3.50 Pontefract: the one race you cannot afford to miss on Monday

3.50 Pontefractebfstallions.com Silver Tankard Stakes (Listed) | 1m | 2yo | RTV

Why is it interesting?

The inaugural running of this Listed contest took place in 1993 and it has thrown up a number of above-average and progressive youngsters over the years.

Although last season's winner Manuela De Vega has failed to get her head in front this term, she finished a meritorious fourth in the Oaks and was far from disgraced when placed in Group events at Goodwood over the summer months.

Her trainer Ralph Beckett is represented by Wyclif this time around and he certainly knows what it takes to land this contest as he also sent My Gift on the long haul from his Hampshire base to West Yorkshire to land the spoils in 2015.

Another southern-based trainer boasting previous successes in the race is Mick Channon, who is represented by recent Windsor soft-ground victor Sir Arthur Dayne.

Channon has celebrated winning this contest four times in the past with Worthily (2000), Sweet Lilly (2006), Siberian Tiger (2007) and Gallic Star (2009).

What do the stats say?

Favourites don't have a great record in the race over the past ten runnings, with just three market leaders obliging in that time – My Gift (2015), D'Bai (2016) and Manuela De Vega (2018) – along with co-favourite Prince Gagarin taking the spoils in 2014.

Consequently, the race is not averse to throwing up a few surprises, with 20-1 chance Lady Heidi scoring in 2013 and Zenella, who was sent off at 10-1, doing the business in 2010.

Honours are almost even between the colts and fillies over the same period with the boys leading six-four, and they look likely to enhance that lead as there is just one filly running this year – the Mark Johnston-trained Freyja, who goes in search of a hat-trick.

What do the trainers say?

Charlie Fellowes, trainer of King Carney
He's improved with every run and won nicely at Nottingham on soft ground. As he likes those conditions we thought we would try to make the most of them while they are around. He has a little bit to find on ratings but I think the stiff nature of the Pontefract course will suit him.

Ralph Beckett, trainer of Wyclif
He won on softish going on his debut at Doncaster so I think the ground conditions might well be in his favour, as will the step up to a mile for the first time. He has been in very good shape at home recently and I'm optimistic of another good run.

Mark Johnston, trainer of Freyja
She’s very well. I think she is still unexposed – this will be only her fourth outing – and hopefully she remains progressive. It would be nice to get a bit of black type next to her name before the season ends.

What do our tipsters say?

An interesting race that features some improving sorts who won't mind if the ground stays on the soft side. He's A Keeper brings Listed form and he gets the vote over King Carney, who should build on his Nottingham win. Dual heavy-ground winner Grand Rock would be more appealing if the going is at the extreme end of the spectrum. Wyclif is hard to dismiss but Sir Arthur Dayne and Freyja are potentially vulnerable.
Steve Boow

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