Pontefract preview: Temptress looks attractive in Listed feature contest
Published:
Temptress can take the step up into Listed company in her stride to land the 1m feature contest on today’s seven-race card at Pontefract (15.10).
The Roger Charlton trained filly has an ultra-progressive profile and comes into the contest on the back of a cracking effort in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot when an unlucky in-running neck second to GM Hopkins.
That is strong form, and prior to that race Temptress had shown a smart turn of foot on seasonal reappearance to impressively land a hot class 2 contest at Ascot.
The daughter of Shirocco won easing down by two lengths, and the third home Amazing Maria has since gone on to land the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Judged on those efforts, Temptress should have little difficulty winning races at this level and looks the type that needs keeping firmly onside.
Her handler is also in good form at present, and Temptress looks a worthy favourite to land the spoils before going on to even better things.
In the 1m handicap (16.40), Parish looks potentially well-treated and worth siding with now partnered by jockey Graham Lee for the first time.
The gelding, who is trained by the in-form Roger Varian, was not at his best last time out but had previously caught the eye when sixth of 13 to Gossiping in a warm 1m maiden at Windsor.
After racing in mid-division, Parish kept on nicely under tender handling to be beaten 7 3/4 lengths in a race which has worked out well.
The runner-up Mister Brightside has won since and is officially rated 8, and the third home Pyjama Party bolted up in a maiden at Thirsk last night off a rating of 80.
That is strong form in the context of this contest and makes Parish’s opening handicap mark of 67 look exploitable, especially if the fitting of the cheekpieces for the first time have the desired effect.
Parish also remains open to further progress after just four starts, and the booking of Lee suggests connections mean business as he has strike rate of just under 28 per cent when teaming up with the yard in the past 12 months.
Selections:
14.10: Holy Grail
14.40: The Wispe
15.10: Temptress (NAP)
15.40: Equity Risk
16.10: Alaweer
16.40: Parish (NB)
17.10: Lilian Baylis
