*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
13:25 – Midnight Lion
MIDNIGHT LION has a good middle-distance pedigree and shaped with plenty of promise when hitting the frame in a strong race at Newmarket on debut in August. He was strong in the betting on the back of that display and again ran well when runner-up to another promising type over a similar trip to this at Goodwood last time. This race doesn’t look as strong and it provides an excellent opportunity for him to open his account. The selection’s stable companion Red Bird is an interesting newcomer and she needs keeping an eye on in the betting.
WELCOME TO PADDY POWER NEWS!
13:55 – Sassy Belle
SASSY BELLE finished runner-up to smart Trillium on her debut at Newbury in July and was only narrowly denied when filling the same position at Windsor on her next start. She wasn’t in the same form when only third back at Newbury last time, but that race is working out well, and she looks particularly interesting now making her handicap debut from what should prove a workable mark of 78. Reward Smile, who arrives after a good third at Ayr, can pose the biggest threat.
14:30 – Improvise
IMPROVISE has found only one too good on her last two starts, finding a well-backed handicap debutant too good at Newmarket in June and only run down late on in testing conditions at Epsom last time. She looked the likeliest winner on the latter occasion – she traded at 1.01 in-running on Betfair – and is almost certainly capable of winning races from this sort of mark, so is worth siding with again. Emperor Caradoc arrives on the up and is another to consider.
15:05 – Flat White
FLAT WHITE arrives on the back of two wins over two miles at Catterick and she may have even more to offer in this sphere. She was very strong in the betting last time, brushing off an 8 lb rise in the weights in style from a subsequent winner, so the form has substance, and this longer trip should be within her reach. She is preferred to Flint Hill, who goes particularly well at this course, and in-form veteran Wynford.
15:40 – Gainsbourg
GAINSBOURG has a good record at this course and he produced a career-best effort when recording a second course and distance success in first-time cheekpieces 18 days ago. He appeared to be well suited by a drop back in trip and it was really taking how he powered clear of his rivals in the closing stages. The handicapper has raised him 6 lb for that effort, which seems perfectly fair, and he seems sure to go close once more. Menelaus is probably the runner in the field with the scope to improve a fair bit so he’s a threat, with Tangled completing the shortlist.
16:15 – Sobegrand
SOBEGRAND made plenty of appeal on paper and shaped with plenty of encouragement when runner-up on debut at Kempton last month, doing all of his best work at the finish after showing considerable greenness early on. He steps up to a mile and a half now, which is sure to suit, while the addition of cheekpieces should help him concentrate better, too. He shouild have too much for Reach and Aegis Power, who has both shown ability.
STUDY THE FORM IN STYLE & GET ALL THE RESULTS YOU NEED FIRST
- CHECK OUT OUR SNAZZY RACECARDS FOR EVERY RACE, EVERY DAY
- WE HAVE ALL THE HORSE RACING FAST RESULTS YOU’LL EVER WANT
16:50 – Carlton And Co
CARLTON AND CO finished narrowly behind course and distance specialist Round The Island here last month but the Easterbys’ filly took a significant step forward that day and it’s possible she may have even more progress up her sleeve. She can reverse that form, though Round The Island himself will once again be a serious threat, while Patontheback and Brides Bay can also be involved in what looks an open handicap.
17:25 – Beattie Is Back
BEATTIE IS BACK was out with the washing in the Bronze Cup at Ayr back from a break last month but he is of strong interest with his sights lowered here. Richard Fahey’s representative improved with each of his three starts on the all-weather in the early part of this year and remains open to improvement. Sweet Glance put in a good shift at Catterick last time and will be a threat if responding well to the new headgear.
Timeform’s best bets at Pontefract:
13:25 – Midnight Lion
13:55 – Sassy Belle
14:30 – Improvise
15:05 – Flat White
15:40 – Gainsbourg
16:15 – Sobegrand
16:50 – Carlton And Co
17:25 – Beattie Is Back
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
READ MORE
- Gallop over to Paddy Power News for all the latest racing tips
- Fancy cheaper tickets for Irish racing meetings? Paddy’s Rewards4Racing partnership is here!