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15:15 Pontefract
A handicap for staying 3yo’s on a stiff track like Pontefract will require a significant amount of stamina. Wagga Wagga is the likely market leader on the back of his second last time out over this trip at Salisbury and also now being partnered by the William Buick. He was raised 3lb for that run and also ridden by an apprentice so today he is effectively 6lb higher. That may just find him out in the latter stages.
I gave Golden Vintage as a tip last time out and I was initially disappointed after that Ayr run, but the form of that race has been strong and I feel this filly deserves another chance. She was dropped 2lbs for that run and that looks generous now. The further step-up in trip today could see her in the places.
GOLDEN VINTAGE (E/W)
18:30 Musselburgh
A very weak 3yo only class 6 where none of the seven in this field have managed to win a race. Nazca was certainly bred to be better than this level but he only lasted two runs with the Gosden's before heading north to Linda Perratt but he is still yet to show any ability and until then he is best left alone. The highest rated of these is the Tracy Waggott trained Without Delay and she has shown a reasonable level of form of late including a second in May. However, she is now 0-8 and perhaps she will need to come down a few more pounds in the weights to get her head in front.
I will take a chance with Thakuri, who today sports the first-time cheekpieces and this filly by The Gurkha showed her first piece of notable form last time out and if the cheekpieces bring out any improvement she ought to go well from 2lbs lower in the handicap.
THAKURI (WIN) written by Michael Taylor