Sky Bet Sunday Series tips: race-by-race guide for Pontefract

If you can cast your mind back to late May, you may recall that month's Sky Bet Sunday Series preview started with Letsbefrank. And previous months, too. That's because the inaugural winner of the £100,000 bonus for any horse who could win three races in the series back in 2024 has been rejuvenated this season after a 2025 in the doldrums. 

He has two wins to his name this term, both in this series, and though 2lb higher than his win in the Sky Bet Extra Places Handicap (6.15) in 2024, his third behind Brielle (who has since won a listed race on the July Course, while runner-up Valley Of Flowers has also scored) suggests that it might not be beyond him. Campeona and Sixty Plus have both shown rapid improvement since stepping up in trip in handicaps and should help make the market. 

The meeting begins with the Enter ITV7 For Free EBF Novice Stakes at 3.45. Varzi shaped well on debut but has an entry (over seven furlongs) at Thirsk on Friday night, and it might be worth taking a chance on one of the interesting newcomers.

Tom Clover scored with his only other two-year-old at the course, but with Magic Harry bred to stay well, it's Princeland who is selected. A half-brother to the Group Three-winning two-year-old Tadej, he's preferred to Diamondsforyou (whose sibling Catching The Moon – who runs later on the card - also picked up black type at two). 

Darzah's profile is a little in and out, and she was behind Luna Celeste at Nottingham last time, but she has a tidy turnaround in the weights and the strong pace that looks likely in the Sky Bet For The Fans Fillies' Handicap (4.15) should see her to good effect.

Two B Tanned has been at her best when able to dominate, but her Musselburgh win earned her a chunky rise in the weights, and she looks likely to have competition for the lead. Si Grass can improve now faced with a greater test of stamina, though she might prefer slower ground. 

The listed Sky Bet Club Flying Fillies' Stakes is the feature race at 4.45 and could be a good opportunity for Magic Basma to go one better than when second to Rosy Affair 12 months ago. Normally ridden prominently, she was held up that day but outran her odds (and rating) in style.

She has bumped into some smart animals in four starts this year (including Rosy Affair again) and should relish a return to this stiff finish. The class act Arabian Dusk, who makes her belated return to action, and York fourth America Queen, could be the biggest dangers. 

William Haggas has a 41% strike-rate here, and High Degree can land the Sky Bet Price Boosts Handicap (5.15) in first-time cheekpieces. The top-weight had no answer to Al Aali at HQ in July, but that horse went on to win a competitive Goodwood handicap, and his handicap mark of 91appears within range.

The lightly-weighted Mr Seagull won at this meeting a year ago on his debut and should improve on previous efforts over this trip from his new mark, while Jez Bomb's progress this season has been stark but his wins have come in lesser company. 

For all the Sky Bet Build A Bet Handicap (5.45) is an easier task than Reigning Profit faced at Goodwood, it's still a notch above where he generally does his winning, and he's passed over in favour of Kylian.

The Robert Cowell-trained sprinter shaped well over C&D in April (snatched up at a couple of key moments) and is 11 lb lower here in a first-time visor; the booking of Paul Mulrennan looks a good one. The winning machine Badri – who didn't have a good draw at Windsor on Monday - also makes the shortlist. 

The series concludes with the Sky Bet Proud To Support Young Lives Vs Cancer Handicap at 6.45. Having been pulled out on quick going at Leicester, the ground must again be a concern for Art Lover, with the nod going instead to Rare Change. Despite winning at Goodwood in June, he's only 1 lb higher than when making a big impression here a year earlier when beating Partisan Hero by three lengths.

All ground seems to come alike to the Richard Hughes-trained four-year-old, and he can get back to winning ways at the main expense of Veblen Good and Alfa Whiteburd who has looked a different horse since wind surgery.