Ladys First (orange sleeves) finds only Duntle too good at Royal Ascot

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)  

THE Listed Weatherbys VAT Services Pipalong Stakes at Pontefract on Tuesday is usually marked for export from Yorkshire with Newmarket trainers often successful, but in this tenth running there is a strong home hope.

Step forward Ladys First, who added a second at Royal Ascot with only Duntle able to reel her in at the end of the Duke of Cambridge, a year after she was third in the Sandringham.

Her trainer Richard Fahey has gone close with Flying Clarets, second in 2008, but the only Yorkshire success came in 2010, when Off Chance won for Tim Easterby.

Fahey said: “She looks the one to beat and she deserves to win another Listed race; she is so tough and genuine. The camber beat her at Epsom.”

In the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom last month, Gifted Girl (second) got the verdict over both Ladys First (third) and Ultrasonic (fifth) but on today’s more conventional stamina-testing track beaten connections will be hoping for a formbook shuffle.

Paul Cole, trainer of Gifted Girl, said: “I am a bit nervous about the ground for her as she is a big filly and doesn’t want it too firm. She didn’t handle Epsom last time but Pontefract will be fine and she looks to have Ladys First to beat.”

Today’s key stats
Refuse To Bend has a 26 per cent strike-rate (+£40.40) in handicaps at Southwell, so his only runner on the card, Reconsider Baby, who has never been tried on Fibresand previously, makes appeal in the 7.05

Dr Richard Newland has hit the target with 36 per cent of his hurdlers at Uttoxeter in the past three seasons, so the in-form handler’s Renegotiate is worth a second look in the 6.45.

Saeed Bin Suroor has had three winners from five runners in maidens at Pontefract (60 per cent) since 2010, and he introduces Manduro’s brother Mansoreen in the 5.00.

Key stats courtesy of Raceform Interactive

Today’s going
Pontefract Good to firm, good in places
Roscommon Hood to firm (watering)
Southwell Standard
Uttoxeter Good, good to firm in places (watering)
Wolverhampton Standard

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