Racecards
15:10 Pontefract
Style Bar & Bar Liquid Pontefract Handicap (Class 5)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- £6,000 added
- Form 5-1671
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 75
held up, headway over 1f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, kept on
- Form 52-7431
- Age 3
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer Pat Eddery
- Jockey Paul Eddery
led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, one pace final furlong
- Form 001-367
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer G A Swinbank
- Jockey P McDonald
mid-division, effort over 2f out, no impression
- Form 7381
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 71
- Trainer L M Cumani
- Jockey J P Spencer
took keen hold, held up behind leaders, headway over 1f out, driven to lead briefly inside final furlong, no extra close home
- Form 244
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 70
in touch, driven 2f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong
- Form 75-0301
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer W J H Ratcliffe
- Jockey F Lynch
in touch, driven to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on same pace
- Form 3-15644
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer J & S Quinn
- Jockey P Cosgrave
prominent, ridden along 3f out, weakened approaching final furlong
- Form 7-67232
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 66
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey D Allan
towards rear, ridden along and headway over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
Mill Beattie
21- Form 045
- Age 3
- Weight 8-3
- Official Rating 57
- Trainer G M Moore
- Jockey Adrian Nicholls
always behind, eased over 1f out
- Form 656096
- Age 3
- Weight 8-2
- Official Rating 52
- Trainer D W Barker
- Jockey Adele Rothery
always rear division
Verdict
Stepping up to a mile suited Thumbs Up last time out and he gets the nod over Admiral Dundas and Penchesco. The consistent Welcome Return also makes some appeal and is worth noting for signs of support. The last named has already been very expensive to follow this season, though. Penchesco was a shock winner of a competitive Windsor handicap last time and needs to prove that was not just a one-off effort. All that said he needed every yard of the trip, so he appears to have no problems on that score. Admiral Dundas won on the all-weather at Lingfield before following up at Newmarket 12 days ago. This is not a much stronger race and the top weight has to merit respect. However, the main vote goes the way of Thumbs Up, who showed a great deal of improvement to win at Great Leighs 22 days ago. And he is obviously on an upward curve. The handicapper has allotted just a 4lb rise to Luca Cumani¿s colt and the son of the high-class miler Intikhab is expected to take the beating again today.
Formwatch
Admiral Dundas (IRE) 12-1 (9-6) Held up in touch, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on well, won at Newmarket 1m 3yo hcp (5) gf in Jul beating Priti Fabulous (9-9) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Penchesco (IRE) 11-1 (9-7) In touch, ridden over 2f out, plenty to do over 1f out, strong run inside final furlong to lead final strides, won at Windsor 1m 3yo hcp (5) sft in Jul beating Golden Penny (9-4) by a nk, 14 ran.
Thumbs Up 5-6fav (9-4) Slowly into stride, held up, improved to mid-division over 5f out, headway approaching final furlong, joined leader inside final furlong, all out, won at Great Leighs 1m 3yo hcp (5) pol in Jul beating Speyside (9-1) by a hd, 12 ran.
Valferno (IRE) 16-1 (8-12) Led, headed over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 8, 12l behind La Sarrazine (8-12) at Ripon 1m mdn stk (5) hvy in Jul.
Eton Fable (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Made all, driven over 1f out, kept on gamely final furlong, won at Pontefract 1m 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) gf in Jul beating Dream of Olwyn (8-12) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Island Music (IRE) 16-1 (8-12) Towards rear, headway 2f out, ridden and kept on final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 18, 1 1/2l behind Efidium (8-7) at Redcar 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jul.
Welcome Return (IRE) 6-1 (8-11) Held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, chased winner final furlong, not quicken, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Quirina (9-7) at Haydock 1m 3yo fll hcp 0-100 (5) gd in Jul.
Charlie Allnut 11-2 (9-1) Tracked leaders, ridden and effort over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Distant Pleasure (8-11) at Carlisle 7f hcp 0-60 (6) gd.