, needs to improve her turf form to feature.

Form: 331294

(2)

Only Alone²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: G Lee| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 67| D

15/2

Off the mark on first 3yo start taking a weak Beverley 5f novice in decisive style, then failing on her first try at 6f (handicap debut) at Thirsk last time. Rather free last time reverting to 5f may suit her better at this stage of her development.

Form: 99-15

(1)

Young Tiger^h¹⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: A Mullen| T: T P Tate| OR: 63| D

16/1

Five-time AW winner (yet to win on turf, 0-21), typically giving his running last time at Newcastle over 5f in a better race than he's used to (eased in grade here). Nicely berthed this will be his first turf outing since September last year.

Form: 23-2232

(11)

Billy Dylan²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: T Eaves| T: Suzzanne France| OR: 63| D

50/1

Lost his way for David O'Meara last year, showed signs he could be on the way back on return/stable debut. Not ideally placed over 6f (better at 5f) without usual headgear (still left off), good mark to work with if he does blossom again.

Form: 37060-7

(5)

Pavers Pride^b¹⁰^{(ex 5)}

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Oisin Murphy| T: P T Midgley| OR: 58| D

11/8

Confirmed promise shown in first two starts for this yard with a smooth victory at Ayr (5f, good), won readily. Still looks well-treated under a 5lb penalty (has win off higher marks in the past), actually 3lb well-in, sound chance of following up.

Form: 867-221

(3)

Shepherd's Purse^b²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 58| D

12/1

Last win came on the AW at Wolverhampton over this trip, ran a respectable race there recently with the stable yet to really fire. Back on his last winning mark now, nicely drawn but others given the form of the yard appeal more.

Form: 1357-63

(6)

Arnold^p,h³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: J Fanning| T: Mrs A Duffield| OR: 54| D

16/1

Not won for over two years, shaped nicely enough on his reappearance off a career-low mark at Beverley (5f, good/firm) last time. Eased a further 2lb with the headgear combination worn for his last win returning, could be worth a second glance.

Form: 48073-5

(7)

Crosse Fire^b⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: B A Curtis| T: S Dixon| OR: 51| CD

33/1

Infinitely better on the AW than on this surface there was little to take from his return to action after seven months off at Ripon (5f, good), finishing last of 10. Would only make very limited appeal despite a much lower turf mark.

Form: 17345-0

Non-Runners

(9)

Desert Ace²³

Weight: 9-8| Age: 9

T: P T Midgley J: Barry McHugh

Forecasts

Pavers Pride (11/8), Araifjan (7/1), Only Alone (15/2), Equipped (11/1), Sheepscar Lad (12/1), Shepherd's Purse (12/1), Young Tiger (16/1), Arnold (16/1), Lezardrieux (16/1), Choosey (22/1), Desert Ace (22/1), Crosse Fire (33/1), Billy Dylan (50/1), Robot Boy (100/1)

A typically competitive sprint for the track where the draw may have a part to play with recent Ayr scorer PAVERS PRIDE nicely positioned in stall 5 after his smooth win last time. Despite his penalty he’s still 3lb well-in with his yard’s sprinters going well. Quite a few of the other fancied runners will have to try and overcome wide draws and that may hamper the chances of Sheepscar Lad, Lezardrieux and Araifjan the last-named would be interesting back at 6f. The stablemate of the selection Desert Ace deserves respect while Arnold back with headgear on and the well-drawn Only Alone are two others to throw into the mix.