Racecards
19:50 Pontefract
John Winter & Co 60th Birthday Handicap (Class 2)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 5f 3y
- Going: Good to Soft (Good in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £30,000 added
- Winner: £15,462
- 2nd: £7,251
- 3rd: £3,627
- 4th: £1,812
- Form 227-602
- Age 3
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer George Scott
- Jockey B A Curtis
held up in rear, ridden over 1f out, no impression, well beaten inside final furlong
- Form 216-270
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 91
pressed winner, driven over 1f out, lost 2nd well inside final furlong
- Form 5813-01
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer R Varian
- Jockey Rossa Ryan
held up behind leaders, switched right and headway over 1f out, edged right inside final furlong, kept on, unable to get on terms
- Form 5331-95
- Age 6
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer P T Midgley
- Jockey G Lee
held up behind leaders, ridden and effort over 1f out, stayed on, went 2nd well inside final furlong
- Form 690871
- Age 9
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey Sean Kirrane
made all, ridden and edged left 1f out, stayed on, held on well
- Form 669443
- Age 4
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey D Fentiman
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, unable to challenge inside final furlong, kept on
- Form 306803
- Age 6
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer D O'Meara
- Jockey Ryan Sexton
NonRunner
In depth
Verdict
RUSSET GOLD (NAP) put a disappointing reappearance behind him when scoring with a bit in hand at Redcar last month. He takes on older sprinters today but has scope for further progress. Copper Knight is not the force of old but was still good enough to win a lower grade sprint at York with Mattice and Elegant Erin behind while Rocket Rodney and Alligator Alley placed at Doncaster on their respective latest starts. Pillow Talk has been competing in Pattern races and makes her handicap debut.
Formwatch
Rocket Rodney 10-3 (9-9) Close up near side, pushed along and headway over 1f out, ridden and stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Rogue Lightning (9-7) at Doncaster 5f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Pillow Talk (IRE) 22-1 (9-0) Close up far side, pushed along 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 13th of 26, 8 3/4l behind Rhythm N Hooves (8-8) at Ascot 5f hcp stks (2) gf in Jun.
Russet Gold 11-8fav (9-9) Pressed leader, ridden and led 1f out, ran on and edged right inside last, did enough, won at Redcar 5f hcp (4) gd in Jun beating Paddy's Day (8-13) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Elegant Erin (IRE) 14-1 (9-13) Behind near side, ridden 2f out, headway to chase leaders from 1f out, went fifth final strides, never nearer, 5th of 18, 1 3/4l behind Copper Knight (9-10) at York 5f hcp (4) gs in Jul.
Copper Knight (IRE) 11-1 (9-10) Led central group, led outright well before halfway, pushed along before 2f out, ridden 1f out, ran on well just did enough, won at York 5f hcp (4) gs in Jul beating Ventura Express (10-0) by nk, 18 ran.
Mattice 9-2 (9-7) Prominent in central group, chased leader passing halfway, soon pushed along, rallied inside final furlong, dropped to third final strides, 3rd of 18, 3/4l behind Copper Knight (9-10) at York 5f hcp (4) gs in Jul.
Alligator Alley 5-1 (9-9) Prominent, pushed along and led over 1f out, ridden and hung left under 1f out, headed final 75 yards, no extra, 3rd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Bond Chairman (9-10) at Doncaster 5f hcp (2) gf in Jun.