Monday 19th September 2020
Welcome to this Monday Preview where I’ll be having a look at the action at Pontefract as it’s the Phil Bull Trophy Day! I’ll be having a look at the first few races on the card leading up to the big one, where we also have the Listed Silver Tankard Stakes.
Enjoy!
– Jordan
The first race of the afternoon takes place at 12:45 and is a Class 5 Novice Auction stakes over six furlongs. This race looks to revolve around the Jedd O’Keeffe trained OUT THE HAT who’s set to be ridden by Jack Garritty. He’s way above this lot on all known form having finished third in the Premier Yearling Stakes at York behind Happy Romance, none of today’s rivals can match that on what they’ve shown so far and if running to anywhere near that level he should prove very tough to beat.
OUT THE HAT (1/2)
(Finishing Position: 3rd)
Next up is the 1:15 which is a Nursery that’s contested over a mile. The two market leaders in Coul Kat and Andonno set a pretty strong standard here and are obvious big players, I’ve taken them on though with the Richard Fahey trained IN PARADISE who’s the mount of Paul Hanagan. She was the winner of a nursery a few starts back at Leicester, and whilst that came on Good to Firm she did finish second at Ripon on his most recent outing with ground with cut in it. At the prices I think she’s a decent alternative to the short priced market leaders on all known form.
IN PARADISE (5/1)
(Finishing Position: Unplaced)
The 1:45 is the Listed Silver Tankard Stakes which is also ridden over a mile. I’ve sided with Hugo Palmer’s THE ROSSTAFARIAN in this particular affair who’s to be ridden by James Doyle. He’s only had the one start to date which was a highly promising debut when he won in impressive style at Salisbury earlier this month. He looks like he could have a fair amount of potential and if building on that debut run here he could prove a tough nut to crack. The main danger is probably the Mark Johnston trained Naamoos who won last time out at Beverley.
THE ROSSTAFARIAN (9/4)
(Finishing Position: 3rd)
Concluding this preview is the big one itself at 2:20 which is of course, The Phil Bull Trophy, a conditions race that’s contested over two miles. The Grand Visr sets a high enough standard at the top of the market here and if handling the surface will be tough to beat. I’ve tried to take him on though and done that with the younger, more progressive STAG HORN for Archie Watson and Hollie Doyle. The ground will be no concern for this three-year-old colt by Golden Horn, winner of his last two starts including a heavy ground success on penultimate outing at Catterick. If getting an easy lead he’s every chance of putting in another bold bid. Last year’s winner Fun Mac is shouldn’t be ruled out either at a big price.
STAG HORN (15/8)
(Finishing Position: 1st)
Everything Racing 