Racecards
17:55 Pontefract
Racing On Monday 18th April Apprentice Handicap (Class 5)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 1m 2f 6y
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- £5,000 added
- Winner: £3,234
- 2nd: £962
- 3rd: £481
- 4th: £240
- Form 200560-
- Age 7
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer Micky Hammond
- Jockey Lauren Steade
detatched in rear, headway over 1f out, never nearer
- Form 41627/
- Age 5
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer Mrs S A Watt
- Jockey Phil Dennis
broke well, soon restrained towards rear, headway over 3f out, chasing leaders when switched to race against stand side rail over 1f out, soon beaten
Final
33- Form 31-253
- Age 4
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey Callum Shepherd
tracked leaders, under pressure over 3f out, soon lost place
- Form 313246-
- Age 5
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey Nathan Evans
slowly into stride, held up i touch, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, ridden to challenge inside final furlong, kept on same pace closing stages
Russian Royale
108- Form 3217/39-
- Age 6
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 71
- Trainer Micky Hammond
- Jockey Rob J Fitzpatrick
held up in touch, under pressure over 3f out, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, never a threat
- Form 90-7940
- Age 10
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer R C Guest
- Jockey Miss Anna Hesketh
led until over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Astra Hall
17- Form 232470
- Age 7
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 59
- Trainer M Appleby
- Jockey George Buckell
tracked leaders, led over 2f out, hard driven inside final furlong, stayed on strongly
Farham (USA)
29- Form 3/4536-2
- Age 4
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 71
- Trainer R A Fahey
- Jockey J Garritty
NonRunner
In depth
Verdict
A maiden winner at Wolverhampton, Final has come up short off similar marks in all-weather handicaps and has his first start on Turf. FARHAM makes more appeal on his third in a higher grade contest than this at Chelmsford in December and Richard Fahey's charge went close again on the all-weather on his return. He's also preferred to Tamayuz Magic, who remains 9lb higher than last year's victory at Newcastle but it's hard to make a case for any of the remainder.
Formwatch
Shalamzar (FR) 33-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, weakened before 3 out, last of 12, dist behind Beyondtemptation (10-9) at Wetherby 2m hcp (5) sft in Feb.
Champagne Rules 12-1 (9-5) Dwelt, keen in rear, ridden over 2f out, never a factor, 7th of 8, 24 1/4l behind Incurs Four Faults (8-0) at Hamilton 1m 1f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Final 6-1 (9-6) Soon in rear and outpaced, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Captain Revelation (9-7) at Southwell 1m hcp (5) pol in Mar.
Tamayuz Magic (IRE) 20-1 (9-6) Close up, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 19, 4 1/2l behind El Beau (9-8) at York 1m 2f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Russian Royale 33-1 (11-6) In touch, ridden approaching when mistake 3 out, weakened before next, 7th of 11, 33 3/4l behind After Hours (10-13) at Haydock 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Hydrant 16-1 (9-3) Tracked leader, driven over 3f out, soon lost place and ridden, weakened over 1f out, 13th of 16, 28 1/2l behind Bertie Moon (9-2) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (5) sft in Apr.
Astra Hall 5-1 (9-10) Led, headed 2f out, weakened 1f out, last of 10, 21 1/2l behind Captain George (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (6) pol in Mar.
Farham (USA) 11-4 (9-13) Led, headed well inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Pivotal Flame (8-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Mar.