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)
