5.45pm Yarmouth Tips & Betting Preview 09/08/2017

An interesting handicap with a huge 27 pounds difference between top weight Polar Forest and bottom weight Jonnie Skull, and with an age range of four up to eleven. This is the first time this race has been run, but it looks intriguing and one well worth looking into. Read on for our horse-by-horse race preview ahead of the 5.45pm at Yarmouth this evening.

IN SUMMARY: Not an easy race to work out by any means, but TYRSAL ran well enough when outclassed and out of the weights last time. Back in more suitable company and carrying the correct weight, he looks to have every chance. Wherever he finishes, OutlawTorn is entitled to be close and he could be the one for the forecast.

1 POLAR FOREST – After winning last time out at Beverley, Richard Guest’s seven-year-old gelding has a six pound penalty and thus has to shoulder ten stone one this evening. That seems more than enough added weight for a three-quarter length win in a similar race and may yet be enough to stop him. On the bright side, he has won off ratings as high as 86 in the past and is still well handicapped if anywhere near to that sort of form, though whether that can be repeated at the age of seven seems open to question. He may prefer just a little bit more cut in the ground.

2 THECORNISHBARRON – The John Ryan stable are going well with two winners from 12 runners in the last 14 days (17%), but this five-year-old son of Bushranger hasn’t won in ten races and has plenty to find on his recent form. Last time out he finished last of 13 at Wolverhampton when tailed off over the mile and he steps up to this trip for the first time in almost a year. Although he was dropped a big five pounds for that and potentially on a winning mark, a sign of a return to form would be nice before he can be recommended.

3 MAESTRO MAC – Second season trainer Tom Clover is no fool having worked with David Simcock for many years and he will be hoping to get a win out of the ex-Hughie Morrison four-year-old who is having his first race for his new connections. His only win in 12 races was a Wolverhampton maiden on his second start with just the two places since and a seven-and-a-half length sixth at Newbury last time out over 1m 3f. He seems to lack a finishing kick whatever trip he is tried over lately and his trainer will do well to get another win out of him here, despite the yard doing well enough with one winner from just the three recent runners (33%).

4 TYRSAL – Jockey Cameron Noble takes seven pounds off the back of the Clifford Lines six-year-old and that may yet be enough to see him come home in front this evening. A very good second to Outlaw Torn here at Yarmouth over course and distance saw the handicapper react with a two pound rise in the weights. That, unsurprisingly, saw him beaten nine-and-a-half lengths last time out at Newmarket when running from 11 pounds out of the handicap. Luckily for connections, the handicappers have left him on 64 again this evening before his jockey’s claim. He looks to be on a much more sensible rating now dropping back into this class from a Class 3 and at the prices looks a solid each way alternative.

5 ART SCHOLAR – Reached the veteran stage at the age of ten and is becoming pretty difficult to win with and has had 30 runs since his last victory in November 2012. He has placed numerous times but has been tried over a mile and three-quarters lately. He seems sure to find them too quick dropped back to this trip for a stable struggling with just the one winner from their last 38 runners.

6 LE HAVRESE – Lynn Siddal’s six-year-old mare ran much better than the bare form figure implies last time out when fifth to Punkawallah in a Class 5 event at Haydock over this trip, beaten just three-quarters of a length in a blanket finish. The stable are a little quiet with just three losing runners in the last two weeks. Nevertheless, off the same rating here she could surprise a few of these and she has won off this mark and higher in the not too distant past.

7 OUTLAW TORN – The second Richard Guest trained runner here and arrives with plenty of experience after 148 starts and 16 victories, plus another 35 places. Now aged eight, he won last time out over course and distance on only his second start at this track, but has been put up three pounds and meets Tyrsal on two pounds better terms so cannot be ruled out. He does like to hear his hooves rattle so any further rain will harm his chances, with even the predicted Good going possibly a little slow for him.

8 SUNSHINEANDBUBBLES – Just the one second place in five starts so far this season and finished well behind Outlaw Torn last time out over course and distance. Meets that rival on four pounds better terms for over five lengths and looks likely to struggle to reverse that form this evening. Others appeal much more with the Loughnane stable out of sorts with zero winners from their last 14 runners.

9 COLOR FORCE – Still a maiden after eight starts over trips varying from seven furlongs to one mile five-and-a-half furlongs last time out when a four and three-quarter lengths sixth of 14 at Chelmsford. Drops back to try this trip for the first time, but seems to have more stamina than speed and may find one or two of these that bit too quick for him when the chips are down. Worth a market watch for the Gay Kelleway stable for any signs of support.

10 GOLD CLASS – Two wins from 35 starts including on his one and only run for trainer Olly Murphy after moving from the Robert Hennessy yard. That was over hurdles at Market Rasen last month when beating Banff by six lengths at odds of 16/1 and could be very well handicapped here if translating that improvement to the flat. Stays further over hurdles and his supporters will need him to do much better than his last flat outing when eighth of 22 over 1m 6f at Navan.

11 JONNIE SKULL – Seems to have been around forever and had his first ever race when last of 12 at Windsor in October 2008. 204 runs and 21 wins later he is still going strong for trainer Phil McEntee, having previously been in the care of David Elsworth, then Phil McEntee, Michael Squance, Phil McEntee again, then Lydia Pearce – so he knows his way in and out of the McEntee yard better than half the staff. Sadly, he is on the decline with 33 losing starts now and a 25 length last of five here over a mile last time out. Based on that form he has it all to do here, even off bottom weight.