Weatherbys VAT Services Pipalong Stakes

Pontefract 15:10

Temptress was last season finishing 2nd when advised by this blog in the Royal Hunt Cup just going down to GM Hopkins (also advised by the blog) at Royal Ascot. Going into that Temptress had shown some smart form and was rapidly progressing including when winning on her reappearance at Ascot beating Spirit Raiser (1st and 2nd since) and Amazing Maria (3rd and 1st since – the win in a Group 2). She was probably a bit unlucky in the Royal Hunt Cup as held up right out the back she was always travelling well and had to switch right to the far side rail and was finishing really well. She deserves this step up in class to a Listed event and with improvement still likely then she should go very close. Her hold up style is guaranteed to suit here but with nothing really likely to go on that fast it may end up that Temptress isn’t as far behind as usual and she is the one to beat.

Pelerin is officially the highest rated horse in this race and she has run some consistent efforts in List events albeit her only win in a Listed event coming on the AW track at Dundalk although Shamardal progeny also go well here generally. She again is likely to be held up and it may come down to when Martin Harley and Pat Dobbs make their challenge. She probably doesn’t have as much improvement in her as Temptress but should be fitter for her run at Curragh. On a strict formline through Amazing Maria then Pelerin has a bit to find with Temptress.

Queen Catrine was a very smart and consistent 2 year old placing twice in Group 2 events as well as a 3rd place in a Group 1 at Lonchamp. She has been a bit disappointing since being well beaten on a few occasions including a 4th in Listed event at Nottingham before bouncing back to winning ways last time out over 7f at Leicester in a conditions race where she was taking on potential more than proven class performers and was too good for them. The step back up to 1m in a Listed race may prove her undoing again as the only other time she has contested a Listed race over 1 mile she was 7 lengths behind the winner. She is a smart Filly but may find Temptress has more to come where as this one has found her level.

Rekdhat has some reasonable form in a relatively lightly raced career so far and her recent 3rd on her return to Lightning Spear albeit in a handicap could be anything as this Lightning Spear could be a Group horse. She travelled well that day and was pulled out for a clear run down the outside but didn’t have the turn of foot that the winner had, she was bumped by the eventual runner up but this probably didn’t make any difference and she’ll need to improve again to beat the above 3.

With improvement likely for Temptress still and the form of her win 2 runs ago working out really well she is surely the one to beat. At 7/4 a small win bet is in order.