Pontefract host an exciting card on Tuesday, including the Listed Pipalong Stakes, which has attracted nine runners in a strong field.
Purplepay heads the market as a short-priced favourite for the 1m Listed Pipalong Stakes (3:20), returning to a UK racetrack for the first time since October. She travelled to Australia for two runs in Group 1 company facing superior quality and better-bred rivals and disappointed on both occasions, including when first-time blinkers were applied in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes at Randwick. Trained in France during her juvenile year, Purplepay was switched to the William Haggas yard at the start of 2022 and produced a fair effort when sixth in the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas before winning the Group 2 Prix de Sandringham over a mile at Chantilly. She disappointed on her three remaining starts as a three-year-old when racing over distances away from her preferred mile. Expectations are high for the Zarak filly returning to conditions that suit and considerably easier competition than she faced in Australia.
Roger Varian's Zenga appeals as a possible alternative, having her second start since wind surgery last October. She returned in the Kensington Palace Fillies' Handicap at Royal Ascot with a promising effort, finishing two lengths behind Villanova Queen when seventh despite struggling for room when making her bid two furlongs out. That was only her second run over a mile, and it will be interesting to see the four-year-old filly on her first attempt in Listed company.
WIN: ZENGA
There are plenty of horses with chances in the 1m2f Class 5 Music Night & Beer Festival 21st July Maiden Stakes (2:45). William Haggas and Tom Marquand team up with the Cheveley Park Stud-owned Star Ahoy, who tries ten furlongs for the first time. The three-year-old colt tried to make all when weakening in the closing stages of a good Newmarket novice stakes in mid-May over a mile. He boasts an enviable pedigree as a full-brother to two-time Group 2 Summer Mile winner Mutakayyef and could be interesting if appreciating this additional stamina test.
Jumeirah King makes his UK debut after being transferred to the yard of Kevin Ryan, who is in excellent form with a strike rate of 21% (6-29) from the last fourteen days. The colt placed three times from four runs in France, including when a good second in a Longchamp maiden over nine furlongs in April. He definitely stays and the gelding operation in April may have sparked further improvement from the son of Sea The Moon.
WIN: JUMEIRAH KING
Racegoers can enjoy competitive handicap action in the 6f Class 2 Iveco Daily Business Trimline At Northern Commercials Handicap (3:55) as Kitai bids for a double. The improving three-year-old from the Charlie Johnston yard drops down in trip following a two-length success in a fillies' handicap at Carlisle and was a course and distance winner as a juvenile.
The combination of first-time blinkers and a seven-pound claiming allowance could spark improvement in Aleezdancer, who has been struggling to make his presence felt in three starts since a Doncaster handicap success on seasonal reappearance. He hung left when finishing last of nine at Newcastle on his last start and it will be interesting to see if the blinkers could make a difference for the experienced gelding.
WIN: ALEEZDANCER
RACING & SPORTS SELECTIONS
RACE 1 – KANDY HOUSE
RACE 2 – JUMEIRAH KING
RACE 3 – ZENGA
RACE 4 – ALEEZDANCER
RACE 5 – SPRITZIN'
RACE 6 – HI CLARE
