Pontefract - 20th June

[fintron]

2.10 Pontefract Mama Lulu will have her supporters here after a decent Doncaster debut effort but ZABEEL PARK could prove the one the beat from a better draw for the boys in blue - Godolphin have a strike rate of over 30 % at the Yorkshire track so any runner sent north warrants respect. A half sister to the classic winning Finsceal Beo, she showed signs of ability on her debut at Kempton and with further improvement expected should go well for what is Frankie's only ride on the card. Advised bet: Zabeel Park 2/1 Bet 365, 1 pt win 3.10 Pontefract Kaolak hinted he was coming back to hand when placed at Sandown last time out but he saves his best form for galloping, straighter tracks, and I think he may tee this up for another horse today. Changingtheguard and Follow The Flag are closely matched on Zetland Gold Cup form from last month but the latter is holding his form much better than the Richard Fahey trained rival. The former is better handicapped but could have shown more last time out, so FOLLOW THE FLAG is preferred. 3-5 over this trip, he arrives here in good heart and has struck up a good understanding for 5 lb claimer Declan Cannon. Advised bet: Follow The Flag 7/1 Bet 365, 0.75 pt each-way (3 places, 1/5 odds) 4.40 Pontefract This looks a competitive maiden but I think RHYTON can make the journey worthwhile for Sir Michael Stoute, as his only runner on the card. Sired by Rainbow Quest and out of a dam who was a half-sister to an Oaks winner he makes appeal on breeding. It wasn't the best of debuts for him at Leicester last month but he will know his job better today and can fend off the likely challenges of Yankee Bright, who has been hitting the cross bar for James Given, and Fuzzypeg, who is expected to build upon his debut effort for James Fanshawe. Advised bet: Rhyton 2/1 Bet 365, 1 pt win

[RussP]

Re: Pontefract - 20th June 2.40 Pontefract - Class 5, 1m, 11 runners A moderate bunch with over the field still maidens, this is the most open looking handicap on the card but, in truth, shouldn't take much winning. I'll put a line through the following maidens; Solitary (poor form and 274 day absence to overcome), Exopuntia (3L to find with Rascal In The Mix and effectively 2lb worse off with jockeys claim), Rascal In The Mix (up in grade and 2lb rise in weights looks stiff for 3rd place lto, whilst first time headgear puts me off) and Ilkley (first time in handicap but no real form to bring). The other 2 maidens are the Ed Dunlop trained Akamon, who should struggle based on its performances so far and the current poor run the stable is enduring but with Hanagan up and a 5lb lower mark cannot be totally discounted, and Abu Dhabi who again comes from a stable struggling to find winners but is considered on its lto run at Chepstow. Buzz Bird is a profilic winner but only on the sand at Southwell, and is not as good on turf but has JP Spencer taking the ride, whilst Catawollow is a lto winner but in a lower grade, and is now 4lb higher and doesn't have a 5lb claimer taking the ride. The grade combined with a stiff rise should be enough to halt this one's improvement and is too short in the market at just 5/1. Trainer is amongst the winners though. The remaining 3 horses would form my shortlist for this event. Whipma Whopma Gate is, for me, the form horse of this race and could offer a shade of value but the concern has to be the ever increasing mark. Would be a certainty in Class 6 with a 5lb or so lower mark but I just feel conditions might just be against this one. A big run, however, would not surprise. Crystal Feather is probably the most solid option if we can count on a return to form for trainer, Ed Vaughan. A consistent type off a decent mark and with the experience of Jimmy Fortune up top, this one comes with excellent claims. Last win was off 2lb lower but this one is capable of defying that mark. Since its win at Yarmouth last term, has form figures of 3-5-2-6-4, all off a mark 1lb higher than todays. We can discount the 6th, having been unsuited by a Spencer hold up ride at Southwell! Still lightly raced and no trip worries (prefers further but the stiff Pontefract track will suit), this one is recommended on its last run at Redcar, finishing 4th of 10 at Redcar behind Kings Counsel who was very enterprisingly ridden that day. Since then, the winner, 2nd, 3rd and 5th are the only rivals to have run again, the latter 3 all finishing 2nd so the form has a good look about it. Only the winner disappointed but you can put that down almost exclusively to the differing rides given by De Sousa and PJ McDonald. Likely to be one of the favourites but should be a placepot banker. Location has drifted out to a very backable price and the risk may now be worth taking. One of the few coming out of a stable with recent winning form but there are a couple of worries, including trip being possibly too sharp and worry that AW is more suited. Has not run on turf since the back end of last season, and was on a lower mark but did run ok. Big difference today could be the return of a male, professional jockey after having been ridden by 4 different female amateurs. Ran well lto in this grade over 1f shorter on the AW so trip may not be as much of a concern as I suspect, especially with the stiffness of the course. Looking back in the archives, I also see that this one has gone well here in the past off a similar mark to todays. Course form is important so a double figure price looks too big. Suggested bets: Crystal Feather (Win & place) Location (Place only)