Riu Palace Meloneras Handicap

Whilst we have not been setting the world alight over the last week or so we are getting a return on investment so it's onward and upward !

Tomorrow we have a Class 2 6f Handicap at Pontefract in which we are once again faced with the problem of do we back horses with a bit of class returning to the fray or race fit horses who have already shown promise in the last few weeks ? The latter has come out on top a couple of times recently and with that in mind I suppose the selection would have to be Lexington Abbey 3/1 who was a running on 4th behind Tatlisu at Doncaster.

He was settled out the back in that race in what is Jamie Spencer's customary tactic and he came with a late run, which faltered in the last half furlong or so, to finish 4th. His run probably faded out because of the effort of getting to where he did eventually get to and if he's ridden a bit closer to the pace tomorrow he would have a good chance of winning from a 1lb higher mark.

There are a few dangers though one of which is Supplicant (5/1)who is well drawn in stall 2 and who is now rated 15lb lower at 95 than when he started last season. He had a tough time of it at 3 and the stable seem to be making positive noises about him so he may well be fit enough first time to do himself justice and if not he is one to follow as the weeks go on.

Another one that is dropping down the weights is Mass Rally (14/1) but he may prefer a bit of cut to show his best form. Out Do (10/1) is only 4lbs higher than winning the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon last summer and we know that David O'Meara has his horses in fine form and they are ready to go first time up.

So there you have it another tricky little sprint handicap and I'm going for Lexington Abbey to win on this occasion and I may have a small ew saver on Out Do.