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'This looks the obvious race for him' - James Evans hoping for a Dream result

Ghathanfar: live contender for Tracy Waggott
Ghathanfar: live contender for Tracy WaggottCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Sunday: Pontefract 6.45
Sky Bet Sunday Series Sprint Handicap | Class 3 | 6f | 3yo+ | ITV4/RTV

After spending the week on a stiff track which favours hold-up horses on Ascot's straight course, on Sunday racing attention switches to an even stiffer course with a pronounced front-runner bias.

Runners climb about 75ft over the course of six furlongs at Pontefract, making it one of the stiffest tracks in the country. A sweeping bend, which finishes less than two furlongs from the line, is often cited as the main reason why those off the pace struggle to make an impact.

With three and a half furlongs to run before that bend, you might expect the effect of the draw to be minimal, but that is inaccurate. Low draws are favoured, possibly because of the climb. Those drawn wide have ample time to get across, but it costs them plenty of energy to do so on the incline.

There is a significant amount of pace in the lower-numbered stalls in this 17-runner race. Aberama Gold and Ghathanfar, in three and four respectively, would be the most obvious.

The latter's better recent form figures have been achieved in lower-grade races, while Aberama Gold has been showing up reasonably well in higher grades.

He was fifth in two Class 2s at York before his last run, when he was a close third in a competitive-looking race at Doncaster on Oaks day. The two who finished in front of him have both run modestly since, albeit with some excuses. Runner-up Recall The Show runs here, although he has just about the worst of the draw in stall 16.

Just either side of those two pacesetters are Corinthia Knight and Il Bandito, two of the most interesting from a form perspective. Corinthia Knight won a lesser race over course and distance 13 days ago.

He has the assistance of hot new jockey Harry Davies, while Il Bandito is handled by trainer-of-the-moment James Horton.

The horse has been in great form over slightly further and if able to hold a position dropped back to sprinting, he has as good a chance as any from stall six.
Race analysis by Keith Melrose

What they say

Karl Burke, trainer of Eilean Dubh
We've no choice but to go for this, we're on a £100,000 bonus for three wins in the [Sky Bet Sunday] series, but the powers that be who drew up the races have made a cock up and consequently there's no [mile] race for horses rated over 85. A horse that goes and wins a couple of races is out of the handicap for the last couple of meetings. He's not a slow horse but six furlongs on quick ground is going to be hard – the draw is the final nail in the coffin.

James Evans, trainer of Dream Composer
He's in good form and he won this time last season. He's on the upgrade, he likes Pontefract, and this looks the obvious race for him. He'll need a personal best, but hopefully there's still a little left in the tank and we've got a workable draw.

Tracy Waggott, trainer of Ghathanfar
He's really fresh and well after his run the other day. He's got a good draw this time – he's had a string of bad ones – and he's run a couple of good races at Pontefract. He's got a good chance.
Reporting by James Stevens


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