We are double handed at Pontefract on Monday,as they stage their second meeting of this truncated season. At the time of writing the going is described as good to soft, but it could possibly dry out to good by race time.
Our first runner of the day is in the 2.20, where our French import Frankelio returns from a 238 day absence. He showed high class form in France as a three year old when trained by Pascal Bary, form which would see him win this with something to spare.He raced for us last season as a four year old, where he ran well without winning on more than one occasion, he has dropped 15lb in the weights since making his debut for the yard at Chester last year, a mark from which he could be dangerous this time around.The ground should not be an issue, and this looks like the correct trip. On the minus side, he might just need the race to put him spot on, and there are also a couple of very well handicapped horses in opposition.
Our other runner is Frankster in the 5.00.who runs at Pontefract for the 14th time. in his 24 race career to date.His only win so far came at the West Yorkshire track in a one mile maiden race back in October 2017, where he has also been placed on a further six occasions.All of Frankster's form to date suggests that good to soft is his preference,and he runs off his lowest ever handicap mark of 55, but he has been off the track for 229 days, and has never finished closer than fourth when coming off a long break.
To read a fully detailed essay on both of these horses, click on 'NEWS' at www.mickyhammondracing.
Good luck to all of the connections, Forty, Forty, Twenty, and The Cobb Family.