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‘Practical’ Patent, Friday, July 15

‘Practical’ Patent, Friday, July 15  Three cracks of the whip served us pretty well the last time we tried one of these, so here goes again.

In the 7.20 at Newmarket on Friday, Monsieur Joe has continued in excellent form since winning a similar race at Hamilton three starts ago and can return to the winners’ enclosure. His second of 12, beaten a head, behind Brando in the Coral Charge at Sandown on his penultimate start was a particularly valiant effort and a reproduction on that form should be good enough.

In the 7.30 at Pontefract, Final Venture has been raised 2lb for his 1-length defeat in the King Richard III over 6 furlongs on the West Yorkshire course 10 days ago, but was clear with two furlongs to run and only succumbed close home, so dropping back to the minimum trip appears in his favour. So, too, does the return to good to firm going and he can regain the winning thread.

In the 9.05 at Pontefract, Laila Honiwillow has improved steadily this season and can complete a hat-trick. The form of her most recent win, at Doncaster three weeks ago, has been franked by the runner-up, Portland Street, and she’s fully effective on the prevailing good to firm going, so she must have a decent chance of defying a 6lb penalty.

Selections: Newmarket 7.20 Monsieur Joe, Pontefract 7.30 Final Venture, Pontefract 9.05 Laila Honiwillow (1-point Win Patent)

‘Deadly’ Double, Tuesday, July 5

‘Deadly’ Double, Tuesday, July 5  In the 3.10 at Pontefract on Tuesday, Black Cherry has failed to add to her winning tally since stretching away to win a 0-85 handicap at Sandown last summer, but has proved a reliable performer at Listed and Pattern level and deserves a change of luck. Her latest seventh of 14, beaten 4¾ lengths, behind Usherette in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot was another solid effort and the return to faster underfoot conditions should do her chances no harm.

In the 4.10 at Pontefract, Trainnah has run two promising races, over an extended mile on her debut at Nottingham in May and one over 1 mile 2 furlongs at Salisbury last month, and can put that experience to good use. She’s bred to be suited by middle distances and trainer William Haggas has 33% strike rate with her age group at the course over the last five seasons, so it’ll be disappointing if she can’t get off the mark at the third time of asking.

Selections: Pontefract 3.10 Black Cherry, Pontefract 4.10 Trainnah, 1-point Win Double

‘Deadly’ Double, Thursday, June 30

‘Deadly’ Double, Thursday, June 30  In the 2.30 at Haydock on Thursday, Miss Infinity can initiate a double for Mark Johnston and Joe Fanning. The Middleham Moor trainer has already had 38 juvenile winners this season, at a strike rate of 26%, and Miss Infinity made all to win convincingly at Ayr 12 days ago. She carries a 6lb penalty for that success and, as a daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar, slower underfoot conditions are a slight worry, but she was only beaten 2 lengths by a subsequent Listed winner over course and distance on her racecourse debut earlier this month and looks a smart prospect.

In the 4.30 at Haydock, Regal Monarch steps up in class and distance, but won with any amount in hand over 1 mile 5 furlongs, on soft going, on the July Course at Newmarket last week and looks well treated under a 6lb penalty. The Notnowcato gelding has made excellent progress this season, winning three of his five starts and officially improving by 2l1b already, but may not have finished yet. Two of his three wins have come on soft going, so any rain in the North West shouldn’t do his chances any harm.

Selections: Haydock 2.30 Miss Infinity, Haydock 4.30 Regal Monarch, 1-point Win Double