Horse Racing Tips: Shayem could have too much class at Pontefract

There’s an even split between the Flat and jumps in the afternoon on Monday as there are two fixtures apiece on the schedule. Gowran gets us underway at 13:49, with Bath, Pontefract and Plumpton to follow swiftly after. The evening entertainment is provided by Wolverhampton’s eight-race all-weather card.

We have three strong fancies to follow and they include a Karl Burke-trained juvenile, who has some excellent form in the book and should prove hard to beat in Pontefract’s feature.

15:03 Pontefract - Shayem @ 4/7

Pontefract’s feature race is the Listed Silver Tankard Stakes and Karl Burke’s SHAYEM is the standout candidate in the five-runner field.

The thrice-raced son of King Of Change showed a good attitude to win by a neck on debut at Haydock in August. That form has been boosted a couple of times, as the third and fourth have both won since.

Keeping on well to finish third in a Listed contest over a mile after that, he bumped into the subsequent Royal Lodge winner that day and lost little in defeat.

Burke’s colt returned to winning ways with a smart performance at Epsom and earned himself a free entry for the Derby in the process.

A return to this grade was inevitable and the two-year-old has been presented with an excellent opportunity.

It’s hard to envisage defeat in this company as he brings the best form to the table, and further progress can’t be ruled out either.

15:40 Plumpton - Alien Storm @ 2/1

ALIEN STORM loves it at Plumpton with all three of his career successes having come at that track. The most recent of those wins came off this very mark in December and three of his four rivals have won at least once since.

Charlie Longsdon’s seven-year-old made a solid start to the season at Fontwell last month, where he finished second by less than a length, and you would imagine he’s entitled to step forward for the run.

It’s noted that the handicapper has left his mark alone and that leaves him with a nice opportunity to go one better this time around.

Trainer Charlie Longsdon is operating at a very healthy strike-rate in the last couple of weeks and was 4-6 at the track last season.

16:33 Pontefract - Whatsgoingonmarvin @ 7/2

A large field of 14 has been declared for this 1m2f handicap and it looks like a very competitive race as a result.

Sir Mark Prescott’s improving three-year-old WHATSGOINGONMARVIN could be the one to side with.

Adaptable with regards to distance, he has won three times over trips varying from 1m2f to an extended 1m6f already this season. He made an excellent start to life in handicaps when scoring over 1m5f at Ayr in July and followed up with a game success at Chester.

Prescott’s gelding returned to winning ways over this trip at Sandown last month and the front two were well clear of the rest.

A 7lb rise will make life harder but he’s one to keep on side for the time being and the handicapper may not have caught up just yet.

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