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With only two meetings in the UK and Ireland on Sunday, our attention turns to Pontefract for our three selections…
The first selection comes from the 5f Class 4 British EBF Ruby Anniversary Maiden Fillies' Stakes (1:45). Chumbaahas been kept busy by joint-trainers Roger Fell and Sean Murray, racing nine times since the start of April. She always gives her best, finishing in the placings on six occasions including a second at Carlislracinge over five furlongs at the end of June when cheekpieces were applied for the first time. The filly produced another good effort in the same headgear subsequently when beaten one length into third at Musselburgh, only losing her winning position in the closing stages after taking the lead from the furlong marker.
It seems only a matter of time before this daughter of Belardo can get her head in front, and the vast experience compared to rivals should play to her advantage.
SELECTION – CHUMBAA (4/1)
Witch Hunter appears under-rated in the 1m Listed Comfrey Stakes (14:50) on the same card, available at 5/1 against favourite Poker Face. Although there may be concerns about the softening ground and a longer trip, the four-year-old is unexposed in those conditions and the price is long enough to take a risk. His only previous run at a mile came when finishing down the field in the Lincoln at the start of the season and the gelding has recorded a victory in the seven furlong Buckingham Palace Stakes Handicap at Royal Ascot since.
He out-ran all expectations when third in the 7f Listed City Plate Stakes at Chester last start, an effort which can probably be upgraded as he hung right-handed throughout. Witch Hunter has been a reliable servant for the Richard Hannon yard this season and another big performance is expected.
SELECTION – WITCH HUNTER (5/1)
In the 1m Class 5 Northern Commercials Iveco 'S' Way Maiden Stakes (4:00), Dubawi Warrior has the potential to run well for the William Haggas team who are currently operating at a 24% strike rate (9-38) from the last fourteen days. The Dubawi colt has made little impression in either of his two starts and would not be an obvious candidate for the win if it wasn't for his breeding. Out of Group 3 Darley Stakes and multiple Listed winner Muffri-Ha, Dubawi Warrior is a half-brother to Listed Spring Trophy third Al Mubhir, who races in the 2:50 on the same card.
His two runs have possibly come over the wrong distances (7f and 1m3f), with both dam and half-brother producing their best work over a mile. Haggas has been able to find a fairly weak maiden for the three-year-old colt and the softer ground conditions may eke out some improvement.
SELECTION – DUBAWI WARRIOR (11/4)