Pontefract 2.25

 

It's a tough 6 furlongs here up the hill and a lowish draw on Good or Good to Firm is usually preferable. No real rain so we'll look in the lower half of the Draw.

 

Impeller drawn in Stall 2 has run in 3 year old same age Handicaps up to now, hard to quantify therefore how good the mark is but no excuses from this draw. I can't really find much compelling collateral form to suggest it's well handicapped and the Yards handicapper usually thrive later on once they have found a level, so I will watch rather than invest.

 

A bit of a similar conundrum with O'Mearas horse Vanitas in stall 3, kept solely to AW so far but a drop to 6 furlongs looks a canny move and plenty to suggest it's a nice handicap mark and if it runs to it's AW mark would have every chance.

 

Both Round The Island and Mr Orange in stalls 4 and 5 respectively have Course and Distance winning form. Round the Island usually wins off marks in mid 50's with cut in the ground when running regularly, this better Going and a mark of 66 off a break of 61 days suggests it may just need this and some leniency from the handicapper.

 

MR ORANGE is 8 years old now and 3 poor runs so far, but indications over past few seasons that it needs a few runs to get fitter as it gets older. A multi CD winner, last 2 wins were on Good to Firm off a mark of 70, so off a mark of 67 and with some race fitness I think it could be the one to be on.