Pontefract - Tuesday 2nd June 2026
ALMA LATINA should prove tough to beat in this maiden judged on her two placed efforts so far in better races at Sandown and Salisbury. Third on debut behind Felicitas, that form is very strong when taking into account Ed Walker's filly subsequently finished a close second in the Musidora at York. According To Mark and Fozzie can follow her home in that order.
There is no previous form to go on in this maiden so the market will likely guide. AVIONICS is the most appealing on paper as he represents a top yard, fetched 150,000gns at the breeze-up sales in April and is related to a couple of winners. Shemiyla Star must be taken seriously for a rejuvenated Charlie Johnston stable and Boleto is also interesting.
Maris Angel was in great nick at Wolverhampton towards the back end of last year and is very interesting coming in here off a break. The market may tell us more, but BRAVO ZULU gets the nod as he is race-fit and performed admirably for the silver medal last time out at Redcar. Irish Nectar and Emperor Caradoc are others to note.
The form of Egotistical's breakthrough victory at Redcar in April appears solid and an official rating of 71 shouldn't prevent another bold showing on her handicap bow. However, ZARINCA was a shade more impressive when opening her account at Southwell in April and she may prove to be slightly better treated. Fellow in-form rivals D Flawless and Diamont Katie are sure to have their supporters too.
The Cookstown Cafu justified strong support when scoring over a mile at Newcastle in April and merits respect on his follow-up bid. That said, the son of Invincible Spirit is far from certain to stay this extra quarter-mile distance, which could leave the door open for DISTINCTION. The eight-year-old scored over C&D last June and his latest third at this venue suggests that he could be poised to strike. The lightly-raced Finlaggan is a feasible alternative.
QUANTUM POWER didn't appear to see out 6f on his latest third at Newmarket and a drop in distance may prove just the tonic. Tom Clover's gelding only gave way inside the final furlong that day and he looks more than capable of landing a race of this nature. Queen Sana has filled the runner-up spot on her last two outings and another bold bid is forecast, while Liverpool Star shouldn't be underestimated sporting first-time cheekpieces.
Just the four runners and it's Ralph Beckett's filly ALMA LATINA who appeals most. She's run well on both prevous starts, finishing a close second at Salisbury on reappearance, and the stiff finish here should suit her well - she'll probably want 12f before long. According To Mark looks the danger, having finished second in a similar event last time. He has more to offer and is just preferred to Fozzie as the main threat. That one is proving consistent and might have more to offer at 10f.
A field of newcomers with Rosberg not running, and it might be that Andrew Balding's newcomer AVIONICS is up to the task. He's got a potentially nice draw in stall 1, provided he breaks on terms, and is just favoured over the Clive Cox-trained newcomer Boleto. That one is from an excellent family on the dam's side of the pedigree and his trainer can get one ready. Raslan is third choice with his dam being a Group 3-winning sprinter at two.
Irish Nectar is coming off a more encouraging effort at Kempton and his mark is fair, but it's no win since 2024 for him now, so it might be better to side with THE GOOD BISCUIT, who runs this C&D well and is worth forgiving a lesser run at Hamilton last time. He seems particularly well suited to a turning tracl. Bravo Zulu, back to form when runner-up at Redcar last time, is next best with him not fully exposed as a stayer.
There should be more to come from D FLAWLESS now she's got her head in front, travelling smoothly in a first-time hood back up to this 6f trip last time en route to a good success. She's up 6lb back on turf but should be capable of defying it. Egotistical is an unexposed 3yo coming off a breakthrough success and she looks the danger with better expected for her top yard. The in-form Diamont Katie is third choice. She has top weight but struck over C&D two starts back and followed it up with a fine effort in defeat at Yarmouth next time.
The mare Bay Dream Believer has a chance if building on her recent return to form at Ripon but there's surely more to come from unexposed top weight FINLAGGAN, who had excuses last time and had earlier finished runner-up over C&D on handicap debut. He gets first-time cheekpieces, which could act as a catalyst for improvement. The main danger looks to be Distinction, who has slipped to a good mark and returned to form when placed down to 8f last time.
QUEEN SANA was runner-up over this trip at Windsor two starts back, on her return to handicaps, and having backed that up with another solid runner-up effort in a novice at Bath last time, she looks poised for another big run from a favourable draw. Liverpool Star, a winner at Ripon two starts back, backed that up from this mark next time albeit he lacked a little pace. This might set up better, so he's the danger, although Quantum Power returned to form at Newmarket last time and has a chance if building on that.
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