mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden and edged left over 1f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out to inside final furlong, kept on
held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, kept on, never dangerous (wore cheek pieces)
tracked leaders, led over 2f out, ridden out
mid-division, headway over 4f out, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on, no chance with winner
mid-division, never nearer
slowly into stride, towards rear, headway when not clear run over 1f out, kept on final furlong, never dangerous
held up, headway over 4f out, ridden 3f out, kept on, not trouble leaders
chased leaders 6f, soon weakened
slowly into stride, towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on, never nearer
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, headway over 3f out, soon ridden, weakening when not much room over 1f out (wore cheek pieces)
prominent 6f, weakened quickly
Although 15 runners are set to face the starter for the opening race on the Pontefract card it may not be as competitive as the numbers suggest with the bottom seven all racing from out of the handicap proper. Topweight Analyze continues to run well, without a great deal of luck, and should again be thereabouts although a draw nearer to the rail would have been more advantageous. Recent Newcastle winner Moyne Pleasure comes from a stable hitting form but would ideally prefer more cut in the ground and more solid claims are probably held by course and distance winner Noble Cyrano. Jedd O'Keeffe's seven-year-old has not been disgraced since winning that race in the summer but needs luck in running. The ex-German trained Eton, now in the care of David Nicholls, is an interesting runner. Absent since making an encouraging debut for new connections nine months ago, the gelding goes well when fresh and has the assistance of leading apprentice Ryan Moore. However, narrow preference, and the TEAMtalk vote, is for Colway Ritz. A runaway winner at York earlier in the month, the nine-year-old was never able to threaten the leaders at Newcastle last time, having been given too much to do, but is worth another chance on the strength of the Knavesmire run - even off a higher mark, as he is still well treated on old form.