Skip to content

Racecards

17:20 Pontefract

Betfair.com Apprentice Series Handicap (round One) (Class 5)

  • 10 Runners
  • Distance: 1m 4f 8y
  • Going: Heavy
  • Surface: Turf
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 2m 53.67s
  • 10 Ran
1
Silk -
2
Silk -
3
Silk -
6/1

    1(6)
    Silk - RED, BLACK triple diamond, diabolo on sleeves, RED cap, BLACK diamond

    Greenbelt

    28 BF
    6/1
    • Form 333124
    • Age 5
    • Weight 9-5
    • Official Rating 72

    held up, ridden over 4f out, outpaced over 3f out, kept on final 2f

    2(3)
    Silk - Black, Yellow hoops, diabolo on sleeves and star on cap

    Isa'af (IRE)

    15 CDD
    9/2
    • Form 819231
    • Age 7
    • Weight 9-4
    • Official Rating 71

    in touch, ridden to lead over 2f out, soon clear

    3(8)
    Silk - Royal Blue, White hoop, striped sleeves

    McEldowney

    179 D
    11/2
    • Form 111607-
    • Age 4
    • Weight 9-4
    • Official Rating 72

    tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace

    4(10)
    Silk - YELLOW, BLACK epaulets, WHITE sleeves, YELLOW cap, BLACK star
    10/1
    • Form 321/80-
    • Age 12
    • Weight 9-1
    • Official Rating 68

    mid-division, lost place halfway

    5(7)
    Silk - Red, Royal Blue star, Royal Blue sleeves, Red stars, Red cap, Royal Blue star
    10/1
    • Form 176197-
    • Age 6
    • Weight 8-10
    • Official Rating 63

    in rear, weakened over 3f out

    6(5)
    Silk - Red, Royal Blue star, halved sleeves and star on cap

    Ego Trip

    154 b D
    6/1
    • Form 176253-
    • Age 5
    • Weight 8-8
    • Official Rating 61

    tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out

    7(4)
    Silk - Red, Blue cap and hooped sleeves

    Middlethorpe

    543 b CDD
    16/1
    • Form 515670/
    • Age 9
    • Weight 8-7
    • Official Rating 60

    held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, kept on

    8(9)
    Silk - Orange, Brown stars, Orange sleeves and cap

    Pont Neuf (IRE)

    171 t D
    12/1
    • Form 034558-
    • Age 6
    • Weight 8-5
    • Official Rating 55

    pushed along towards rear, behind halfway, tailed off over 4f out

    9(1)
    Silk - Maroon and Yellow check, Maroon sleeves, Yellow cap

    Melodian

    185 b C
    20/1
    • Form 000/790-
    • Age 11
    • Weight 8-5
    • Official Rating 55

    led to halfway, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out

    10(2)
    Silk - Light Green, Mauve hollow box, sleeves and diamond on cap
    11/2
    • Form 335657-
    • Age 4
    • Weight 8-4
    • Official Rating 55

    with leader and keen, led halfway, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong

    In depth

    Verdict

    Greenbelt, Isa'af and McEldowney are all fancied to go close in the closing apprentice handicap with Isa'af our getting the nod to follow up his recent Southwell win. That race was over two miles but he has won over this course and distance before. Stamina will surely be the key and he has bags of it. He has won when there is cut in the ground before and he is our pick in the closing race. Greenbelt represents the in-form Gary Moore yard but he looks to have too much to do off top-weight in this ground. McEldowney travels down from Mark Johnston's Middleham stables. He recorded a three timer in eight days last summer and a return to that form would see him go close here. However, others are preferred and we will stick with Isa'af.

    Formwatch

    Greenbelt 6-4fav (8-5) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, one pace until weakened final furlong, 4th of 8, 8l behind Kylkenny (9-1) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Mar.

    Isa'af (IRE) 5-2fav (9-2) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, soon ridden, driven out, won at Southwell 2m hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Mar beating Victory Quest (8-13) by 2l, 6 ran.

    McEldowney 6-1 (8-0) Pushed along mid-division, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 10, 11l behind Tcherina (8-1) at York 1m 4f app hcp (4) gd in Oct.

    October Mist (IRE) 33-1 (9-4) Towards rear, headway 5f out, ridden 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 10th of 11, 20l behind Inchnadamph (8-13) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (5) gd in Jun.

    Platinum Charmer (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, ridden 2f out, never near to challenge, 7th of 12, 9l behind Tranquilizer (9-0) at W'hampton 1m 4f clm (6) pol in Dec.

    Ego Trip 6-1 (8-12) Led, headed 6f out, kept on final 2f, 3rd of 17, 9l behind Hernando's Boy (8-12) at Catterick 1m 6f hcp (5) sft in Nov.

    Middlethorpe 7-1 (9-2) Never better than mid-division, 10th of 16, 9l behind Scott (8-4) at York 1m 4f app hcp (E3) gd in Oct '04.

    Pont Neuf (IRE) 9-1 (8-5) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 14, 12l behind Yenaled (8-10) at Catterick 1m 4f app clm (6) gd in Oct.

    Melodian 20-1 (8-6) Soon prominent, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, 11th of 14, 43l behind Woolstone Boy (8-11) at Southwell 1m 4f banded stk (7) fbs in Oct.

    Just Waz (USA) 8-1 (8-3) Tracked leader, driven over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 7th of 13, 16l behind Peak Park (9-8) at Southwell 2m hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Nov.