Pontefract preview: Mr Kite weighted to strike on handicap debut

Mr Kite can take advantage of what looks a lenient opening mark to land the 2m 2f handicap on today’s card at Pontefract (15.40).

The Mick Channon trained gelding opened his account under rules at the second time of asking when making all to score eased down by nine lengths in a 2m 1f bumper at Worcester back In June.

Mr Kite has since had three runs on the level, and after shaping well on the second of those when third over 1m 4f at Catterick caught the eye last time out when fourth of nine to Star Storm over 1m 4f maiden at Haydock.

After racing up with the pace, the four-year-old kept on nicely under tender handling to beaten just over seven lengths.

It was an effort which suggested Mr Kite was being brought along with handicaps in mind, and the winner is a rapidly improving three-year-old who has gone on to score twice since.

The last of those wins came off an official rating of 94 in a Group 3 contest at Ascot, and that suggests that Mr Kite could be potentially thrown-in at the weights of an opening mark of just 74.

Mr Kite also remains unexposed and open to stacks more improvement after just five starts, and the step up in trip looks sure to suit judged on the manner of his bumper success.

In the 1m handicap (16.15), Trinity Star can get back to winning ways now eased in grade.

The Michael Dods trained gelding was last successful in a class 5 contest over course and distance back in April when scoring by 1/2 a length off a mark of 75.

Trinity Star went on to finish a solid third of 14 tin a class 4 contest at Thirsk off 80, and has since run better than his form figures suggests in four subsequent outings in the same grade.

The four-year-old got beat just over four lengths when finishing nitnh of 11 last time out at Ayr after encountering all sorts of trouble in-running, and has since been dropped another 1lb by the assessor.

Trinity Star is now able to race in this off 75, the same as when last successful, and also drops back down into class 5 company.

That gives the son of Kheleyf major claims from a handicapping perspective at a track where he has won and finished third in two runs over this afternoon’s trip.

Selections:
14.00: Change The Game
14.35: Seastrom
15.05: Pallister
15.40: Mr Kite (NAP)
16.15: Trinity Star (NB)
16.45: Billy Ranger
17.15: Dinaria