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Romance in the air at Pontefract

Written by Press Association | Jul 2, 2023 4:22:47 PM

Twilight Romance appears to have been found a good opportunity to double his tally in the British Stallion Studs EBF Spindrifter Novice Stakes on Monday at Pontefract.

John Quinn's youngster looked a winner in waiting when a promising third on his debut at Haydock last month in a race that has a very solid look to it.

While winner The Camden Colt, who is again in opposition, has struggled in better company, the runner-up Thunder Blue has subsequently won and finished fifth in the Norfolk at Royal Ascot, while Twilight Romance and the fourth-placed Soldier's Gold have since opened their respective accounts.

It was at York that Twilight Romance broke his duck, racing on the speed throughout and passing the post with almost three lengths in hand.

He is capable of defying the penalty in this contest before having his sights raised even higher in due course.

There is every chance Quinn can double up in the '89 And Reunited' Memorial Handicap, with Tropez Power selected to earn himself a deserved return to the winner's enclosure.

The Cotai Glory gelding has a solitary victory on turf to go with his three successes on the all-weather, but his recent efforts have suggested his turn is not far away.

He has found just one too good in his last couple of races, most recently finishing best of the rest behind Mostawaa at York.

Hindsight tells us that was a fair effort, with the winner defying a hike in the weights to follow up in the historic and lucrative Carlisle Bell.

Running from the same perch of 84, 8lb lower than his mark on artificial surfaces, Tropez Power should prove hard to beat in West Yorkshire.

The Phil Kirby-trained Robert Johnson can continue his purple patch in the Every Race Live On Racing TV Handicap at Musselburgh.

The five-year-old was well beaten in each of his first five races and subsequently joined Rebecca Menzies, for whom he rounded off a four-race stint with a narrow win at Catterick.

He has since returned to Kirby and while his first couple of efforts were uninspiring, he has certainly turned a corner, winning three of his last four races.

His latest effort when scooting clear over a mile and a half at Thirsk was a career-best and a 6lb rise looks fair as he steps back up to two miles in Scotland, a trip over which he remains unexposed.

Band Of Joy should be backed in the British EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes at Windsor.

A half-sister to four winners, George Boughey's juvenile looked like she might make a winning debut at this track a fortnight ago, travelling best for much of the five-furlong journey.

In the end her inexperience showed when coming under pressure and she was ultimately no match for the eventual winner Queues Likely, but there was encouragement to be taken from her runner-up finish.

With normal improvement, she should be in the thick of it under champion jockey William Buick.

Jumping fare comes from Southwell, where Getaway Jewel bids for back-to-back course-and-distance wins in the Download The At The Races App Handicap Chase.

He had 10 lengths in hand over the opposition here last week, so it is no surprise Micky Hammond turns him out quickly under a 7lb penalty and he is difficult to oppose. - Press Association

TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings on Monday. Here are the tips:

PONTEFRACT: Race 1: 15.10 Lenny's Spirit, Race 2: 15.40 Emeralds Pride, Race 3: 16.15 TWILIGHT ROMANCE (NAP), Race 4: 16.50 Cosmic View, Race 5: 17.25 Tropez Power, Race 6: 18.00 Gannon Glory.

SOUTHWELL: Race 1: 15.25 Tango Boy, Race 2: 16.00 Getaway Jewel, Race 3: 16.35 Book Of Secrets, Race 4: 17.10 Riggsby, Race 5: 17.45 Emily Wade, Race 6: 18.20 Tommydan, Race 7: 18.55 Lelantos.

WINDSOR: Race 1: 18.10 Estate, Race 2: 18.45 Band Of Joy, Race 3: 19.15 Decoration, Race 4: 19.45 Lethal Nymph, Race 5: 20.15 Sea Of Charm, Race 6: 20.45 Thrave, Race 7: 21.15 Galileo Glass.

MUSSELBURGH: Race 1: 19.30 Charged Up, Race 2: 20.00 Heart Of Sofia, Race 3: 20.30 Robert Johnson, Race 4: 21.00 Mereside Angel, Race 5: 21.30 Sparkle In His Eye, Race 6: 22.00 Star Shield.

ALL TO COME: Twilight Romance and Tropez Power (Pontefract, Races 3 and 5).