Sunday 23 June 2013

2:10 Pontefract (23nd June) Free Horse Racing Tips


An EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes over 6f on good ground [good to firm in places]. Twelve two-year-olds take part, the majority lightly raced. A fair mix of trainers and few talented juveniles striving for their first win.

Lady Cecil fields Sunrise Star, racing int he silks of Lady Bamford. This daughter of Shamardal, out of a Listed-place mare who finished her career in France, cost 57,000gns at the yearling sales. This good-looking bay filly ran well on debut: keeping on to finish fourth. The form of that contest looks strong with the first and second [Godolphin] going on to run creditably at Royal Ascot, while the third cruised to an effortless victory at Ayr next start. Sunrise Star was quite weak in the betting on her racecourse bow suggesting she would improve for the experience. The stiff finish looks ideal and by all account this is a drop in class. A Moyglare Stakes (Group 1) entry suggests connections have future goals and she will be entered for a more pattern races. The horse to beat.

Dutch Courage looks the chief danger showing promise on debut at Newmarket and returning to headquarters when stepping up to 6f. This daughter of Dutch Art cost 100,000gns as a yearling [£30,000 foal] and one of two juveniles for Richard Fahey from Cheveley Park Stud. She was sent off favourite on her second start but hold-up tactics didn't help as the winner held a fair advantage at the furlong pole, after stealing a lead. This bay filly rallied well in the closing stages and would have won with another half furlong. Those two starts should see her sit handy today although she looks the type to take time to get into full stride. Definitely a horse to respect and another to appreciate this stiffer track.

Ollie Pears is a great trainer who does wonders with his string of two-year-olds. If they are capable of winning, they are placed well and run consistent. Augusta Ada is a strapping daughter of Byron who has shown ability on all three starts to date. The form of her fifth at York has been franked. She travelled with ease at Redcar only to be beaten by a newcomer [Sunny Harbour] who could well be heading for pattern-class races. The third has since won in tidy fashion. Considering she is legible for auction class events, this race type is by all accounts a step up in class. However, that doesn't mean she will not be competitive. It wouldn't be a surprise to see her trade at much shorter odds in-running and to have a fighting chance. Whether this bay filly is quite the class to bustle-up the favourites I would have slight reservations. If touching huge prices on the exchanges, worth a speculative each way punt but may need the favourites to under perform to win.

The intriguingly named Flighty Peaches has been supported on the exchanges and Richard Hughes looks to be a significant jockey booking. This February foal is sired by Footstepsinthesand and cost 32,000eur at the yearling sales. The mare was limited and the stable have few two-year-olds in their string. It is worth noting that this filly was recently entered for a Stakes race, which is a positive. It isn't beyond the realms this youngster has ability although to beat such opposition at the first time of asking looks a tall order. I would take a watching brief.

Of the other horses, Shelley's Choice has shown good pace on both starts before tiring rapidly. 

John Quinn does well at this course and has sent a few talented two-year-olds to start their career here. If L'Artiste is substantially backed it would bring added confidence. 

The rest are best watched.

Conclusion: I wouldn't look beyond three horses: Sunrise Star, Dutch Courage & Augusta Ada. All should have tasted victory before the end the season. Sunrise Star looks the horse to beat. The form of her Newmarket maiden has been franked and even without improvement must take the beating. Lady Cecil's charge should be primed today and could well lead these a merry dance. She makes a feisty opponent. Dutch Courage is progressing with racing and there shouldn't be any excuses today. In experience cost her dear on both starts to date and if able to sit in a handy position could finish with zeal. A filly who could be much better than we have seen and if touching each way prices looks a solid bet. Augusta Ada will travel well and if betting I would be tempted to try and lay your stake in-running and cross your fingers it is her day. However, I feel the two leading lights may need to under perform for her to win although you should never be afraid of one horse as they have to prove the point. A fair each way bet at speculative odds. Flighty Peaches looks to be fancied in the betting but whether this is sustained throughout the day only time will tell. She would need to be pretty smart to win this on debut and a watching brief.