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14:20 Pontefract

Bollinger Champagne Challenge Series Amateurs' Handicap (Class 5)

  • 10 Runners
  • Distance: 1m 2f 6y
  • Going: Good to Firm
  • Surface: Turf
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 2m 13.67s
  • Off Time: 14:21:05
  • 10 Ran
1(10)
Silk - Yellow, dark green star, striped sleeves, yellow cap, dark green star
14/1
  • Form 00800/0-
  • Age 9
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 75

chased leaders, ridden 4f out, soon weakened

3(3)
Silk - Dark Blue, Grey seams, striped sleeves, Dark Blue cap
3/1
  • Form 452425
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-5
  • Official Rating 70

slowly into stride, always towards rear

4(9)
Silk - Emerald Green, Orange sash, White sleeves, Emerald Green and Orange quartered cap
  • Form 155224
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 69

mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, squeezed through to lead inside final furlong, ran on

5(8)
Silk - Dark Blue, Red stripe, halved sleeves, Red cap
25/1
  • Form 962-059
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-0
  • Official Rating 65

slowly into stride, always behind

6(7)
Silk - Black, Yellow braces, checked sleeves and cap

Barbirolli

25 D
7/1
  • Form 56-3574
  • Age 4
  • Weight 10-10
  • Official Rating 61

chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, every chance when bumped inside final furlong, not quicken

7(2)
Silk - Black and White stripes, Black sleeves, White armlets
  • Form 2/0006-4
  • Age 5
  • Weight 10-9
  • Official Rating 60

in touch, ridden and every chance over 1f out, soon edged left, no extra inside final furlong

8(6)
Silk - Red, Yellow sash, Red sleeves, Yellow stars, Yellow cap, Red star
  • Form 193073
  • Age 3
  • Weight 10-7
  • Official Rating 67

towards rear, kept on under pressure from over 1f out, never trouble leaders

9(4)
Silk - Yellow, Royal Blue braces, hooped sleeves
10/1
  • Form 200185
  • Age 7
  • Weight 10-5
  • Official Rating 51

with leader, ridden and every chance 2f out, weakened final furlong

10(1)
Silk - YELLOW, EMERALD GREEN star, diabolo on sleeves, YELLOW cap
15/2
  • Form 5/412-64
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-5
  • Official Rating 51

led, ridden well over 1f out, headed and not quicken inside final furlong

11(5)
Silk - Red, dark blue stars, white cap, dark blue stars
150/1
  • Form 943677
  • Age 5
  • Weight 10-5
  • Official Rating 38

always towards rear

2(11)
NR
  • Form 40-5327
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-5
  • Official Rating 70

Nonrunner

In depth

Verdict

Gifted Flame edges a slender verdict over Dark Charm and Top Spec, while Ransom Strip is open to improvement and, with his yard in flying form, will be very dangerous to ignore. The last named posted a fair performance at Newcastle last time out and, having proved himself on the ground, can go close with a similar effort today. Watch the market carefully where he is concerned. Top Spec has already enjoyed a good season and deserves a change of fortune. His style of running does leave him vulnerable to a strong finisher and he needs everything to fall into place for him. Dark Charm is another that has not won as a many races as he should have and will never be one to trust implicitly. However, he has got his act together this season and is consistent enough to be considered as a live alternative to the selection. Nevertheless, Gifted Flame has shown a liking for a stiff finish and, having gone close in similar races of late, today's step up in trip may just provide the key to him returning to winning ways.

Formwatch

Top Spec (IRE) 5-1fav (10-0) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, nearest finish, 5th of 12, 2l behind Celtique (9-8) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jul.

Dark Charm (FR) 9-2 (11-5) Held up in touch, effort on inside over 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Mighty Moon (10-4) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Jul.

Barbirolli 6-1 (8-1) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not reached leaders, 4th of 7, 3l behind Instructor (9-7) at Chester 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jul.

Planters Punch (IRE) 8-1 (8-9) Towards rear, headway on inner 2f out, driven and one pace final furlong, 4th of 7, 3l behind Highest Regard (8-12) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) frm in Jul.

Ransom Strip (USA) 7-1 (8-0) Held up, ridden when outpaced over 2f out, headway over 1f out, edged left and one pace final furlong, 3rd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Highest Regard (8-12) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) frm in Jul.

Splodger Mac (IRE) 20-1 (8-2) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Apsara (9-3) at Pontefract 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jul.

Hilltime (IRE) 9-1 (8-2) Mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and one pace final 2f, 4th of 8, 2l behind Splodger Mac (8-5) at Pontefract 1m 2f app hcp (5) gf in Jul.

Gifted Flame 4-1jt-fav (10-10) Dwelt, soon in touch, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 10, 11l behind Uhuru Peak (9-5) at Carlisle 1m ldy rds hcp (5) gf.