Sky Bet Sunday Series: Pontefract race-by-race guide

The latest leg of the Sky Bet Sunday Series takes place at Pontefract this weekend and Raymond Wigge has a tip for every race.

3.45: Race To A Cure For MND EBF Fillies’ Restricted Novice Stakes

The Sunday Series trip to Pontefract begins with a tough-looking puzzle.

Likely market leader Whoop Whoop, trained by Ralph Beckett, has her third start after a couple of fourth-placed finishes in which her potential vulnerability to any above-average newcomer has been well advertised.

Similarly experienced Mauna Loa had clearly learnt from her debut when just denied in a bunch finish at Ripon last time out and looks marginally the pick of the two at the head of the market, but unraced Middleham raider SACRED ANGEL could be the one to be with despite the obvious caveats concerning her readiness to perform at her best first time out.

Such concerns rarely plague followers of the Johnston yard, and the daughter of Dark Angel is certainly bred to be early and sharp. She will not need to outrank the majority of her family to make a winning debut here.

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4.15: Sky Bet Sunday Series Handicap

Sir Mark Todd’s hat-trick seeker Prophet’s Dream looks the obvious starting point in a wide-open 10f handicap after defying an 11lb upward shunt for his runaway Bath victory – and some late-race wanders – at Leicester last time. Just 1lb higher now, the lightly-raced and improving four-year-old may prove hard to pass if allowed to set the fractions.

Cockalorum found the Chester high-draw conundrum insoluble in his own hat-trick bid last time, but remains in good heart on the evidence of that wasted journey and should go close again now back to something like his historical form.

SHIMMERING SANDS gets the vote though after sparkling in victory at Doncaster on his second start of the season. Last summer’s improvement seems set to continue on that evidence, and a mark of 78 – albeit 6lb higher than on Town Moor – still offers ample scope for further progress.

4.45: Sky Bet Sunday Series Pontefract Castle Fillies’ Stakes

Some rare Sunday black type on offer here. It looked a good opportunity for Luisa Casati but she is now a non-runner.

The path now looks clear for CAIUS CHORISTER to deliver. She was one of last summer’s most rapid improvers, who has returned this time around with a couple of solid second-placed efforts in high-end handicaps. David Menuisier’s Golden Horn filly should be cherry-ripe now and may not have stopped progressing.

Pennymoor also has claims of sorts but was found to be lame after tanking on her reappearance at Doncaster and will need to find a chunk of improvement to get seriously involved.

5.15: Sky Bet Sunday Series Pontefract Cup Handicap

They love a stamina-sapper in these parts – there’s still many a pint of John Smith’s sunk in honour of Ponte Pegasus Jamaican Flight, who only raced 183 times – and this latest West Yorkshire mini-marathon sees Blow Your Horn attempt to follow up his Sunday Series win at Beverley last time and take a step closer to the £100,000 bonus on offer to any three-time winner in this year’s six meetings.

Third in the Northumberland Vase off 87 two summers ago, a mark of 76 should not be beyond him, but he’s never gone this far in his long career and it could be that the proven stamina, and forward-going modus operandi, of Charlie Johnston’s Haizoom could find him out. The latter comes here off the back of a fifth career victory over two miles at Ripon and will find the extra yardage no inconvenience.

One to beat them both, at a working man’s price, could be Ruth Jefferson’s FLINT HILL, another gnarled veteran of these Pontefract slogs. He rarely blots his copybook at this venue and could represent a bit of value off a very workable mark.

5.45 Sky Bet Sunday Series Middle Distance Handicap

Sir Michael Stoute’s FOX JOURNEY (nap) will head the market here after a slightly unlucky sixth behind Torito in higher grade at Epsom last time, and having given the impression more than once that stamina is his forte, he is expected to relish the new trip and regather the momentum established by his facile Newmarket victory on seasonal debut.

Derry Lad, another chasing the six-figure bonus after his Beverley victory a fortnight ago, may find the 6lb hike for that slowing him down, and Alan King’s Haseefah may represent the chief danger to the selection.

Still relatively lightly raced for a six-year-old, Haseefah looked to be running into form behind Good Morals last time at Goodwood and better should be expected if her early keenness can be kept in check.

6.15 Sky Bet Sunday Series 3YO Mile Handicap

Without the inexplicable lapse in concentration which cost Pat Cosgrave a month’s income at Chelmsford in April, there’s little doubt that CONCORDE would be seeking a five-timer here.

His progress has – that moment aside – been remarkable, and he looked just as comfortable winning at Redcar off 79 last time as he did at the same venue off 55 at the start of his winning run.

Another 7lb higher now, the Sixties Icon gelding will be a warm order here and must be backed until anything more than blind panic gets him off the bridle.

Another beaten by Torito at Epsom, Silver Sword also seems to be progressing – albeit not as meteorically as the favourite – and can give him most to do.

6.45 Sky Bet Sunday Series Sprint Handicap

Not exactly the ideal getting-out stakes for the jaded punter, with several of the likely front-runners drawn unfavourable wide, and the stiff uphill finish mitigating against the chances of any pacesetter at the best of times.

Drawn near the fence, and perfectly happy to lie handy off a strong gallop, MUSIC SOCIETY can only be a tentative selection in a trappy big-field handicap, but his style of racing can often bear fruit at this venue and he has one win from two visits here.

Trailblazer Ghathanfar is probably drawn a little wider than ideal, but showed much more at York last time and having taken a handful of runs to shake off the cobwebs last season may now be ready to put his best foot forward. He gives the selection something to aim at and may last long enough now hard fit to go very close.

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