3.10pm Pontefract Tips & Betting Preview 18/04/2016

IN SUMMARY: Plenty of potential improvers here but none more so in our book that BEARDWOOD (11/2) who has always looked a horse of some promise and may now fulfil that after a gelding operation. Sammy Jo Bell takes a useful three pounds off his back and he has a good draw in the three stall – Ocean Sheridan was also of interest but may struggle today from his higher draw.

1 RELATED (9/1)– Four career victories bot only one over this six furlong trip but his stamina for a bit more may well be needed on this softer going that will make it feel like further. Ran well last season at Royal Ascot in the Wokingham when fourth but hard to win with though he does have a low draw which could be to his advantage though his stable is a little out of sorts.

2 RED PIKE (9/1) – Yet to win in this grade but has won off this rating so not a lot more needed perhaps. This is his trip as proved by all five career wins but yet to score on anything like as soft as today, but is expected to handle it as a son of Kheleyf. Would be easier to fancy with a recent run though and stable struggling for winners.

3 BALLYMORE CASTLE (7/1) – Now a four-year-old he hasn’t won in ten races since his second ever outing as a two-year-old at Chester saw a soft ground victory over a furlong less. Five places on his CV shows he has ability and Richard Fahey yard are in great form but return run was a little disappointing at Doncaster and he has a bit to prove.

4 PERFECT PASTURE (20/1) – Fair to assume he will improve for his return at Chester but has only ever won over this far on the all-weather surfaces. Aged six it may take him a run or two to reach race fitness but is unquestionably well handicapped on his very best form of 2013/14 when he ran up six wins in a row and reached a rating of 100, eight more pounds than he suffers here.

5 MUKHAYYAM (16/1)– Recently moved from the Newmarket yard of Sir Michael Stoute to Tim Easterby in Yorkshire but who knows if that will bring about improvement or not. Seems unlikely connections would allow a class two sprinter to move on so cheaply but if he does then 12,000 Guineas could yet prove a bargain.

6 MY NAME IS RIO (5/1) – A course and distance winner and of soft ground he ran well enough on his return when fourth to Roudee at Doncaster to suggest he can run well here. A lower draw might have helped (historically low do better here on soft ground), but he should still run well enough.

7 DEAUVILLE PRINCE (25/1) – Good to see the cheek pieces back on again this afternoon as he scored in a visor last June and seems to need a bit of headgear to help him focus.  Stays further which could be of benefit but was well behind My Name Is Rio and Ocean Sheridan at Doncaster and is not weighted to reverse that form here.

8 REDVERS (20/1) – Changed stables after over four years with Ed Vaughan where he picked up three races over seven furlongs but never on going as soft as this. Bit of an unknown making his debut for Noel Wilson but looks as if he may struggle until the handicapper relents.

9 AVON BREEZE (11/1) – All her best form is over a furlong less and with the softer ground putting even more of an emphasis on stamina she seems safely ignored today and will surely need the run but ought to win more races this season.

10 THE HOODED CLAW (12/1) – Bit of a disappointment for his new yard last season and has been sent back to Tim Easterby to see if the Yorkshire air makes all the difference. Its possible but not probable and with no evidence he is in any better form he is another we can pass by today.

11 BEARDWOOD (11/2) – Seen as the Fahey second string that may not be the case with Sammy Jo Bell taking a useful three pounds off his back.  A gelding operation may well have made all the difference to his attitude and not one to pass over lightly off a favourable mark today and with a decent draw in the three stall.

12 OCEAN SHERIDAN (5/1) – Finished ahead of My Name Is Rio and Deauville Prince at Doncaster as well as Ballymore Castle and Perfect Pasture and seems to love getting his feet wet on a softer surface. Easy to back that day it seems fair to assume he will improve for the run he has won over course and distance (off a much lower handicap rating), but he is drawn ten which is a disadvantage.

myracing Forecast Prices: 4/1 Ocean Sheridan, 5/1 Beardwood, My Name Is Rio, 8/1 Red Pike Related Ballymore Castle, 10/1 Avon Breeze The Hooded Claw 20/1  Mukhayyam Perfect Pasture Redvers, 33/1 Deauville Prince