With plenty of rain due at 'Ponte Carlo' through Sunday and Monday, expect the good ground to change to something nearer soft ground by the time half past four comes around, I’m looking for something that goes with a bit of cut.
Tele Red has plenty of soft-ground form and a decent Pontefract record to fall back upon, but he does seem to have forgotten how to win and looks more a forecast and tricast mixer than a winner. The unexposed Livonian has every chance if he acts on the ground, which is an unknown, but at a likely bigger price I’m going to take a chance of LIGHTENING COMPANY bouncing back.
A hurdles winner at Cartmel in the summer, four of his five wins have come on ground ranging from good to soft to heavy, and one of those was here at Pontefract, so he won’t care how much falls between now and racetime. The trip is ideal, and he should strip a lot fitter for a recent outing at Nottingham that he would have needed after a break (“steadied start” a telling comment there).
TIPSY TIGER is the other one on our shortlist. Trainer William Stone has been notably patient with this gelding, who is at his best when the mud is flying. His recent form is rock-solid: a close third at Nottingham last time on soft ground, and a runner-up finish at Sandown on heavy before that (had won the same race in 2024). Both efforts suggest he’s peaking at the right time, and he’s previously run well at Pontefract on heavy going.
Stone’s yard is in good nick, with a win and two places from his last six runners, and a healthy strike rate for October (33%). Tipsy Tiger’s profile fits the bill for this stamina-sapping contest, and he’s handicapped to go close if conditions deteriorate.
The finale is a competitive 5f sprint and the ground will be cut up and at its most testing. This trip at Pontefract sees low numbers preferred, especially if the ground is soft, but pace is often more important than draw, and front-runners can be hard to peg back. It should pay to focus on horses with early speed and proven form at Pontefract or similar tracks.
DREAM COMPOSER is a fascinating contender in this Class 4 sprint. While he’s been mixing it in stronger company for much of his career, his record in Class 4 handicaps is eye-catching: from limited opportunities at this level, he’s produced form figures of 2122112 and he’s got a fine record at this track, winning twice and finishing second three times from seven Pontefract starts.
Dream Composer’s course win at this level came on quick going, but he handles soft ground well and James Evans is in decent form (17% strike rate in the last fortnight). Given how consistent he’s proven in the grade and at the track, Dream Composer appeals as a rock-solid each-way selection.
Reigning Profit has an excellent track record, but doesn’t want the ground much softer than good, and only appeals if the forecast rain fails to arrive. Well beaten last week, that run on the all-weather was merely one to blow away the cobwebs (he has no great all-weather record) and his record turned out around a week later reads 101431.
In a similar fashion, rain is due in East Sussex as well and the lucky last promises to be a real stamina test. That will suit the appropriately-named Stamina Chope, who has been working her way back to form this summer and early autumn and after a close-up fourth to The Wise Traveller here last time out (form solid; winner and second running to virtually the same form at Huntingdon next time, fifth home The Dark Edge a winner on next start) she looks about ready to strike.
A C&D winner here back in 2023, she acts well with plenty of cut in the ground and is back on a mark she can do some damage off. No reason at all why she shouldn’t run her race here, and should go close.
Preview posted 0945 BST on 20/10/25
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