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15:50 Pontefract - 23 July 2020 - Racecard - Horse Racing - Sporting Life
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15:50 Pontefract

Thursday 23 July 2020

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

tiesplanet.com Maiden Stakes

  • 3YO to 4YO  |   Class 5  |   1m 6y  |   Good to Firm (Good in places)  |   10 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 15:51  |   Winning time: 1m 45.02s
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2
(7)
Horse silk
Celestial Bliss44
Age: 3|  Weight: 9-5| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| BF
14/1
Shaped as though he would be better for the run (first for nine months) when well held at Haydock (10.2f, good) last month. Despite his pedigree he may appreciate this return to 1m for now with the further experience gained here bringing progress.
3
(9)
Horse silk
Eagle Court302
Age: 3|  Weight: 9-5| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara
33/1
Reappears after having just one outing as a 2yo over 7f at Redcar last autumn offering something to work on. Bred for longer trips this looks a stepping stone for the future, one for the longer term he's likely to need this further experience.
4
(12)
Horse silk
Gunnerside17
Age: 3|  Weight: 9-5| J: S H James| T: Grant Tuer
200/1
Looked to have learnt something from AW debut last month over 1m at Newcastle when next seen at Thirsk again over 1m on quick ground. Failed to improve in form terms though finishing well held, handicaps seemingly await, wide draw to deal with.
5
(6)
Horse silk
Heaven Forfendt117
Age: 3|  Weight: 9-5| J: Jim Crowley| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR:  83| BF
8/13
Sixth in the Chesham at Royal Ascot as a 2yo (second start), was only seen once more as a juvenile. Shaped as if retaining his ability on 3yo return although may not have matched market expectations (5-6f); still has potential to live up to pedigree.
6
(3)
Horse silk
12/1
Looked clueless on his recent debut in the early stages but had visibly learnt something through the race offering some promise in the closing stages. Finished with running left over 1m last time, sure to improve, will know more this time.
7
(11)
Horse silk
10/1
Ran a fair race on her debut to be beaten 5L by short-priced favourite at Thirsk (1m, good/firm) looking fairly straight, still looks to have room to progress. Pedigree suggests that she will stay beyond this 1m, wide draw not that helpful.
8
(4)
Horse silk
3/1
Pedigree would suggest that she will need further in time after making a fair debut over 7f at Haydock (showed ability but in need of experience). In good hands (yard in good form), better expected this time from a decent draw.
9
(5)
Horse silk
Despoina245
Age: 3|  Weight: 9-0| J: Ben Robinson| T: B Ellison
50/1
First run for this yard (formerly with Jedd O'Keefe) having had a couple of starts last year on the AW at Newcastle at up to 10.2f. Started big prices on both occasions, looks to be being brought along gradually probably with handicaps in mind.
10
(2)
Horse silk
40/1
Well held on both her starts so far a couple of maidens, the second one here over 2f further when she took a strong hold and beat just one home. Looks to be one of the yard's lesser lights, should be found in handicaps after this run.
11
(1)
Horse silk
100/1
Went backwards from her debut last time at Haydock over 7f having shown some promise on initial outing over the same trip. Needs to more enthusiasm this time around to make an impact and well-drawn if she does show some zip.

Non-Runners

1
(10)
Horse silk
Dawn Blaze5
Weight: 9-13|  Age: 4
T: K R Burke  J: B A Curtis
NR
12
(8)
Horse silk
My Senorita
Weight: 9-0|  Age: 3
T: S & E Crisford  J: G Lee
NR

Forecasts

Heaven Forfend (8/13), Bint Australia (3/1), Artistic Vision (10/1), My Senorita (10/1), Liberty Power (12/1), Celestial Bliss (14/1), Eagle Court (33/1), Exhalation (40/1), Despoina (50/1), Dawn Blaze (50/1), Magical Spell (100/1), Gunnerside (200/1)

15:50 Pontefract - 23 July 2020 - Racecard - Horse Racing - Sporting Life

Last year’s winning yard, Sir Michael Stoute are represented by HEAVEN FORFEND and the trainer looks to have found a good opportunity at a track where he has a 31% strike-rate in the last five years. His career has been rather truncated so far but he showed that he had retained his 2yo ability last time out and can put that outing to good use here in a first-time tongue-tie. Some of the others in the field have shown promise with Bint Australia, Celestial Bliss and Artistic Vision having done enough to ensure that the suggestion doesn’t have things all his own way. Newcomer My Senorita wouldn’t need to be that special to get involved coming from a good yard (pedigree looks fairly smart).
  1. Heaven Forfend
  2. Bint Australia
  3. Celestial Bliss

Previous Winners

2019
Joyful Mission
Weight: 9-5  |Age: 3
4/5

Prize Money

1st: £3,493.002nd: £1,040.003rd: £519.004th: £260.00

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