Horse Racing Tips: Ventura is an ‘Ace’ at Ponte

There are two meetings of racing action taking place this Sunday afternoon, both in the UK with Galway’s festival getting under way on Monday.

Uttoxeter’s bumper eight-race offering kicks off the action at 13:37 over the jumps before a seven-race card on the flat at Pontefract gets under way from 13:55. Among our Sunday horse racing tips is one for trainer Paul Midgley who will be looking to add to his course and distance win tally.

14:37 Uttoxeter - Leloopa @ 6/1

Leloopa showed remarkable improvement last season. After an uninspiring bumper campaign in Ireland she was sold and sent to Fergal O’Brien’s yard. Her first start over hurdles came in August last year and while she finished a distant fourth, she showed some promise and looked certain to improve for the run.

And she duly delivered as she claimed a narrow second place at Newton Abbot next time before rattling off back-to-back wins at Hereford and Huntingdon.

A switch to handicaps in the new year seemed to be a struggle following a break but she came storming back last time out to record what can be considered a personal best when winning a Class 2 handicap at Kelso.

Leloopa has demonstrated plenty of stamina which will be of benefit as she will have to defy top weight, but the ground looks set to suit and she can assert her authority, despite a penalty with the drop in class.

14:55 Pontefract - Cicero’s Gift @ 6/1

The early promise Cicero’s Gift showed when winning four of his first five races has been much more elusive in recent times, having struggled to make an impact when being campaigned in various Group races.

A breathing and gelding operation over the winter looked to have the desired effect when he made his reappearance this season as he finished a respectable third in a Group 2 at Sandown, just three lengths off the classy Dancing Gemini.

He was then upped in trip last time out for the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard and while he ran well, making reasonable headway heading to the business end of the race, he seemed to not see the trip out and faded in the closing stages.

And while the five-year-old may ideally want a bit more cut in the ground, Cicero’s Gift has a good opportunity to bounce back, running at his optimal trip and dropping in class.

16:25 Pontefract - Ventura Express @ 7/4

A four-time course and distance winner at Pontefract, Ventura Express has had a bit of an up and down season.

Two decent runs on the all-weather over the winter break highlighted that he retains all of his ability, although his reappearance on turf this season was a little disappointing, even if there was a shade of misfortune about the run when he was hampered and lost momentum.

That seemed to stall his progress over his next couple of runs but he has tumbled down the weights as a consequence and that has worked in his favour as he looked back to his best last time out at Beverley.

Despite not finding much room early on when back in a Class 4, Ventura Express showed a good turn of pace after switching out and kept on well to take second.

Paul Midgley’s eight-year-old looks to be on a good mark for today's task and should go well again back at his favourite stomping ground.

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