Pontefract Placepot: Tuesday July 9

Luca Cumani's Silk Sari can secure the Placepot

Pontefract provides the only Flat action on the turf this afternoon and that is where we head for today's crack at the Placepot...

14:30- Sunset Shore didn't need to improve to get off the mark at Bath but she had progressed with each run prior to that and looks sure to give another good account today. Sir Mark Prescott's filly is related to some smart performers and could yet be capable of better; the slight step up in trip to six furlongs looks likely to suit. Scargill probably did well to win over the minimum trip last time and, although this is tougher, his third over C&D in May behind two promising types reads well. He arguably sets the standard here and should be included in the Placepot.

15:00- Plenty have questions to answer in this ten-furlong handicap but Danehill Flyer, a winner at this course last Monday, has a lot in his favour and appeals as a banker proposition. Phil Kirby's charge didn't get home over 14 furlongs on his penultimate start, his free-going style counting against him, but he was an authoritative victor over one and a half miles last time, despite not settling in the early stages, and he is unlikely to be inconvenienced by this further drop in trip.

15:30- Jofranka is an improving type and the most likely winner. She is, however, unproven on the surface and we will take her on with Boxing Shadows and Teetotal. The former doesn't look particularly well treated but he has produced some respectable efforts of late and is suited by a strongly-run five furlongs on fast ground, while the latter shaped as if still in good form when denied the hat-trick at Doncaster last time and should launch a bold bid.

16:00- Gifted Girl is a progressive filly and actually finished in front of Ladys First at Epsom but Richard's Fahey's contender is an ideal Placepot type, looking sure to run her race and finish in the frame. She enters this on the back of a fantastic effort in Group 2 company at Royal Ascot and it is difficult not to see the reliable, consistent Ladys First going close.

16:30- Chester Aristocrat is at the top of his game at present, finishing a good second to Baby Strange at Newcastle last time, and another solid performance looks assured with his trainer in decent form. Head Space has been competitive off much higher marks than this in the past and he shaped as if back to form when finishing a narrow second at Haydock last week. Ruth Carr's five-year-old is also included in the Placepot.

17:00- Fitness is rarely a factor for Godolphin horses on debut and the well-bred Mansoreen is the first horse that we turn to. The Luca Cumani-trained Silk Sari is also bred in the purple and shaped with a fair bit of promise on debut at Kempton, staying on strongly without being knocked about. She should benefit from that experience and should go well.

Selections:
14:30- 2, 4 
15:00- 7
15:30- 1, 3
16:00- 5
16:30- 3, 8
17:00- 3, 6
= 16 lines

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