15:10 Pontefract
A fillies Listed race over a mile is the highlight of today's card at Pontefract and it's a really open looking contest.
Black Cherry for Richard Hannon put in a creditable effort in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2) at Ascot last time out and she should have a decent chance now dropped in grade. She has run really consistently in Listed races without getting her head in front and it has been over a year now since her last win so it is a slight worry that she doesn't quite do enough when it matters.
Clotilde has been steadily climbing the ratings this year after completing a hat trick during the spring. She ran well to finish third in her first Listed contest last time out and with further improvement she can go close here today.
James Fanshawe has two runners in this race and the one I really like is Spirit Raiser. She was well beaten last time out in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot but that was in soft conditions and today's going will be much more to her liking. Prior to that she won a good handicap at Nottingham seeing off her rivals in fine style and looking particularly strong at the finish. If she can break well from stall one and get a good position then I expect her to be right in the mix, and with the uphill finish here at Pontefract her extra stamina can really come to the fore and I think she has a great chance.
Tour de France - Stage 4
This is another very flat stage and the finish is likely to be contested by the sprinters again, assuming the breakaway doesn't stick. Mark Cavendish has won two out the three races so far and looks in fantastic form, he now has the joint second highest number of Tour de France stage wins.
Marcel Kittel has been extremely unlucky with both positioning and timing so far in the sprints and I expect him to be extremely hungry to take today's stage. As long as his team can give him a decent lead out then I think he will be very hard to stop today and we can obtain a nice price about him winning the stage.
Today's Selections
Pontefract 15:10 - Spirit Raiser - 1 point @ 4/1 (Most firms)
Tour de France stage four winner - Marcel Kittel - 1 point @ 10/1 (Ladbrokes)