3:27 Pontefract Tips

A previous winner over a mile and a quarter here so will be staying on at the end and comes here following a win over this trip on the Lingfield polytrack 18 days ago.

Rajapour looks to hold solid claims here, returning to turf off a much-reduced mark. He ended last turf season on a rating of 82 but has since dropped 8 lb to 74 following an all-weather campaign. Importantly, he showed he retains ability when winning over 1m 4f at Wolverhampton in a Class 4 handicap off 74. His latest run is best overlooked, and a short break of just over a month may have freshened him up ahead of this return to turf. Notably, he ran well fresh last season, finishing 2nd in a Class 4 handicap at York over 1 mile, beaten just ¾ length by Canvas off 82 in a 0??'85 ??' a strong piece of form in the context of this race. Earlier in his career, when trained in France, he was a three-time winner, including on both good and soft ground, and even landed a Listed race as a two-year-old, highlighting his class. Now back on turf and running off 74, he looks well treated. If returning in similar form to last season, he could prove a dangerous contender.

Mount King returns from a 158-day break, which does introduce a slight element of risk, but his profile suggests he is capable of going well fresh. Last season he showed solid form, including a 2nd in a Class 5 handicap over 1 mile off 60, beaten 1¾ lengths. He also recorded a course-and-distance win at Pontefract in a Class 5 handicap off 62 before following up with a convincing 2¾-length victory in a Class 4 over the same track and trip off 67. His final runs of the season were better than the bare results suggest. He finished 7th of 13 in a Class 2 handicap off 69, beaten just 3½ lengths in a stronger race, and then signed off with a solid 3rd at Newmarket in a Class 5 handicap off 67, beaten 2 lengths. He returns here off a mark of 68, just 1 lb above his last course-and-distance winning mark. If he is ready to go after the break, his previous form suggests he is well capable of being competitive and holds solid claims.

3 wins last year. Recent Doncaster race hopefully blew the cobwebs away, and has each-way chance at a big price.