Pontefract today

After a wonderful Royal Ascot meeting, there is a clear sense of anti-climax about today´s racing in the U.K. and Ireland. The top feature is a listed race over 1 1/2 miles at 16.40 CET at Pontefract. With the two highest-rated entries, All the Aces amd Halicarnassus, non-runners, this is however not a strong race. The Godolphin stable showed clear signs of coming back to form last week, and Sugar Ray (Saeed bin Suroor/ Dane O´Neill), who has not run since Dubai in February, is our selection here. Drumfire (Mark Johnston/ Darryll Holland) and Furmigadelagiusta (Karl Burke/ Phillip Makin) are the main dangers. Johnston has also a good chance in the best supporting race, a 10 furlongs handicap at 16.10, with William Blake (Greg Fairley). He is one of three joint top-rated here, with Bullet Man (Luca Cumani/ Dane O´Neill) and German-bred Full Speed (Alan Swinbank/ Peter McDonald), both last-time-out winners, and these three could well fight out the finish.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Caviar - Pure Nostalgia - Hafawa
2. Race: Luck Will Come - Singora Lady - Do The Deal
3. Race: Bullet Man - William Blake - Full Speed
4. Race: Drumfire - Furmigadelagiusta - Sugar Ray
5. Race: Inchpast - Miss Keck - Mr Crystal
6. Race: Spiekeroog - Shemoli - Longboat Key
7. Race: Billy Beetroot - Raimond Ridge - Mister Tinktastic