Wily Selection Can Outfox Rivals

Pontefract stages a cracking card on the Flat today, and with the going no worse than good to soft, the galloping track should throw up true results. Race of the day appears to be the 1¼m handicap at 16:15, for all the Jamaican Flight handicap over the 2¼m trip will appeal to the traditionalists, myself included.

That 1¼m handicap looks a wide-open affair at first glance, and it's hard to rule many out, but David Barron's old warrior Sirvino looks well treated on the pick of last season's form, and has run respectably on all his previous runs here. A solid third on his return at Meydan shows that he can still go well fresh (has won first-time-up in the past), and he's much better off with Las Verglas Star for a defeat at the hands of that rival over C&D last autumn. Having started last season on a BHA mark of 100, he really ought to go well having been dropped to 89, despite plenty of evidence that his ability hadn't waned markedly in the meantime. Barron has started the new turf season in typically forward fashion, and his record with older handicappers at Pontefract is excellent.

Dangers abound, although Licence To Till is omitted from calculations having run poorly in this race last year, and the most intriguing of a quartet starting off for new yards is Spanish Duke. An unpredictable sort for John Dunlop, he's just the sort that Brian Ellison does well with, and ought to go well having twice won after a break of 60 days or more. It's worth backing both at current odds.

In the staying contest at 15:40, it's worth siding with James Eustace's Wily Fox. The son of Observatory isn't an obvious stayer on pedigree, but has proved suited by a test of stamina since tried in a hood (can be a bit free in his races), and plugged on well when second in the mud at Newbury (2m) last back-end.

Wily Fox has since shown improved form over hurdles, splitting subsequent winners when third at Taunton (19f) before winning over the same trip at Market Rasen. He didn't get the run of things when fancied at Newbury last time, but it's easy enough to forgive that run, and he returns to the Flat on a potentially lenient mark. He certainly looks overpriced at around 14/1, and appeals as a solid each-way bet despite there being only 3 places. The upside of that is a bigger price on the exchange place market, and I'd be disappointed if he isn't thereabouts at the business end.

Recommendations:

All at Pontefract

Back Wily Fox in the 15:40 @ [14.5] to win & [4.5] to place

Back Sirvino and Spanish Duke in the 16:15 @ [6.4] & [6.0] respectively