Friday 22nd May 2026
I’ve got four selections from Pontefract this evening throughout their evening card, kicking off with the opener at 6.20, which is a Class 4 maiden over six furlongs. This is my best bet on the card, and it comes in the form of NAVAL LIGHT for Karl Burke and Jack Nicholls, who takes off five pounds. He’s still a maiden after six attempts, however, the large majority of those runs have come in a higher grade than this, and he’s gone close on several occasions. He’s got an offical rating of 83, which is a fair standard for any of his rivals to run too, and with the added bonus of Nicholls taking off five pounds, this looks like a golden opportunity for him to get his head in front. He’s short in the betting, however, he could arguably be shorter given the strength of this race, and what he’s shown in defeat so far. I’d mark up Viper as the main danger for Brian Ellison, given he progressed from his racecourse debut, and should continue to do so.
My second selection of the evening comes within the 6.52, and this is a Class 2 maiden that’s set to be contested over a distance of six furlongs. I’ve come down on the Tom Dascombe runner here, RICKY PUNTING, who’s the mount of Pierre-Louis Jamin. Not only does he have a fantastic name, I think that he has solid claims here on his third racecourse start. He finished fourth on debut at Bath in April, before taking a step in the right direction at Hamilton earlier this month when finishing second and a length and a half behind the eventual winner. The step up to today’s distance on that occasion seemed to suit, given how he rallied to his task, and he was still learning on the job. There should be more improvement to come from him. Too Many Spirits has to be marked as the main danger, who’s also shown similar progression, finishing second here last time out, and should be bang there at the business end of things. However, the Dascomber runner is a bigger price, which swings the pendulum in his favour.
Next up for me will be the 7.52, and we move into handicap company now with a Class 4 handicap over two miles and a furlongs. This is my second best bet of the evening, and the NB comes in the form of SEA OF KINGS for the team of Harry Eustace and Kaiya Fraiser. This four-year-old by Sea The Stars is still a maiden after six starts, however, he has shown a good level of ability despite not winning in those outings, running very respectable races in some fairly hot contests. He was sent off the 4/5 favourite at Doncaster on his seasonal reappearance when finishing second, and whilst that was slightly underwhelming, he should of blown the cobwebs away with that run, and be a lot more tuned up here. This step up in distance could also unlock further improvement, given how he often plugs on in his races. The main danger has to be the in-form Trojan Soldier, who comes here chasing a hattrick, and will be a big threat.
Signing me off at Ponte Carlo will be the concluding the race of the night, the 8.52, and this is a Class 5 handicap which is contested over a mile. The Michael Dods yard have really coming into form over the last few days, and I think that they have another very live challenger in this particular affair with ARKENSTAAR, who’s the mount of Connor Beasley. He won over course and distance in October off just a two pound lower mark, with the form of that race stacking up well, and he posted an encouraing display on his seasonal reapperance at Hamilton earlier this month when finishing third of twelve. He should naturally take a step forward coming into his second outing of the campaign here, and he has every chance of making his presence felt off the same mark. I’d put up Geoffrey Harker’s Powerful Response as the main danger following his course and distance win last time out, he should be a player again off a two pound higher mark.
Friday Selections
22/05/26
6.20 Pontefract
NAVAL LIGHT – (4/6) (Win) (NAP)
6.52 Pontefract
RICKY PUNTING – (4/1) (Each-Way)
7.52 Pontefract
SEA OF KINGS – (5/2) (Win) (NB)
8.52 Pontefract
ARKENSTAAR – (11/2) (Each-Way)
