Racecards
16:30 Pontefract
King Richard III Handicap (Class 3)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 6f
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £12,000 added
- Winner: £7,763
- 2nd: £2,310
- 3rd: £1,154
- 4th: £577
- Form 211005
- Age 5
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer Mrs K Burke
- Jockey Martin Harley
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 116890
- Age 7
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer Mrs R Carr
- Jockey T Eaves
prominent on outer, ridden to chase leader 2f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 231142
- Age 4
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer E J Alston
- Jockey Jason Hart
tracked leader, led over 3f out, ridden 2f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong
- Form 165-871
- Age 5
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer D K Ivory
- Jockey Kieren Fallon
in touch, headway 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed well inside final furlong
- Form 221017
- Age 5
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer A D Brown
- Jockey T P Queally
led, headed over 3f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
- Form 906901
- Age 4
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer Micky Hammond
- Jockey P McDonald
in touch, headway on inner approaching final furlong, ridden and ran on to lead well inside final furlong
- Form 830511
- Age 6
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer P T Midgley
- Jockey M Fenton
held up, headway 2f out, ridden and kept on one pace final furlong
- Form 064632
- Age 5
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer Mrs R Carr
- Jockey J P Sullivan
in rear, ridden 2f out, headway on wide outside approaching final furlong, ran on strongly, not reach leaders
- Form 546950
- Age 5
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer M Brittain
- Jockey P Hanagan
slowly away raced wide in rear, headway 2f out, ridden and kept on one pace final furlong
Last Bid
25- Form 060-800
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey D Allan
towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never a factor
- Form 559340
- Age 8
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer Miss Tracy Waggott
- Jockey F Norton
in touch, ridden and weakened over 1f out
In depth
Verdict
Sprint handicaps here are nearly always well contested and this one is no exception. The waters are further muddied by the fact that Orbit The Moon, who would have been on the short-list, was due to run at Ayr yesterday. Chester Aristocrat ran well when second at Newcastle but has gone up 3lb since while Dark Castle was raised 6lb after beating Albaqaa at Doncaster though Head Space, Meandmyshadow and Defence Council were all behind that day. Sunraider has come back to form at Hamilton recently but this is tougher and he'd finished a long way behind Chester Aristocrat at Haydock earlier. Klynch is starting to come down the weights again but LINKS DRIVE LADY won a fillies' handicap at Goodwood in May with a bit in hand. Fallon gets on well with Dean Ivory's charge and she can score again.
Formwatch
Khawatim 13-2 (9-3) In touch, effort 2f out, never on terms, 5th of 8, 1 3/4l behind Wannabe King (8-13) at Redcar 7f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Jun.
Klynch 25-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 14th of 16, 10l behind Baby Strange (8-2) at Newcastle 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Jun.
Chester Aristocrat 9-1 (8-8) Tracked leader, ridden to challenge over 1f out, kept on and every chance inside final furlong, 2nd and held towards finish, 2nd of 16, 1 1/4l behind Baby Strange (8-2) at Newcastle 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Jun.
Links Drive Lady 14-1 (9-1) In touch, pushed along and headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, eased near finish, won at Goodwood 6f flls hcp 0-95 (3) gd in May beating Picabo (9-12) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Meandmyshadow 15-2 (9-12) Raced towards centre, in touch, ridden and every chance over 1f out, gradually weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 13, 5l behind Dark Castle (9-5) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jun.
Dark Castle 7-1 (9-5) Mid-division, headway 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden and stayed on well when hard pressed inside final furlong, won at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jun beating Albaqaa (9-10) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Sunraider (IRE) 9-1 (9-10) Held up, headway 2f out, led entering final furlong, ran on, won at Hamilton 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Jun beating Jinky (9-5) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Head Space (IRE) 5-2fav (9-10) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, soon ridden, led inside final furlong, soon pressed, headed narrowly last 75 yards, just held close home, 2nd of 9, ns behind Pea Shooter (9-8) at Haydock 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Defence Council (IRE) 16-1 (9-8) Virtually refused to race, always well detatched in rear, last of 13, 28l behind Dark Castle (9-5) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jun.
Last Bid 33-1 (9-0) In touch, headway far side and ridden halfway, weakened approaching final furlong, 14th of 16, 10l behind Above Standard (9-3) at York 5f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Jun.
Solar Spirit (IRE) 8-1 (9-11) Always in rear, 11th of 15, 9l behind West Leake Hare (9-2) at Catterick 7f hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Orbit The Moon (IRE) 11-4fav (9-0) Led, joined halfway, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, rallied near finish, 2nd of 9, shd behind Fantasy Gladiator (8-11) at Yarmouth 7f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jun.