Racecards
20:00 Pontefract
VW Volkswagen Van Centre (Leeds) Ltd Optional Claiming Handicap (Class 2)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 1m 6y
- Going: Good to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £30,000 added
- Winner: £19,407
- 2nd: £5,775
- 3rd: £2,886
- 4th: £1,443
- Form 915210
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 98
prominent, outpaced over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 243824
- Age 5
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey J Fanning
led early, in touch in outside, lost place over 3f out, well beaten final 2f
- Form 343/005
- Age 5
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey David Probert
soon in touch on inside, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 60-1455
- Age 5
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer A Bailey
- Jockey Darragh Keenan
soon led, driven 2f out, edged right and headed inside final furlong, lost 2nd towards finish
- Form 220412
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer M Appleby
- Jockey Theodore Ladd
tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well
- Form 066194
- Age 5
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey D Fentiman
prominent, driven 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
- Form 381032
- Age 6
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer R Fell & S Murray
- Jockey B A Curtis
held up in mid-division, effort 2f out, went 4th inside final furlong, never dangerous
- Form 530-145
- Age 7
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer E De Giles
- Jockey Barry McHugh
always towards rear
- Form 106444
- Age 5
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer S C Williams
- Jockey F Norton
held up in mid-division, took keen hold, not clear run 2f out, not much room over 1f out, no impression
- Form 5-06436
- Age 6
- Weight 8-2
- Official Rating 72
slowly into stride, took keen hold, held up in rear, not clear run over 2f out, headway when not clear run and switched left inside final furlong, stayed on, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Star Of Southwold won on the all-weather before finishing runner-up in the Carlisle Bell when in front of Brother McGonagall and a below par Tadaawol. The latter has subsequently gone close at Ayr while Max Zorin wasn’t beaten far in a decent handicap at Nottingham last month and is preferred to Masham Star and Enigmatic. But last year’s winner WAARIF (NAP) has already won twice this season and he can be forgiven a poor run in last week’s John Smith’s Cup at York having failed to recover from a slow start. This is easier and he’s only 2lb higher than when successful in this grade at Windsor last month.
Formwatch
Waarif (IRE) 40-1 (9-5) Always towards rear, neve ron terms, 15th of 21, 12 1/2l behind Pivoine (9-8) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Masham Star (IRE) 5-1 (9-8) Led and came to near side rail in straight, headed 2f out, lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 6, 8l behind Escobar (10-0) at York 1m hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Max Zorin (IRE) 9-1 (9-2) Tracked leader, lost place 3f out, soon outpaced, behind when stumbled inside final 2f, kept on but no impression after, last of 5, 2 1/4l behind Circus Couture (9-3) at Nottingham 1m hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Enigmatic (IRE) 20-1 (9-13) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 10, 3 3/4l behind Wings Of Time (9-5) at Newmarket 1m hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Star Of Southwold (FR) 7-1 (10-1) Led until over 5f out, led again over 2f out, headed entering final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 16, 2 1/4l behind Rousayan (9-7) at Carlisle 1m hcp (4) gf in Jun.
Brother McGonagall 15-2 (9-3) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no impression when lost place inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 3 3/4l behind Victory Command (9-2) at Hamilton 1m hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Tadaawol 12-1 (10-0) Keen close up, ridden 2f out, headway inside final furlong, stayed on to press winner close home, 2nd of 8, nk behind Wild Hope (9-4) at Ayr 1m hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Wind In My Sails 8-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, held up, headway over 1f out, never on terms, 5th of 11, 7 3/4l behind Athollblair Boy (9-6) at Doncaster 7f hcp (4) gf in Jun.
Juanito Chico (IRE) 9-2 (9-11) Tracked leaders, chased leader 5f out, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 5, 6 3/4l behind Chance (8-12) at Nottingham 1m hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Calvados Spirit 6-1 (9-11) In touch, ridden over 1f out, effort inside final furlong, kept on, 6th of 8, 1 1/2l behind Wild Hope (9-4) at Ayr 1m hcp (4) gf in Jul.