The Daily Yankee
NAP OF THE DAY: Equitation, (1945 Windsor), 1pt win 7/2:
Has form figures here this year if 212, and that latest second is starting to look very good. The fourth home took a big race at York on the weekend, the fifth ran a cracker in a Ireland since, and the eighth was narrowly beaten here yesterday. Oisin Murphy in the saddle is only ever a plus and he must surely go very close again.
Mr Orange, (1400 Pontefract), 9/1: two penalised winners from here last week clash in this sprint. Penny Pot Lane has a 5lb penalty but his time was slower than Tricky Dicky who we napped to win that day. But Dicky was always going up 3lbs anyway, so his penalty makes him effectively 8lbs higher. That leaves the door open to others and step forward Mr Orange. He has won over this course and distance in July in 2016, 2017 and 2018 and had shown hints in recent races that he may be ready to strike again over his beloved Ponty 6f. Worth taking the chance.
Spiorad, (1630 Pontefract), 11/4: last week’s Carlisle Bell winner Rousayan carries a manageable penalty but in a lengthy northern career it may say something that he hasn’t been to Ponty before. We prefer the less exposed pair, Smile A Mile and Spiorad. Smile A Mile is entitled to be progressive but his best is on sharp tracks which this most certainly isn’t. So trust Spiorad who is very lightly raced for a 4yo, but who won decisively on his handicap debut at Redcar and can follow up here.
Takumi, (1915 Windsor), 2/1: has shown clear signs of being a bit of a tricky ride in his short career. That said, his form stacks up well and as a 3yo he can be expected to be one of the more progressive ones in this field. In form trainer Roger Varian reaches for first time cheek-pieces, and also for the first time this season, stable top jock Atzeni is in the saddle.
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