4.00pm Pontefract Tips & Betting Preview 24/07/2016

Our experts’ betting tips for the Listed race on Sunday’s Pontefract card focus on a contender bidding to make amends for a disappointing run at Royal Ascot. Read our full race preview for the lowdown.

IN SUMMARY: CONVEY flopped when sent off favourite for the Royal Hunt Cup last month but certainly wasn’t disgraced when seventh in a competitive Group 2 contest back at Ascot a fortnight ago and will find this easier. If back to the form that saw him go close in a Haydock Group 3 event in May, this sub-standard Listed race is his for the taking. Master Carpenter also has a good chance on the figures but he usually races over middle-distance trips and is probably reliant on others setting a strong pace here. A bigger threat to the selection could come from Sound Advice, who collected a valuable Chester handicap in May and traveled well for a long way when fourth on his latest outing. Kentuckyconnection was almost certainly flattered by his proximity when fifth in the 2,000 Guineas but he’s a contender at this level.

1 Algaith – Ended last season with a poor run and finished stone last when 66/1 for the Royal Hunt Cup when back in action at Royal Ascot last month; September’s win at Bath confirms he’s well suited by a stiff mile on fast ground, but he comes here with some questions to answer.

2 Bossy Guest – Yet to match the form of his excellent fourth in the 2015 2,000 Guineas but his sixth in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot last month was a very creditable performance and he may not have been suited by the drop back to 7f at Newmarket a fortnight ago; could have a say here.

3 Capo Rosso – Gained reward for string of consistent efforts when winning Class 3 handicap at Haydock (1m, good to firm) last month and subsequent Ascot defeat probably best overlooked, given he paid a price for setting a strong gallop; has quite a bit on his plate now upped to Listed company, though.

4 Convey – Finished well down the field when favourite for the Royal Hunt Cup last month and was also a bit disappointing in the Group 2 Summer Mile back at Ascot a fortnight ago; now has a point to prove but will find this race easier and be a very tough nut to crack if matching the form of his close second in a Haydock Group 3 (7f, good) in May.

5 Master Carpenter – Won the John Smith’s Cup at York (1m2f, good) last summer and ran to a similar level when third in the Group 3 Huxley Stakes at Chester (1m2f, good) in May; good chance on the figures here but was slightly disappointing when last in action and will need a strong gallop over today’s trip.

6 Sound Advice – Took form to a new level when winning on consecutive starts over 7.6f at Chester last summer and bagged another good-quality handicap over that C&D in May; also ran well when fourth at Newbury (1m, good to firm) last month and no surprise if he holds his own at this level.

7 Gratzie – Produced new career-best performance to win Bath handicap (1m, firm) last month but cut little ice in C&D Listed event against own sex three weeks ago and wasn’t at her best in a Newbury handicap last time either.

8 Kentuckyconnection – Responded well to first-time blinkers and ran out of his skin when fifth in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket; probably flattered by the way that race panned out and hasn’t been able to match that level of form on his last couple of outings, but has a part to play a this level.

myracing Forecast Prices: Evs Convey, 9/2 Master Carpenter, 7/1 Kentuckyconnection, 8/1 Sound Advice, 10/1 Bossy Guest, 12/1 Algaith, 16/1 Capo Rosso, 20.1 Gratzie