Robbie Wilders' play of the day at Pontefract

Shamardal Star

4.45 Pontefract

In the three runnings of the Class 5 mile handicap (4.45) on Pontefract's Pipalong Stakes card, the horse drawn lowest has either won or finished second. I fancy Shamardal Star to become the race's third winner from the one box since 2021.

This unexposed five-year-old is getting into handicaps lightly off a mark of 69 for the shrewd Adrian Keatley. He ran to a Racing Post Rating of 77 when attempting to concede lumps of weight to several well-bred three-year-olds on his Flat debut at Doncaster in May, staying on strongly over 7f from way off the pace.

On his third run to qualify for a mark at Wetherby last month he was an eyecatcher once more. The finishing speed for that race was 108 per cent and everything involved in the finish was prominent throughout.

Shamardal Star again fared best of those who were held up when keeping on into sixth from his wide draw, and is going to be a different proposition now he encounters a mile on a stiff track like Pontefract.

Shamardal Star will surely stay further in time (began his career in bumpers last November), but this looks a good opportunity for him to kick off a winning sequence.

The inexperience of his apprentice jockey is a minor concern as Kyle McHugh is 0-23 in Britain and 1-27 in Ireland over the past five seasons, but he looked tidy enough in a hands and heels race at Yarmouth last Thursday, and hopefully the pair sit close to the pace from their good draw.