24th June 2012
Pontefract Betting: Brown Panther hoping to bounce back to form in feature race
Pontefract 2.10pm
7 of these runners have had an outing on a racecourse already but none of them look anything special and an example would be the 3rd by Balinka at York as that race was only a seller. Fantacise looks to have the best pieces of form with a 3rd to Hairy Rocket at Windsor looking very good now that has run 2nd in a Group 2 at Royal Ascot this week behind Ceiling Kitty. Rio’s Pearl was 4th that day and that one was 2nd last time out at Doncaster.
The unraced horses might not have to be that good to win here and Bondesire could be a bit more forward than some of its rivals as it was foaled in January, so has a few months of development over the other horses. O’Meara and Tudhope are both in fine form and at 20-1 it looks worthy of some each way support from stall 8. Skidby Mill was foaled in February and the trainer has had a few winners in the last week with many of his other runners placing and running well and could be a stable to follow.
Selections:
0.5pt EW – Bondesire 20-1 Bet365 (BOG)
0.5pt EW – Skidby Mill 8-1 Bet365 (BOG)
Pontefract 2.40pm
Wiseman’s Diamond will hope to follow up and add to its course and distance win here back in May. It won from the front when it made all on heavy ground and kept on strongly to beat Edmaaj by 2 ½ lengths. It raced here again in June but was held in midfield when trapped for room and only finished 6th of 11. It won off 62, was 6th off 68 last time out and races off 66 today, 4lb above that last win but the ground is likely to be soft to heavy again. The front running tactics will be crucial on this ground as there won’t be many running on strongly up the stiff uphill finish on soft ground.
Selection:
1pt EW – Wiseman’s Diamond 5-1 PaddyPower (BOG)
Pontefract 3.10pm
Robemaker is likely to be a popular favourite for the in form pair of John Gosden and William Buick after their success this week at Royal Ascot. It was 2nd last time out at Chester on soft ground but its last win was off a mark 10lb lower than it races off today, with several poor efforts registered. The stable have clearly run into form though and it should go close.
Calaf was in the same race as Robemaker at Chester and will need to settle better today. It also got bumped last time out which did not help. It has managed a win at Doncaster over 10f on good to soft ground and races off a mark just 4lb higher than that win. Paul Hanagan takes the ride for his old boss Richard Fahey and that trainer has also had a few winners recently.
Godolphin have hinted at a return to form this week and their runner is Tamarrud, ridden by Silvestre De Sousa and trained by Saeed Bin Suroor. It beat Gassin Golf on debut and that horse has won twice since but it was only 10th of 12 at Kempton over 12f. The other runner to keep an eye on would be Brocklebank for Kevin Ryan and Philip Makin.
Selection:
1pt EW – Calaf 14-1 Betfred (BOG)
Pontefract 3.40pm
The feature race of the day looks a close contest between just the 4 runners. Glen’s Diamond improved plenty to grab 2nd in the Yorkshire Cup behind the reliable yardstick of Red Cadeaux and that franked form since. Lost In The Moment won’t have any issues with the trip, has finished 2nd on soft and has had a run on the all weather but might lack class. Jet Away has won its last 2 races and still seems to be improving but the class 3 race it won on soft at Ripon was a poor 4 runner affair. It was impressive at Haydock on good to firm ground and is the current favourite at 15-8.
Brown Panther was last of 4 last time out on very soft ground at Chester and that run was too bad to be its true form. The 2nd in the St Leger is the best form on offer and was franked yesterday by Sea Moon winning at Ascot, that rival was 3rd that day and is now rated 121. Fallon keeps the ride on it and if the ground isn’t like a bog it should be winning this race but there is an obvious lack of pace that would hinder both Brown Panther and Jet Away so the jockeys might need to be a bit wise here.
Selection:
1pt WIN – Brown Panther 11-4 BetVictor (BOG)
Pontefract 4.10pm
Orsippus looks a worthy favourite here under Kieren Fallon and was just touched off at Ripon over 2m last time out. It has won a Grade 1 novice hurdle at Aintree and looks to have some class about it when it wants to show it. Blackstone Vegas was quite impressive here last time out and returns off a 6lb higher mark while My Arch has been given a chance now by the handicapper, running off a 10lb lower mark than when winning here last June. Veloce is top weight, in fine form and has won its last 2 races.
Selection:
1pt EW – Blackstone Vegas 11-2 BetVictor (BOG)
Pontefract 4.40pm
Mashaari looks a penalty kick here for John Gosden and Paul Hanagan and the 2nd to Shantaram reads as a decent piece of form. Swynmor will be the main danger and it will be strange seeing William Buick ride against one of his trainer’s horses as he rides for Willie Haggas today on the 2nd favourite. Crystal Monarch is unraced for Henry Cecil and Tom Queally and is 10-1 while the other runner is a 100-1 outsider. The Cecil runner would be interesting if looking well in the paddock and attracting support on course.
Selection:
0.5pt WIN – Crystal Monarch 10-1 BetVictor (BOG)
Pontefract 5.10pm
4 non runners have reduced the field and the odds of the other runners but Premier Choice is still available at 7-2 and looks to have a chance if it can get across from stall 13 early on. Fallon rides for Tim Easterby and the horse was 2nd last time out on its seasonal debut at Musselburgh and is yet to win a race. Byronic Hero is a course and distance winner and is preferred at a better price from stall 5. It made all to win here last October from stall 9 and the 2nd was from stall 7 that day. It was then unplaced here in a better race from stall 12 and has been well beaten twice over 7f. The drop back to 6f could be key and stall 5 is ideal. Commanche should strip fitter after its seasonal debut last time out and Dream Walker has a win and a 3rd from its last 2 races but in poor class.
Selection:
1pt EW – Byronic Hero 14-1PaddyPower (BOG)
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Author: Formbook Frank
