Racecards
16:50 Pontefract
Friends Of Northern Racing College Handicap (Class 5)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 1m 2f 6y
- Going: Good to Firm, Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 81846
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer M Wallace
- Jockey Derek Nolan
prominent, driven to challenge 2f out, led over 1f out, headed approaching final furlong, one pace inside
- Form 01040-4
- Age 5
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer T D Barron
- Jockey P Sargent
took keen hold behind leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
- Form 46293-9
- Age 5
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 67
- Trainer N Tinkler
- Jockey Kim Tinkler
took keen hold behind leaders, pushed along over 2f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong
- Form 274076
- Age 7
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 67
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey Tony Culhane
towards rear, headway when not much room over 1f out, ran on to chase winner final furlong
- Form 42-9097
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 67
- Trainer M H Tompkins
- Jockey Michael Hills
mid-division, headway over 1f out, ran on final furlong
- Form 112739-
- Age 5
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 63
- Trainer J S Wainwright
- Jockey T Hamilton
towards rear, never reached challenging position
- Form 43213-8
- Age 7
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 62
- Trainer J Hetherton
- Jockey P Makin
dwelt, always in rear division
To Arms
242- Form 56459-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 60
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey D Allan
mid-division, headway, not clear run over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
- Form 51236-0
- Age 4
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 60
- Trainer R F Johnson Houghton
- Jockey K Darley
mid-division, headway 2f out, ran on to lead approaching final furlong, kept on well
- Form 06000-6
- Age 5
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 60
- Trainer C N Kellett
- Jockey Paul Eddery
led, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 10026-6
- Age 4
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 59
- Trainer J D Bethell
- Jockey Graham Gibbons
prominent, led over 2f out, headed well over 1f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 045602-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-5
- Official Rating 57
- Trainer G A Swinbank
- Jockey Dean McKeown
towards rear, headway on inner 2f out, ridden, one pace final furlong
- Form 31246-3
- Age 4
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 55
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey J Mackay
in touch, driven over 2f out, soon behind
- Form 502300-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 54
- Trainer M D Hammond
- Jockey R Mullen
never better than mid-division
- Form 89580-2
- Age 10
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 51
- Trainer J & S Quinn
- Jockey Graham Gibbons
Nonrunner
Verdict
This is a wide open handicap to close the card but the leading lights look to be Stage Manager, Archie Babe and Silverhay with the vote given to the last mentioned. The selection is a course and distance winner and he ran with great promise on his seasonal reappearance when a close fourth behind Augustine at Beverley. He should strip fitter for that run and he looks to have a solid chance today. Stage Manager was a beaten favourite at Lingfield last time but that was a rough race and that effort can be forgiven. This colt is lightly-raced so is open to plenty of improvement and he should go well. Archie Babe is a spring horse and he put up a fair effort here last time when second behind Tagula Blue. He looks a banker to make the frame, but for the winner we will stick with Silverhay.
Formwatch
Stage Manager (IRE) 11-4fav (8-13) Held up towards rear, kept on final furlong, never dangerous, 6th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Llamadas (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Feb.
Silverhay 9-1 (9-2) Mid-division, headway to challenge over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 15, 1 1/2l behind Augustine (9-7) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Apr.
Fame 14-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders and keen, challenged 3f out, weakening when not much room over 1f out, 11th of 15, 8l behind Augustine (9-7) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Apr.
Bright Sun (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) Close up and keen, led 3 out, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 9th of 15, 6l behind Augustine (9-7) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Apr.
Eastborough (IRE) 25-1 (9-3) Started very slowly, settled in rear, late headway from 2f out, never dangerous, 6th of 14, 7l behind Trance (9-8) at Newbury 2m hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Apr.
Monash Lad (IRE) 11-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 4f out, effort when weakening over 2f out, 7th of 10, 19l behind Tagula Blue (8-5) at Pontefract 1m 2f app hcp (5) gd in Apr.
Wizard Looking 13-2 (9-10) Held up in touch, headway over 5f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 12, 8l behind Greenwich Meantime (10-0) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (5) gf in Aug.
Qualitair Wings 16-1 (8-11) Held up, headway and edged right over 1f out, not much room when weakening entering final furlong, 8th of 15, 6l behind Augustine (9-7) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Apr.
To Arms 14-1 (8-10) Held up, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 9th of 13, 11l behind Halla San (8-11) at Haydock 1m 3f 3yo hcp (5) gd in Sept.
Thorny Mandate 16-1 (9-1) Always towards rear, 14th of 16, 17l behind Augustine (9-4) at Bath 1m 2f hcap (6) gs in Apr.
Inchloss (IRE) 33-1 (8-4) Led, headed over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 8, 20l behind Tyzack (9-4) at Southwell 1m hcap (5) fbs in Apr.
Abstract Folly (IRE) 14-1 (9-4) Towards rear, driven 4f out, some late progress, 6th of 13, 3l behind Scottish River (9-4) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Apr.
Purple Dancer (FR) 14-1 (8-9) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, edged right, one pace towards finish, 2nd of 19, 3l behind Leslingtaylor (8-8) at Pontefract 1m 2f app hcp (6) gs in Sept.
Zarova (IRE) 12-1 (7-11) Held up, headway on outer 2f out, stayed on final furlong, eased and lost 2nd place close home, 3rd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Saif Sareea (8-8) at Catterick 1m 4f hcap (5) frm in Apr.
El Rey Royale 66-1 (8-9) Prominent, outpaced over 6f out, 14th of 17, 21l behind Whispering Death (9-1) at Catterick 1m 6f hcp 0-60 (6) gd in Oct.
Archie Babe (IRE) 14-1 (8-4) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, ran on to chase winner final furlong, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Tagula Blue (8-5) at Pontefract 1m 2f app hcp (5) gd in Apr.