Friday 22 June 2018 12:42, UK
Keith Hamer expects Luca Cumani to be among the winners at Pontefract and has a tip for every race in the UK and Ireland.
Alwaysandforever can live in the memory of punters for a while by maintaining her progress with victory in the totesport.com Pontefract Castle Fillies Stakes at the West Yorkshire track.
The four-year-old has just had the four starts but her trainer Luca Cumani is not one for rushing his horses and his patience can be rewarded with a Listed success.
Alwaysandforever showed great promise on her debut when second to Coronet, who now has a pair of Group Two triumphs to her name, on her sole start as a juvenile.
She duly disposed of her only rival by 14 lengths on her one start as a three-year-old and thankfully has been more active in 2018 with two runs under her belt in May.
Third on her return, Alwaysandforever had no trouble winning a three-horse affair by nine lengths at Windsor.
That may not sound like the ideal preparation for a Listed contest but those two races will have sharpened her up and she is sure to ready to step up to the plate.
Excellent Times can gain her just reward in the totepool Cashback Club At totesport.com Fillies' Handicap after two fine efforts in defeat recently.
Tim Easterby's three-year-old has had the misfortune to come up against two rapidly-improving types in Clubbable and Sandra's Secret on her last two starts, but came out of both races with tremendous credit. Her turn can come in this six-furlong heat.
Becky The Thatcher can continue her fine start in her quest to claim the Pontefract Stayers' Championship.
After going down by a head to Wemyss Point in April, the Micky Hammond-trained mare won in good style at Carlisle before scoring back at Pontefract earlier this month when she defeated Graceful Lady by half a length.
Becky The Thatcher is 15lb higher than she was in the spring but she is clearly going the right way and relishes the stamina test this course provides in the two-and-quarter-mile Bet totetrifecta At totesport.com Pontefract Cup Handicap.
Ever So Much won cosily over Hexham's two and a half miles four weeks ago can repeat the trick back in Northumberland when he runs in the Campbell & Rowley For Corporate Events Handicap Chase.
Leapaway ran his best race to date when third at Uttoxeter a month ago and can back that up with a first career success in the Bet toteswinger At totesport.com Handicap Hurdle at Worcester for trainer Philip Hobbs.
Selections:
GOWRAN PARK: 2.05 Smart Flies, 2.35 Natty Dresser, 3.05 That Is The Spirit, 3.35 Texas Radio, 4.05 Curly, 4.35 Dance Emperor, 5.05 Chiara Luna.
HEXHAM: 1.50 Russian Royale, 2.20 Caius Marcius, 2.50 Lovely Schtuff, 3.20 Chu Chu Percy, 3.50 Big Time Dancer, 4.20 Ever So Much, 4.50 Onelasthand.
PONTEFRACT: 2.00 Heavenly Bliss, 2.30 Beauvais, 3.00 Rainbow Rebel, 3.30 ALWAYSANDFOREVER (NAP), 4.00 Becky The Thatcher, 4.30 Excellent Times, 5.00 Mishaal.
WORCESTER: 2.10 Overtoujay, 2.40 Newton Geronimo, 3.10 Destiny's Gold, 3.40 Cool Sky, 4.10 Leapaway, 4.40 Scotsbrook Night, 5.10 Spader, 5.40 Inessa.
DOUBLE: Alwaysandforever and Becky The Thatcher.
