SIX STRINGS is fancied to call the tune in the Volkswagen Van Centre Leeds Optional Claiming Handicap (6.00) at Pontefract this evening.
Faye McManoman’s mount has been the very model of consistency this season - since scoring at Catterick Bridge and Wetherby in May, the Grant Tuer trainee has made the frame in all bar one of his seven subsequent starts.
Last time out, Six Strings took second, beaten a length and three-quarters, behind Challet over a mile at Ripon.
That performance came from a British Horseracing Authority rating of 77 but today’s conditions allow the son of Requinto to compete from a mark of 74, and Six Strings can take advantage.
Later at the West Yorkshire track, VENTURA EXPRESS is the one to beat in the Engagement Of Adrian And Julia Handicap (7.30).
The key to the Paul Midgley four-year-old’s chance is the return to Pontefract, a course where he has two victories and a second to show from four visits.
In the middle of last month, Kevin Stott’s mount ran a one-length second Mark’s Choice at Ripon.
The winner is himself a specialist at Yorkshire’s ‘Garden Racecourse’, but the earthier surrounds of Pontefract are more to Ventura’s Express’s tastes, and a third success at the venue beckons.
Friday tips
1.10 FAIRMAC
1.45 INVASIVE
2.20 MITROSONFIRE
2.55 SOUND OF IONA
3.30 THEBEAUTIFULGAME
4.00 TADREEB
4.30 SOCIALLY SHADY
1.20 CAPTAIN’S BAR
1.55 SAGA
2.30 ARAFI
3.05 LOVE IS GOLDEN
3.40 GIFTED RULER
4.10 LOUIE DE PALMA
4.45 NORTHERN EXPRESS
5.00 RUNSHAW LANE
5.30 CHELSEA ANNIE
6.00 SIX STRINGS (NAP)
6.30 BOOKMARK
7.00 MOTAWAAZY
7.30 VENTURA EXPRESS (NB)
1.00 ARCHIVE
1.35 GLOBAL ART
2.10 BASHKIROVA
2.45 TRUELY ACLAIMED
3.20 BRAZEN BOLT
3.50 MUTAABEQ
4.20 TATSUMAKI
4.55 TWILIGHT SECRET
5.45 PAVLODAR
6.15 RAISE THE ROOF
6.45 ALTRAIF
7.15 JUMBLY
7.45 LOCKDOWN LATCHICO
8.15 MAFIA POWER
8.45 AL KOUT
