Arecibo set for Pontefract success

Veteran sprinter Arecibo can get the better of several other familiar names to secure top honours in the Who’ll Be The 1st Yorkshire Wonder Horse? Handicap at Pontefract on Tuesday.

Top-weight Dakota Gold, Justanotherbottle and Copper Knight are among Arecibo’s rivals in West Yorkshire, all of whom hold few secrets but are talented speedsters on their day.

The advantage Arecibo holds over each of those, though, is race fitness, having already run twice since the turn of the year.

Both outings came on the all-weather at Lingfield, with the eight-year-old finishing eighth in the Listed Hever Sprint Stakes in February before going down by a short head to the reopposing Live In The Dream on his return to handicap company last month.

Live In The Dream is clearly a threat for the rematch on turf, but Arecibo is better off at the weights and is fancied to exact his revenge and secure his first victory since 2021.

On the same card, Andrew Balding can strike gold in the British Stallion Studs EBF “High-Rise” Maiden Stakes with the King Power-owned Time Test colt Legacy Power.

The bay, whose dam Aurelia has produced four winners already, was second on debut when beaten 1.50 lengths in a Lingfield maiden in February and holds a Derby entry.

Normal improvement will make him very hard to beat as he transitions to the grass.

Paul Nicholls appears well placed to add to his tally at Exeter, with Ioupy Collonges a major contender for the Thank You Jennifer “Rabbit” Slattery Handicap Hurdle.

The gelding has been exceptionally consistent in his first season for the champion trainer, winning twice and finishing second twice from four starts for the Million In Mind Partnership.

There is every chance a step up to 4800m could help this former Irish pointer take his game to another level. – Press Association

TAB is betting on 3 UK meetings today. Here are the tips:

EXETER: Race 1: 14.15 Captain Jack, Race 2: 14.45 Sporting Mike, Race 3: 15.15 General Medrano, Race 4: 15.45 Electric Annie, Race 5: 16.15 Haldon Hill, Race 6: 16.45 Ioupy Collonges, Race 7: 17.15 Shantou Flyer.

PONTEFRACT: Race 1: 15.00 Big Cheese, Race 2: 15.30 Snuggle, Race 3: 16.00 Flint Hill, Race 4: 16.30 ARECIBO (NAP), Race 5: 17.00 Project Black, Race 6: 17.30 Legacy Power, Race 7: 18.05 Barney's Bay.

WOLVERHAMPTON: Race 1: 18.30 Fox Flame, Race 2: 19.00 Captain Potter, Race 3: 19.30 Tajawal, Race 4: 20.00 Give A Little Back, Race 5: 20.30 Pierce, Race 6: 21.00 Freedom Flyer, Race 7: 21.30 Reckon I'm Hot.

ALL TO COME: Arecibo and Legacy Power (Pontefract, Races 4 and 6).

 For fields, race betting and more information go to www.tab4racing.com