Racecards
19:10 Pontefract
Tony Bethell Memorial Handicap (Round 3 Of The Pontefract Stayers Championship 2015) (Class 4)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f 22y
- Going: Good to Firm (Good in places over last 6 furlongs)
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Winner: £6,469
- 2nd: £1,925
- 3rd: £962
- 4th: £481
- Form 000840-
- Age 6
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer Jedd O'Keeffe
- Jockey A Elliott
held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, ridden entering final furlong, kept on
- Form 11245-5
- Age 4
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer L A Dace
- Jockey D C Costello
led, pushed along over 2f out, headed 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
- Form 12138-7
- Age 8
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer J Candlish
- Jockey T P Queally
held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace
- Form 424/41-2
- Age 5
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer S Gollings
- Jockey Mikey Ennis
tracked leaders in 3rd, led 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on
- Form 7915-75
- Age 9
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey Noel Garbutt
always towards rear
- Form 106-009
- Age 6
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer A Crook
- Jockey Josh Doyle
tracked leaders in 4th, weakened over 4f out
- Form 150-715
- Age 10
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer M Fahey
- Jockey Joey Haynes
slowly away, in rear, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, no impression
- Form 87/2322
- Age 8
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 71
- Trainer Micky Hammond
- Jockey P J McDonald
mid-division, went 3rd over 2f out, soon ridden, led inside final furlong, kept on
- Form 9040-8
- Age 5
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer B Ellison
- Jockey S De Sousa
tracked leader, weakened over 1f out
- Form 203/376
- Age 6
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 66
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey Andrea Atzeni
held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
- Form 449154/
- Age 6
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer Micky Hammond
- Jockey P Hanagan
Nonrunner
Verdict
Riptide won this in 2013 and is the only course and distance winner in the line-up. He scored on fast ground from the same mark as this last summer, though his two runs this term leave plenty to be desired. HANDIWORK has progressed into a very smart hurdler and would look worth a decent wager if the ground turned soft. But he's finished a close second on fast ground on the Flat so gets the vote, though with some reservations on the going. Statsminister has been taking on decent opposition since completing a double last summer though there has to be a doubt about her lasting out the trip. Tuscan Gold has no such problems though he hasn't won a race since 2010. He's running well, however, so maybe things will work out for him though a strike-rate of 2-39 is off-putting. It's over two years since Foster's Road won but he's been dropped in the ratings accordingly and can't go much lower.
Formwatch
Waterclock (IRE) 33-1 (8-2) Tracked leaders, ridden and lost place 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 27th of 33, 37l behind Big Easy (8-7) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Statsminister 17-2 (8-8) Close up, ridden over 3f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 9, 10l behind Air Squadron (8-8) at Newmarket 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in May.
Maoi Chinn Tire (IRE) 14-1 (8-12) Held up, ridden when weakened 2f out, 7th of 9, 48l behind Air Squadron (8-8) at Newmarket 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in May.
Handiwork 5-2fav (9-1) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 4f out, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 13, 7l behind Lady Kashaan (9-7) at Musselburgh 2m hcp 0-85 (3) sft in Apr.
Riptide 8-1 (9-12) Raced wide, tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 5th of 8, 25l behind Point The Toes (9-6) at Pontefract 2m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Apr.
Nashville (IRE) 66-1 (8-12) In rear, pushed along 10f out, driven over 4f out, well beaten final 3f, 9th of 11, 18l behind Mawaqeet (9-9) at Newcastle 2m hcp 0-85 (4) gf in May.
Point The Toes (IRE) 25-1 (8-12) In rear, never a factor, pushed along and no impression in 8th approaching straight, kept on one pace into moderate 5th close home, 5th of 9, 22l behind Face Value (8-7) at Clonmel 2m hcp sft in May.
Tuscan Gold 7-4fav (9-6) In rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, switched left inside final furlong, ran on to go 2nd near finish, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind One More Go (9-9) at Ripon 2m hcp 0-75 (5) gs.
Rock On Bollinski 14-1 (8-11) Slowly away and reluctant, behind, moderate headway final furlong, 8th of 11, 17l behind Craggaknock (8-12) at Thirsk 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) sft in May.
Foster's Road 9-1 (9-9) Steadied start, took keen hold towards rear, pushed along and struggling over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, moderate progress inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 5l behind Frederic Chopin (9-8) at Kempton 2m hacp 0-70 (5) pol in May.
Somemothersdohavem 7-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, good headway on inside over 1f out, ridden to lead narrowly over 1f out, headed 1f out, stayed challenging until no extra and lost 2 places towards finish, 4th of 13, 1 1/4l behind Fourth Generation (9-7) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec '12.