4.00pm Pontefract Tips & Betting Preview 15/09/2016

Ten fillies have been declared for the £30,000 sprint handicap on Thursday’s Pontefract card. Our betting tips focus on a well-drawn 3yo. Read our race preview for the lowdown.

IN SUMMARY: KASSIA, who won over C&D as a 2yo, was arguably a shade unlucky not to land a big-field event over 5f at Glorious Goodwood but, from the inside stall, has a good chance to gain compensation off the same mark here. Second choice is Futoon, who ran out of her skin and went very close in a valuable Newmarket race last month. Dutch Mist is also likely to be on the premises and, if the early pace is strong, Show Stealer may appear late on the scene.

1 Iseemist – Posted a sound effort when third at Salisbury (6f, good) recently but seems better suited by easier tracks than this when racing over 6f and has looked a shade too high in the weights since finishing second in a 5f Listed race at Bath in April.

2 Show Stealer – Creditable fourth in warm 7f event at last month’s York Ebor meeting and was ahead of Iseemist when second at Salisbury (6f, good) a fortnight ago; subsequent 4lb rise reduces her margin for error but she can pose a threat if this race is run to suit her usual patient tactics.

3 Kassia – Won consecutive starts at Bath in June/July (5f/5.7f) and didn’t get the best of runs when second of 19 on hat-trick attempt at Glorious Goodwood (5f, good to firm) on latest outing; runs off the same mark from the plum draw here and was a C&D winner last season.

4 Stellarta – Fourth in the Stewards’ Cup consolation race at Glorious Goodwood in July and stormed clear to win a valuable contest at Windsor (6f, good to firm) last month; however, was hit hard by the handicapper for that and finished last of seven when last in action a fortnight ago.

5 Guishan – Front-runner who struck form and won twice on softish ground in June (5f/6f); subsequently ran well in defeat on a much quicker surface but her latest run was a bit disappointing and she remains on a career-high mark.

6 Southern Belle – Suited by step up to 6f when winning five-runner contest at Nottingham last month, form that was franked when the runner-up won her next start; went up 7lb for that and was comfortably held back over 5f last time but might still have more to offer over this trip.

7 Dutch Mist – Responded well to first-time blinkers when coming from off the pace to score over C&D (good to firm) in June and has reached the frame on both subsequent outings; been dropped 1lb since last time and there’s a good chance she’ll be in the thick of things again.

8 Midnight Malibu – Won twice over 5f in July and produced another career-best performance when close second over that trip at Thirsk (soft ground) this month; well beaten on sole previous attempt at 6f but was placed over 5.5f in the spring and can get involved if her stamina holds out.

9 Love Island – Capitalised on some help from the handicapper and ended a lengthy losing streak when scoring in refitted hood at Ripon (6f, good) last month; drawn wide and up in class here but still attractively weighted on best form and can’t be ruled out.

10 Futoon – Has gained both her wins over 5f but ran a big race when very close second in valuable 6f event at Newmarket (good to firm) last month; 4lb higher this time but still quite lightly raced and needs to be taken very seriously after latest performance.

myracing Forecast Prices: 3/1 Show Stealer, 4/1 Kassia, 5/1 Futoon, 8/1 Guishan, Dutch Mist, Midnight Malibu, Love Island, 10/1 Iseemist, Southern Belle, 12/1 Stellarta