Pontefract 5.15

 

A very competitive race that is part of a Sunday Series Card on ITV 4 and also part of a season long Pontefract Long Distance race competition.

 

I favour Course and Distance and proven stamina normally in this type of race but there is one who has specifically caught my eye too.

 

I can watch the likes of Didtheyleaveyououtto and Yasmin From York at the head of the market, the former has questionable Flat form and the latter despite being in consistently good form now looks in the grip of the handicapper.

 

Twilight Prince won a small Bath race over this kind of trip but this looks a lot tougher, Overhaugh Street has Course and Distance winning form off a mark of 59 here but the penalty may just slow its progress in a deeper race and Haizoom is upped in trip but will be a big danger if getting it for Keith Dalgleish who is targeting "The Summer Series" quite clearly and unashamedly for the increased prize money.

 

At bigger Odds Ruckwa, a Course and Distance runner up before a wind operation can't be totally discounted and a bigger odds, I actually spent a lot of time looking at Diocletian also for Dalgleish. It was the best part of 2 stones better than its current mark for the Balding yard, has seemingly become a very sour horse in recent times but at the Odds and given the Trainer, well worth a small shrapnel / exchange bet for a few quid. 

 

I did find it very hard to split BYRON HILL, THE RUTLAND REBEL and Flint Hill.  

 

Flint Hill will be my reserve if either selection is a non-runner, its a Course and Distance expert, just below its last winning mark for Ruth Jefferson and Paul Hanaghan, and it would be great to see Paul grab a win back where he belongs back home in Yorkshire after a lot of unfair Press in my opinion at Ascot. I just prefer THE RUTLAND REBEL though today for Micky Hammond who ticks every box, will come on for seasonal debut and whose price is very appealing.

 

The one who really caught my eye though is BYRON HILL a winner at 14 and 16 furlongs, upped to 18 on this tough Track but one I really think has scope to improve from a very progressive Yard who are in the middle of an excellent spell of form and I think they could have found far easier races to see if he has the stamina required if they weren't 100% sure. 

 

TRACKERS - Byron Hill + The Rutland Rebel