You could barely wish for a better template for a handicap debutant than Stomp, who runs in the six-furlong nursery at 14:40. With the sort of pedigree you'd expect of one owned by the Rothschilds, Stomp has got better by the run in maidens, finishing third at Newbury during the Mill Reef meeting last time. He still looked to be lacking for experience that day, taking time to respond to pressure and considerately handled once his chance of winning had gone. If the penny has dropped in time for this first outing in handicaps, expect Stomp to take a significant step to living out his good pedigree.
We turn our attentions quickly to the 15:10, a mile handicap for three-year-olds. After seven starts in handicaps, you might be expecting African Oil to be nearing his peak, but his run at Haydock last time would suggest otherwise. Held up in a race that appeared to suit those ridden more handily, African Oil was making up ground hand over fist come the finish but ultimately fell short by a length. Ingleby Angel, the winner that day, has since followed up. This race wouldn't be as strong, so expect African Oil to be right there again. So long as luck doesn't work against him again, it's expected that he'll win.
We're sticking with the three-year-olds for our final selection in the 12-furlong handicap at 16:40. Hurry Home Poppa is the selection, based chiefly on potential. He made his return from the best part of nine months off at Beverley a month ago, finishing well to take third. That in itself makes him of some interest switched to handicaps now with a run under his belt, but it's his breeding that really catches the eye. Hurry Home Poppa is bred to be useful over this new trip: he's a brother to Ribblesdale winner Banimpire, while his dam is out of a close relative to Arc winner Carnegie. At current odds of around 9.08/1, it's well worth chancing Hurry Home Poppa building on his reappearance.
Timeform UK SmartPlays
All at Pontefract
Back Stomp @ 4.216/5 in the 14:40
Back African Oil @ 3.953/1 in the 15:10
Back Hurry Hone Poppa @ 9.08/1 in the 16:40
