IKHTIRAAQ 3.35 Pontefract at 8/13

 William Hill Pick Your Places Handicap (Class 3) 1m

 COMPOSITE RATINGS

Trainer Form: 0-11 for 0%            (8)  
National average: 20%               (10)
Course Strike Rate: 27%             (10)                                 
or & RPR: 83 & 98                   (10)  
Distance: 1m                        (10)                         
Optimum Ground: Good                (10)
Jockey: Richard Kingscote           (10)
National Average: 14%               (10)
Course Strike Rate: 15%             (10)                                        
Trainer/Jockey ALL: 19%             (10)           
Total:                              (98)

Looks the type to improve this year

Ikhiraaq improved for his reappearance run when winning in a small field at Yarmouth over 1m on good ground last time out in June. The beaten horse Western Writer won next time out beating today's main rival Sanitiser. He has since been gelded and the 220,000gns purchase looks the type to continue to improve for Sir Michael Stoute, who won this race last year. 

Nice horse next year - Jim Crowley

We are reminded of the comments made by Jim Crowley when winning on him in October last year when trained by Owen Burrows: "Ikhtiraaq was a bit gassy early on, over racing a little, but he knuckled down well and had experience on his side from his two previous runs. He'll get a little bit further in time but he showed plenty of speed there and he'll be a nice horse next year." The Pacafi has only had the 2 runs since then and only 5 in total so there could be a lot more to come.

Trainer form

Stoute is clearly out of form with his runners but we have set aside his recent numbers given this type of horse and the quality of trainer and this particular race. Tactically, jockey Richard Kingscote is easily best equipped of his two rivals and we know the Pacafi can make his own running if necessary. The trainer has fabulous Pontefract figures scoring 12-38 for 32% (+9.38).

 Timeform

   There should be more to come from IKHTIRAAQ so he's the obvious one in a race that has cut up. Sanitiser may be the one to chase him hom wearing cheekpieces for the first time.

Value

The 8/13 looks to be north of perceived value, after his gelded operation a good paddock might shorten him into 1/2.

SOUTHWELL TAPETA

We have set aside a bank and playing and committed to Southwell today. Using our template information we are playing the first two in the market and will not finalise our wagering until 2 minutes before the race.

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PACAFI RESULTS for 2022.