Racecards
16:40 Pontefract
Matty Bown Veterans Handicap (Class 4)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Form 646365
- Age 6
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer J & S Quinn
- Jockey Graham Gibbons
towards rear, headway on inner over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never nearer
- Form 639232
- Age 7
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer P T Midgley
- Jockey N Callan
chased leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, led narrowly 1f out, driven and kept on well
- Form 5247-28
- Age 7
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer Micky Hammond
- Jockey F Tylicki
led, ridden over 1f out, narrowly headed 1f out, driven and kept on
- Form 216604
- Age 6
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer Mrs D Sanderson
- Jockey D Fox
held up well in rear, ran on inside final furlong, no danger
- Form 009900
- Age 7
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 73
mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, soon beaten
- Form 427005
- Age 6
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey D Nolan
in touch, pushed along over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on to take 3rd well inside final furlong
- Form 000025
- Age 8
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer I W McInnes
- Jockey P Mathers
in touch, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, not pace to reach leaders
- Form 45/6851-
- Age 7
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 71
- Trainer J A Glover
- Jockey T Hamilton
slowly into stride and always in rear
- Form 277352
- Age 6
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer John Harris
- Jockey Barry McHugh
towards rear, headway on wide outside over 1f out, edged left, ran on inside final furlong, never nearer
- Form 097666
- Age 9
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 66
- Trainer R M Whitaker
- Jockey M Stainton
chased leader to over 1f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 089835
- Age 9
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer E J Alston
- Jockey Ted Durcan
towards rear, headway on inside well over 1f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 353171
- Age 6
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer M Brittain
- Jockey R Winston
slowly into stride, took keen hold, held up in rear, short lived effort on outside over 3f out
- Form 421878
- Age 10
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 61
- Trainer E J Alston
- Jockey A Mullen
in rear, headway on inside over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, not reached leaders
Verdict
EXIT SMILING deserves another win and Paul Midgley's gelding is preferred to Major Magpie, Collateral Damage and Active Asset. The selection comes here on the back of a good second to Danehillsundance at Beverley. A winner here in the past, this consistent son of Dr Fong is fancied to oblige off this mark of 79, which would be a career high. If this perch is too lofty, then it may be Major Magpie who can take advantage. He was run off his feet over too short a trip at Carlisle last time out and is rated much better than that effort; he would like rain but, if it comes, his mark of 73 looks entirely enticing. Collateral Damage is a fellow course and distance winner and Tim Easterby's gelding is closely linked with the selection on their Beverley run, Paraguay is now just 1lb higher than his Beverley win in May, whilst Nevada Desert has a poor draw to work from for a prominent racer. Betteras Bertie, a recent winner here, looks to have plenty more on his plate following a 5lb rise in the weights, however he looks progressive when getting his conditions and cannot be underestimated. An open race, but Exit Smiling is fancied to come home in front.
Formwatch
Veiled Applause 6-1 (8-8) Chased leaders, driven and weakened final furlong, 5th of 8, 13l behind Sirvino (8-11) at Ripon 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in May.
Exit Smiling 13-2 (9-6) In touch, ridden final furlong, stayed on inside final furlong, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Danehillsundance (9-5) at Beverley 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jul.
Motafarred (IRE) 9-2 (8-13) Soon duelling for contested lead, hanging badly right from 3f out, weakened 2f out, 8th of 9, 16l behind Dubai's Touch (10-0) at Ascot 1m hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Jul.
Paraguay (USA) 6-1 (9-6) Towards rear, headway well over 1f out, ridden and kept on entering final furlong, 4th of 12, 2l behind Celtic Change (9-8) at Beverley 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jul.
Major Magpie (IRE) 6-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, some headway 2f out, soon weakened, 11th of 12, 14l behind Timber Treasure (9-3) at Carlisle 7f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Jul.
Collateral Damage (IRE) 10-1 (9-9) Held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, no impression final furlong, 5th of 8, 2 3/4l behind Danehillsundance (9-5) at Beverley 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jul.
Commando Scott (IRE) 8-1 (9-9) Prominent, pushed along 3f out, hampered and lost place over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 9l behind C'mon You Irons (9-7) at Pontefract 6f hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Jul.
Active Asset (IRE) 5-2fav (10-3) Held up mid division, headway 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on final furlong, won at Beverley 1m 2f hcp (5) gf in May '08 beating Tizzy May (10-1) by 7l, 9 ran.
Ours (IRE) 7-2fav (9-11) Held up in rear, headway over 2f out, chased winner 1f out, took narrow lead well inside final furlong, headed close home, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Play It Sam (9-0) at Pontefract 1m hcp 0-70 (5) sft in Jul.
Hartshead 16-1 (9-11) Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, never nearer, 6th of 12, 6l behind Timber Treasure (9-3) at Carlisle 7f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Jul.
Nevada Desert (IRE) 25-1 (8-9) Pulled hard in mid-division, some headway over 1f out, no impression, 6th of 13, 8l behind Moheebb (9-3) at Thirsk 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gs.
Goodbye Mr Bond 8-1 (9-7) Held up mid-division, smooth headway over 2f out, soon every chance, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 9, 14l behind Casino Night (9-2) at Hamilton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) sft.
Betteras Bertie 14-1 (9-4) Slowly into stride and behind, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead entering final furlong, kept on, won at Pontefract 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jun beating Desert Hunter (8-9) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Champain Sands (IRE) 11-1 (8-11) Chased leader stands side group, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 9, 13l behind My Gacho (9-8) at Leicester 7f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jul.
Daaweitza 14-1 (8-13) Dwelt, in rear, never near leaders, 8th of 12, 7l behind Invincible Force (9-11) at Chester 1m hcp 0-95 (3) gd.
Full Victory (IRE) 8-1 (9-7) Held up, ridden 3f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 4th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Focail Eile (9-5) at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-75 (5) hvy in Jul.
Bold Diktator 12-1 (9-11) Held up towards rear, pushed along over 4f out, never dangerous, 14th of 15, 36l behind West End Lad (9-9) at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jul.