July 30 / 14.50 Pontefract

14.50

Good To Soft

Sky Bet Pomfret Stakes (Listed Race)

  • Prize money: £28010
  • 1m 0f 6y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
Sky Bet Pomfret Stakes (Listed Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.25
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 1-2402 CD BF

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Excellent second in Group 3 at Newmarket (1m1f, good to soft) on reappearance and creditable fourth in Group 2 at Chester (extended 1m2f, soft); no show at Royal Ascot but he was back to form in four-runner Listed race at Sandown (1m2f, good) last time; big shout on those best efforts, albeit with return to 1m (even this stiff 1m) asking a question.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(8)

4th Dec 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

19:10 Kempton (AW)

Poker Face

9st 6lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

in rear

9/2

1st

4

(8)

4th Dec 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

19:10 Kempton (AW)

Poker Face

9st 6lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

in rear

9/2

12th

5

(7)

19th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:15 Ascot

Poker Face

9st 6lb

J: James Doyle

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Won a Group 3 and Group 2 in France last season (1m, soft/good to soft); this prominent-racer has run well in defeat in 1m Group 2 races on his last three starts (soft/good) but needs something extra today.

66/1

13/2

  • Place: £3.00

Form: 51-207

Last run: 36 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Won Newcastle novice (7f, AW) last November and reappeared with close Listed second there (1m, AW); down the field on soft ground in the 2,000 Guineas but he was prominent long way when beaten just over 3l in the Jersey at Royal Ascot (7f, good to firm); something to prove on this ground but a strong suspicion remains that he can still step up to play a leading role at this level at some stage this season.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

6

(2)

2nd May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 218y

Class 2

14:40 Thirsk

Flight Plan

9st 3lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Failed to build on a decent fourth at Lingfield (1m2f) in February when behind Blue Rc at Newcastle (1m) on Good Friday but the fact he made all in this race off 8lb lower last year means a revival can't be discounted, particularly as he's well drawn to attack again; tongue-tied first time.

13/2

8th

9

(5)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 2

15:00 Newcastle (AW)

Flight Plan

8st 13lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Quiet in Dubai in January but he returned to Britain with a good fourth at Lingfield (1m2f) five weeks ago; now 6lb lower than when winning the Thirsk Hunt Cup last May and he has the ability to feature.

25/1

4th

4

(5)

27th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 2

16:20 Lingfield (AW)

Flight Plan

9st 5lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Often front runs; below par in three outings at Meydan last month (including dirt) but well treated if a return to Britain sparks a revival having landed last year's Thirsk Hunt Cup off 6lb higher; Tapeta winner at the start of his career.

16/1

4/1

Form: 58-339 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish; solid start for new stable when third in 1m1f Group 3 at Newmarket and 1m Listed race at Ascot this spring; below form at Royal Ascot but no surprise if he bounces straight back; wore cheekpieces on penultimate start (they return today) and blinkers on latest; no ground worries; has the form to stage a bold show.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

18th

5

(14)

16th Mar 2025

Soft

1m 0f 0y

15:45 Curragh

Raadobarg

9st 6lb

J: David Egan

T: Raphael E Freire

Winner of this race for Johnny Murtagh, third of 19 last season when trained by George Boughey; generally disappointing since and the most recent of his five wins was for Murtagh in a 7f conditions race at Tipperary in April 2022; change of stable for 2025 campaign.

8/1

6th

2

(7)

28th Sep 2024

Soft

1m 0f 37y

Class 2

13:30 Haydock

Raadobarg

10st 0lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: George Boughey

Well handicapped on his third on heavy ground at the Curragh (1m) in March but he's been generally disappointing since and was only tenth of 14 at Doncaster two weeks ago; new headgear is now tried but his last win was in 2022 and others are more convincing.

7/1

10th

4

(15)

14th Sep 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:25 Doncaster

Raadobarg

9st 6lb

J: David Egan

T: George Boughey

Finished third in this race in 2021 and filled the same position at Ascot last time; not guaranteed to repeat the form, having been inconsistent this year, and his long losing run is another negative.

10/1

Form: 025133

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Career best when winning the Buckingham Palace Handicap at Royal Ascot (7f, good to firm), coming from well off the pace to score cosily; 6f seemed too sharp in Group 3 next time and he kept hanging in Listed race at Chester (7f, soft) latest, but he still looks in form; player on that and the big question is over 1m, as sole attempt came when tailed off on heavy in the Lincoln this April, which is not a conclusive guide.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

4

(14)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:00 Newbury

Witch Hunter

9st 9lb

J: Tyrese Cameron

T: Richard Hannon

His only turf wins came in a Royal Ascot handicap and Newbury Group 3, but they were in 2023 and he needs the cards to drop right for his late bids; scored on AW in January but subsequent form, including when 40-1 in the Victoria Cup last Saturday, isn't good enough.

40/1

20th

1

(9)

9th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

14:20 Ascot

Witch Hunter

9st 12lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

Very useful but rather needs the cards to drop right and gained his only turf wins, namely in Royal Ascot handicap and Newbury Group 3, in 2023; peak AW form this year when scoring in January; finished seventh (off 4lb higher) in this contest 12 months ago.

25/1

Form: 71-513 D BF

Last run: 78 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Further step forward this year when impressive in 1m handicap at Leicester (soft) in April; on the strength of that he was favourite for Listed race at Haydock (7f, good to soft) and ran respectably in third, outgunned in the closing stages (also lost a shoe); return to peak level would make him a serious contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

2

(5)

2nd May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 218y

Class 2

14:40 Thirsk

Al Mubhir

9st 11lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Kevin Ryan

Smart at his best for William Haggas, winning a Listed race at Sandown (1m2f, good) in July 2024; campaigned solely in Australia in 2025 and well beaten on his last two starts; potentially well handicapped back in Britain for a new yard after wind surgery, but he carries obvious risks.

16/1

16/1

Form: 1712-6 D BF

Last run: 198 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Career-best form over about 1m on AW last winter, before a flop in January when last seen; refused to enter stalls on latest intended start; eight of his nine turf races were on good to firm, the other on good; bit to find on best AW form and rather more on turf form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

(4)

23rd Oct 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

19:40 Kempton (AW)

Excel Power

9st 8lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Archie Watson

prominent

14/1

8th

2

(7)

20th Jul 2024

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:30 Ripon

Excel Power

9st 10lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Archie Watson

Not won on turf since Windsor success in May 2022 (1m, good to firm); has won on AW since; back on a good mark, fair fourth at Windsor last time (1m, good to firm) so could go well.

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.30
Straight Forecast £9.84
Trifecta £25.90

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Poker Face

NEWMARKET:

Al Mubhir

TOPSPEED:

Witch Hunter

SPOTLIGHT:

Flight Plan

D Express:

Raadobarg

POSTDATA:

Poker Face

The Times:

Poker Face

Telegraph:

Poker Face

Daily Record:

Poker Face

The Sun:

Al Mubhir

The Star:

Al Mubhir

Daily Mirror:

Witch Hunter