On a day of low-key action across the water tomorrow, the one-mile Listed race at Pontefract is the standout offering.

Just six horses are set to go to post, with established campaigners such as St Moritz, Emerald Commander and Penitent all holding some sort of chance. Each of the consistent trio has scored at this level or higher before.

St Moritz, representing the father-son partnership of Dandy and Adrian Nicholls, may be the most interesting of that lot. He has already won three times this term and recorded a career-best second in a Group Three at Epsom on his latest outing in June.

While the form of that race has held up well, it also suggests that St Moritz could struggle to concede 4lbs to Cityscape here. On a line through Fanunalter and Rio De La Plata, first and third at Epsom, Cityscape is going to be very hard to beat.

Roger Charlton’s charge closed out 2010 with wins in Listed and Group Three company, latterly accounting for Penitent with minimum fuss.

When the Selkirk five-year-old reappeared, he recorded a fine second to Dick Turpin — which also beat Fanunalter at Ascot recently — at Sandown in April.

Following that, only Canford Cliffs and Goldikova finished ahead of Cityscape when he tackled the Group One Queen Anne Stakes at the royal meeting, with Rio De La Plata well held in fourth. That is by some way the best form on offer here.

Further south at Ascot, Indian Mist appeals as a likely winner in the one-mile maiden for fillies. Many of the big stables are represented in this, with John Gosden’s nicely bred Oasis Dream newcomer Interaction one to watch in the market.

Nonetheless, of those that have run, Indian Mist appeals most.

Roger Varian‘s daughter of Cape Cross made her debut at Windsor a month ago, breaking slowly before eventually finishing fifth.

She should improve for the experience and, with the third home since winning easily, the form reads well.

Irish Independent