The feature on today's card at Pontefract is a competitive six-furlong handicap but Clockmaker (15:15) makes plenty of appeal running over the trip for only the second time in his 22-race career. A three-time winner at up to a mile, Tim Easterby's six-year-old was better than ever in five all-weather outings over the winter and can be forgiven his disappointing Lincoln effort as he lost his place after halfway and is better on soft ground. Today's going combined with the stiff finish looks sure to play to Clockmaker's strengths and he's a viable outside bet having been dropped 4 lb for that latest Doncaster effort.
Robert Eddery made a bright start to his training career last year, saddling three winners in succession in September, and the last of those, Rafaaf (17:55), looks interesting on his return at Windsor this evening. Rafaaf had two next-time-out winners well beaten when successfully dropping to five furlongs in a handicap at Sandown and matched that performance when third over the same trip at Nottingham (subsequent winner in fifth) in October, two efforts that suggest he's favourably handicapped off a BHA rating of 73. Granted he's back at six furlongs, flopped on his only previous try on soft ground and returns from a six-month break, but Rafaaf is one of the least exposed in the 16-runner field and the early market indications suggest he's primed for a big run.
A skinny price he may be but it would be a big disappointment if Causing Choas (19:15) failed to justify favouritism in the three-mile handicap chase at Ffos Las this evening. A winner on just his second chase start when scoring at Folkestone (25f) in January, Causing Chaos improved on that form when finding only Trigger The Light half a length too good in a 29f Warwick handicap, arguably unfortunate not to have won after a mistake at the last let the winner back in. The drop to three miles is a slight concern for a horse who looks an out-and-out stayer but chase debutant Spirit of Barbados is likely to take the field along at a fair gallop and Causing Chaos can close home for a yard who saddled a winner yesterday.
Timeform SmartPlays
Back Clockmaker @ 16.531/2 win and @ 3.953/1 for a place in the 15:15 at Pontefract
Back Rafaaf @ 8.27/1 in the 17:55 at Windsor
Back Causing Chaos @ 2.8615/8 in the 19:15 at Ffos Las
