14:10 Pontefract

Thursday 28 September 2023

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:40

Celebrating The Life Of Eric Armstrong Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 14:16 | Winning time: 1m 4.24s

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Selected odds by:

(6)

Cubanista¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Mia Nicholls⁽⁵⁾| T: Olly Williams| OR: 62

28/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2022. First run since leaving Pam Sly when tenth of 15 in handicap (50/1) at Thirsk (7f, soft) 10 days ago. Down in trip. Must improve.

Form: 273700

(9)

Blazing Hot^p⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Christian Howarth⁽³⁾| T: M Herrington| OR: 61| D

12/1

Second over C&D in June and wasn't disgraced from falling mark when third of 7 in handicap at Doncaster (5f, soft) 68 days ago. First run for yard after leaving David C. Griffiths. Cheekpieces back on. Probably needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 527083

(3)

Dark Crusade²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Ben Sanderson| T: P T Midgley| OR: 62

4/1

Has proved consistent across 6 starts to date, again faring creditably when 1¾ lengths fourth of 10 to Opal Storm in handicap at Carlisle (5f, good to firm) 21 days ago. Sound place claims again.

Form: 7334-34

(12)

Brother Sebastian²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Sean Kirrane| T: T D Easterby| OR: 59

25/1

Gone the wrong way since switching to handicaps, down the field agan at Nottingham on Tuesday. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 5-67809

(10)

Van Gerwen²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 9-7| J: Mark Winn| T: P T Midgley| OR: 58| CD

15/2

Four-time C&D winner, including when opening his account for the year here in August. Not in same form in a pair of outings since, though wouldn't be out of it if able to bounce back.

Form: 640189

(1)

Granny B^h1⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Laura Coughlan⁽³⁾| T: M Mullineaux| OR: 58

16/1

Fifth of 7 in claimer at Wolverhampton (6.1f) 45 days ago, again very slowly away. First run for yard after leaving John Quinn. Hood on 1st time. Hard to have faith in until issues at stalls are rectified.

Form: 66-4445

(14)

Tilia Cordata⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Mr Taylor Fisher| T: Steph Hollinshead| OR: 56| D

14/1

Improved on recent efforts to sharing spoils in 6-runner handicap (6/1) at Salisbury (5f, good) 49 days ago. Has to be taken seriously from 3 lb higher mark, despite widest draw.

Form: 309-851

(8)

Opal Storm⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Aiden Brookes⁽³⁾| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 57| D

9/2

Improved to spring a 66/1 surprise in 10-runner handicap at Carlisle (5f, good to firm) at the start of this month and looked unlucky not to finish closer when fourth of 14 in handicap at Redcar (5f, good) 9 days ago. Ranks high on the shortlist.

Form: 554914

(7)

Yazaman⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Elle-May Croot⁽⁵⁾| T: P T Midgley| OR: 55| D

6/1

One win from 34 Flat runs. Turned best effort the season over C&D on penultimate outing and would have finished a touch closer with a cleaner run when fourth of 11 in handicap at Catterick (6f, good, 13/2) 51 days ago. Not the most reliable but player if in same form.

Form: 746524

(5)

Autumn Flight^b⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: William Pyle⁽³⁾| T: I W McInnes| OR: 53| D

4/1

Not disgraced when fourth of 7 in handicap (7/1) at Catterick (6f, soft) 5 days ago and has good-value claimer aboard, but others still appeal as likelier winners.

Form: 746494

(2)

Smooch¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Gianluca Sanna⁽⁵⁾| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 53

14/1

Has struggled across 3 starts in handicap company and though she's got fewer miles on the clock than most of her rivals here, she'll need to improve to figure.

Form: 49-3785

(13)

Glory Hallelujah^p¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Alex Jary⁽⁵⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 50| D

25/1

Fourteen runs since last win in 2022. Eighth of 10 in handicap at Musselburgh (5f, good to soft, 11/2) 12 days ago. Cheekpieces back on. On a workable mark but needs to shrug off a pair of poor recent efforts,

Form: 083308

(11)

Tommytwohoots¹⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Aidan Keeley| T: S A Harris| OR: 47

50/1

Twelve runs since sole win in 2022. Runner-up at Catterick (5f, heavy) in April but failed to beat a rival there on next start. Best watched after 155 days off.

Form: 097620

Non-Runners

(4)

Secret Equity²¹

Weight: 8-9| Age: 6

T: Miss J A Camacho J: Ryan Sexton

Forecasts

Autumn Flight (4/1), Dark Crusade (4/1), Opal Storm (9/2), Yazaman (6/1), Van Gerwen (15/2), Blazing Hot (12/1), Smooch (14/1), Tilia Cordata (14/1), Granny B (16/1), Glory Hallelujah (25/1), Brother Sebastian (25/1), Secret Equity (25/1), Cubanista (28/1), Tommytwohoots (50/1)

OPAL STORM took a notable step forward when scoring at Carlisle earlier in the month and shaped as if still on a fair mark at Redcar last time, so she's taken to get the better of the high-drawn Tilia Cordata, who produced a career best when dead-heating at Salisbury last time. Dark Crusade was in the frame behind the selection at Carlisle and can give a good account again.