Pontefract 3.44

 

It's officially soft Going and although not much more rain during the day is likely to favour soft ground types and the usual low draw bias on Good ground can switch tp favour high numbers when it rides soft as the water drains down the camber on the finishing straight so the better ground is often on the Stands rail.

 

Plenty have good claims on Course form and form on soft Going.

 

I discarded after some time and reflection Dream Together who has CD form, some soft form but probably best on better going, Follow Your Heart who but for a draw in Stall 3 would have probably seen an investment, Mr Orange another Course and Distance winner who is drawn in Stall 8 and with a 3lbs penalty for a win last time, Penny Pot Lane who won this in 2020 on soft and from a low draw and who gets stall 7 this time and Run This Way who seems likely to be suited to a stiff 6 furlongs dropped in trip and drawn in 15, but who may need a lot of luck in running against the Stands rail if not having the tactical speed early on. He (Run This Way) could be one to keep a close eye on during the next few weeks.

 

I'm left with a pair against the field in DARK DEFENDER  a consistently inconsistent type but one who wins when the cards fall right. He has Course and Distance form, a possible plum draw in Stall 17, won here in August on soft off a lenient mark of 70 from a high draw and off 74, a mark that should not be beyond him.

 

The other one is a maiden who has best runs in these conditions and a nice draw to boot in MARVEL, this seems the ideal trip and probably best chance to break the duck at a nice each way price.