3.25pm Pontefract Tips & Betting Preview 09/10/2017

A competitive staying event which has attracted a decent field size. Read on for our free betting tips, predictions and analysis.

IN SUMMARY: RIPTIDE was third in this race last year and in his current form he should have a solid each way chance in an open looking heat. La Fritillaire and Transpennine Star filled the first two spots on their last visit here and should be involved.

1 TRANSPENNINE STAR – Ran a grand race when just touched off by a nose last time by La Fritillaire. He has a one pound swing at the weights which should leave them very closely matched again – handles underfoot conditions and has a big shout once again.

2 LA FRITILLAIRE – Won over course and distance last time, but is up four pounds for that success. She likes it here and is generally quite consistent, however she will need to find a bit more to win this from a career high mark. That said, she shouldn’t be far away.

3 GRAN MAESTRO – Hasn’t been seen in this sphere for over two years, but has been hurdling consistently in the meantime. Ben Robinson claims five pounds off his back and he is not without an each way chance in what is quite an open race.

4 ROCK ON BOLLINSKI – Beaten some rather uninspiring distances in all of his most recent starts and his form figures certainly wouldn’t inspire much confidence. His trainer is in decent form, but it would take a good effort to win this off a break.

5 RAKTIMAN – Was running at a decent level over fences last season but has been off the flat for an extremely long time (1,757 days) and it is hard to know how his form adds up in the context of this race. The market may be the best guide on his chances.

6 DAN EMMETT – Ran a decent race on his flat reappearance when six lengths behind the progressive Coeur De Lion. If he were to build on that he would probably have a solid each way chance in this type of race; he is also a pace angle.

7 LADY OF YUE – Has not been in the best form recently, but lies on a dangerous mark in the context of her career. She has won off similar marks a couple of times and was beaten just a head by La Fritillaire when a pound higher than this last year. Needs a revival, but isn’t a forlorn hope.

8 RIPTIDE – A good second last time has seen him rise three pounds in the handicap, yet he arrives here in better form than most of his opposition. He is very familiar with the venue having run here 29 times, winning twice and being placed 10 times.

9 TUSCAN GOLD – Has run here 19 times and won two of those starts, one earlier this year. Will have no problem seeing out the trip and he has won over further, but he has never been successful when the going has been truly soft and that is a slight worry.

10 MADAM LILIBET – Another course veteran having had 20 starts here and won twice. That said, she has not been in particularly good form for a while and her last win was all the way back in 2015. Others appeal more as better handicapped.