Racing tips: Urban Artist looks the safe bet in the Listed race at Pontefract

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I'm glad to see the back of the Royal Ascot meeting, as I didn't have much luck there this year. I have two selections from Pontefract for Sunday's racing, including one in the Listed race.

Pontefract 2:55

There is forecast rain for Pontefract, but they don't think it will be enough to take ‘good' out of the description, and if it remains good-to-firm or good, then I think TURANDOT has a cracking chance.

If you can overlook her most recent run at Haydock, which was on soft ground, then you'd say that she has a strong chance. She was keen during her run at Newmarket, and easily travelled the best throughout that race, but was denied a clear run and her race was over from that point. With a clear run, she would've gone very close in my opinion, and that was a big run considering the fact she was keen for at least the first half of the race. The time before, she won at Ayr, and she stayed on in strong fashion to suggest she would be better over a mile. On that day at Ayr, she beat Wootton Creek, who she re-opposes again today.

The form of the recent Haydock race has worked out extremely well, with the winner since winning at Royal Ascot, so it wasn't a disgrace to finish 6 lengths behind, as she was clearly capable of a lot more, and Turandot doesn't seem suited for soft ground, in my opinion, as she has an action of a horse who is much better on faster ground.

I think The Flying Ginger is the one to beat, but at the odds I think Turandot is the one to side with, especially if the ground doesn't deteriorate.

Pontefract 3:25

In the race of the meeting, URBAN ARTIST must be going very close if producing the same level of form in which she has shown on her last couple of starts.

Though this is a Listed race, and horses in this kind of race can spring a surprise, I think a lot of them need to answer questions, whereas Urban Artist has been consistent. The ground is an unknown for Urban Artist, as her wins have come on soft ground, however she has a pedigree which should mean that she should handle faster ground.

She arguably has the best recent form, with the 2nd behind Tribal Craft being a good form line with horses like Makawee & Mighty Blue in behind who are good operators at Listed level. That was over 14f, and you'd have to say that her efforts petered out in the last couple of furlongs, which is why the drop back to 12f on a stiff track could suit.

The Irish raider will attract attention, but based on the bare form, she'll have to improve to win this. If I was to say I'm worried about an improver, it would be Golden Pass.

Tom Marquand is a good jockey booking, not only because he is one of the best in the country, but also the fact he's ridden her before, so he knows how to ride her. There's no guarantee that she'll be able to dictate this race, but if Tom can't get the lead, she should be able to sit in a handy position, so she should be able to get a clear passage.

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