Royal Ascot might be done and dusted for another year, but the Sunday series continues at Pontefract and the Racing Post's Graeme Rodway gives his best bets on the card.
Included in his selections are recent Musselburgh winner El Picador, who could belie a 5lb hike as he drops in trip, while later on, connections will hope Twilight Prince can go one better after being beaten by a neck at Bath when last seen on 11th June.
4.15 Pontefract
El Picador @ 11/2
1pt win
5.15 Pontefract
Twilight Prince @ 5/1
1pt win
Picador primed to strike
El Picador has a good record over 1m4f and at Musselburgh, but he might be suited by a mile and a quarter at this stiff track and is well worth a bet in the Sunday Series Handicap (4.15), which is available to watch on our Sports Live Streaming platform.
The Keith Dalgleish-trained son of Dansili is in the form of his life after winning two of his last four starts and now competes off a career-high mark of 84, but he brushed aside a peak BHA figure of 79 when scoring at Musselburgh last time and is clearly going forward fast.
Not a lot went right last time either. He got hampered at the start and drifted right near the finish, but was well on top at the line, scoring comfortably by a length and half at the finish.
This is probably a stronger race, but El Picador was so dominant that he is hard to oppose in his current mood and, with Callum Rodriguez back in the saddle replacing 5lb claimer Ryan Sexton, it will be a surprise if he can’t follow up for a stable that is in good form at present.
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Twilight Prince looks ready to rule
The race is over the extreme distance of 2m2f on this stiff Pontefract course for the Pontefract Cup Handicap (5.15) and Twilight Prince looks like a good bet to go one better than last time.
The Peter Bowen-trained four-year-old did all of his racing over 6f to a mile when trained by Richard Fahey and has run only twice over staying distances for his new, mainly jumps yard.
Twilight Prince was third on his first try over two miles at Chepstow in April and put a poor run when dropped to 1m4f at that course behind him to finish second in a 2m1f handicap at Bath last time.
The selection was held up in last and left with a lot to do, but he finished his race strongly and was no closer than at the finish. He went down by just a neck to Orin Swift, but there were four lengths back to the third and he looks well handicapped having escaped a rise for that run.
Leading jockey Silvestre De Sousa takes over from Rhiain Ingram in the plate and is having his first ride for the yard. That is a tip in itself and Twilight Prince should be difficult to beat with this extra furlong on quick ground looking sure to suit. Further progress is highly likely.
What: Sunday Series
Where: Pontefract, West Yorkshire
When: 3.45 to 8.45
How to watch: bet365's Sports Live Streaming, Racing TV
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