UK Horse Racing Tips: Pontefract

ALMINOOR produced a battling display from the front on debut at Musselburgh, only going down by a neck. With the trainer of the winner talking in terms of Royal Ascot for his horse, expect Mark Johnston's charge to bag the rail and try to dominate this from the front. Danny Ocean could come on for a decent first effort at Leicester, while David O'Meara's Dandy Man colt Manolith might be the pick of the newcomers.
Prediction : 1st Alminoor 2nd Danny Ocean 3rd Manolith

Space Bandit has won two of his last three on the Southwell all-weather so has to enter the reckoning. He is unproven on turf, though, so perhaps is worth taking on with COTE D'AZUR. Les Eyre's gelding signed off last season with a fair fourth at Redcar and returned to action with a similar display at Doncaster. Down in trip for this, he could relish the stiff finish here. Delph Crescent was disappointing on his reappearance at Doncaster but has claims on last year's form.
Prediction : 1st Cote dAzur 2nd Space Bandit 3rd Delph Crescent

FOOLAAD won this race last year and produced an excellent display to make all at Doncaster most recently. Roy Bowring's charge is up 3lb for that latest effort but could strike at a track that evidently suits him. Sandra's Secret was second in Listed company when last seen and must be considered, while Watchable got back to winning ways at Lingfield last month and is another to note. Returnees Powerallied and War Whisper also have claims.
Prediction : 1st Foolaad 2nd Sandras Secret 3rd Watchable

Tynecastle Park has been a revelation at Southwell of late, winning his last two with Galileo's Spear well in arrears on both occasions. He has to be considered despite a poor record on turf, but could be worth taking on with BRANDY JAMES. Harry Whittington's charge is very lightly raced on the Flat, but ran off a mark of 114 over timber last time and may relish this extreme test of stamina. Rubenesque also ran off a mark of 114 when last seen over hurdles, but she lost her action that day and reappears just 12 days later in this.
Prediction : 1st Brandy James 2nd Tynecastle Park 3rd Rubenesque

Sophia Maria went close on a couple of occasions at Ripon last season and is interesting, as is Texting, who was far from disgraced on her only previous start at Chelmsford. Dream Chick has the advantage of a more recent run after taking third at Newcastle in January, but preference is for COLLECT CALL. Deemed good enough to contest a Listed race as a juvenile by trainer Karl Burke, the Kodiac filly ran well on a number of occasions last year and could prove a cut above these rivals.
Prediction : 1st Collect Call 2nd Dream Chick 3rd Sophia Maria

DECISION MAKER can pick up where he left off at Newcastle last month. Roy Bowring's charge won at the 17th time of asking on the Tapeta at Gosforth Park and could be a big player off bottom weight here. One Boy signed off last season with a close second at Musselburgh and is likely to be involved, while Socialites Red has been running well at Southwell of late and has claims if transferring that form to turf.
Prediction : 1st Decision Maker 2nd One Boy 3rd Socialites Red

Foxtrot Knight went close here in August but the wheels fell off rather dramatically after that. However, he returned in good form at Wolverhampton earlier this month and could go well today, while B Fifty Two won on this card last year and is only 1lb higher currently, though he hasn't had a recent run, unlike last season. ROUND THE ISLAND has also has yet to run this term, but four of his six career wins have come at this track and that might swing things in favour of Richard Whitaker's sprinter.
Prediction : 1st Round The Island 2nd Foxtrot Knight 3rd B Fifty Two

Only Diviner and The Meter have tasted success already, but neither of them particularly covered themselves in glory in subsequent starts after those successes. Diviner is probably the pick of the pair for Mark Johnston, but it might be worth taking a chance on CONUNDRUM. Jedd O'Keeffe's gelding was not far away in a nursery here when last seen in the autumn and could have improved for another winter on his back.
Prediction : 1st Conundrum 2nd Diviner 3rd The Meter