Pontefract Racing Tip: Internationaldebut

A high quality 0-100 handicap is the feature of the Pontefract card at 3.10. There are three main protagonists in the race but each has his problems.

Hoof It is unquestionably the most exciting horse in the race. Owned by golfer Lee Westwood and his manager, the horse finished 2010 with a bang. Lightly raced, he has won five of his thirteen starts. The problem is that apart from his maiden, these were all over five furlongs. He is still young and might get the sixth furlong this season; until he does the jury is out.

Next up is Tombi. A talented sprinter, he has been unable to find the winners enclosure since 2008 and that is a worry. He was in the doldrums last season until his final race at York where he showed a bit of promise. In the winter he switched to the Geoff Harker stable and is now racing off the lowest mark since his last win. Unfortunately he has run too many clunkers in the intervening period to have any confidence in backing him.

That leaves Internationaldebut as the strongest candidate. Versatile in trip, he kicked off the season with a fine run at Doncaster. Travelling better than anything, he had the race stolen on the line as he idled in front. He can be judged an unlucky loser and gain recompense in a race where we was second last year.

*This race is a Bet365 feature race: Back any single winner at 4/1 or more on a bet365 feature race and you can have a free bet to the same stake (£50 max.) on the next bet365 feature race.