1 minute Barry Hill is back after taking yesterday off with his 4/1 NAP of the day from racing at Pontefract.
MERIBELLA is fancied to land today’s feature and make it a clean sweep for her connections, following a highly promising seasonal return at Goodwood. She stayed on strongly once getting daylight to finish a close second to Santorini Star, who re-opposes here. That rival was race-fit and had a couple of pounds in hand that day, so the bare form doesn't tell the full story.
Ralph Beckett has a cracking record in this contest—winning it three times since 2018 and Meribella looks like a filly they've had in mind for this race all along. A stiff finish will suit her perfectly, given she stays further than today’s mile-and-a-half trip, and with a good pace to aim at, she looks primed to take a big step forward.
Santorini Star is clearly progressive, but turning the tables isn’t out of reach, especially with Meribella likely to come on for the run. Karmology rates the biggest threat on paper, but her patchy record away from York is a concern and she didn’t convince last time at that venue either.
With strong course suitability, a top trainer in her corner, and scope for plenty of improvement, Meribella gets the confident nod as my NAP of the Day.
MERIBELLA - 4/1
3.40 PONTEFRACT
Pontefract Castle Fillies' Stakes (Listed Race) (GBBPlus Race)
