Shropshire looks likeliest lad to land handicap honours at Pontefract

SHROPSHIRE made a fine start to his campaign when successful at Kempton at the end of last month and rates a good bet on his return to turf at Pontefract this afternoon.

The Shamardal colt was so impressive on his juvenile debut at Haydock a couple of years ago that he was stepped up to Pattern company for the Gimcrack Stakes, but he was a big disappointment.

This time last year he was running in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury and although well beaten into third, subsequent results have shown that there was no disgrace in finishing behind Frankel and Excelebration.

He returned to handicap company for the remainder of the campaign and while it is fair to say he failed to make the impact that was anticipated, his final run when fourth in a fair event at Doncaster was a big step forward.

Following a gelding operation over the winter, the Charles Hills inmate was back in the winning groove on his return and is a major player in the RIU Palace Meloneras Handicap.

Hills could be in for a good afternoon as his Willies Wonder is also worth an interest in the Subscribe Online At racinguk.com Maiden Stakes. The three-year-old finished in the midfield on his sole start at two at Newmarket and his comeback second at Kempton suggested he was a winner waiting to happen.

It was disappointing that he could not justify favouritism at Warwick recently but he showed enough in finishing second again to suggest he will take a bit of beating this time.

Roger Varian has his string in excellent already and unleashes a fascinating recruit in Almost Gemini at Windsor. The three-year-old is a half-brother to talented pair Lost In The Moment and Luas Line, by sire Dylan Thomas. He was unraced last year and starts his racing life over a mile and a quarter in the Windsor Vehicle Leasing Maiden Stakes.

Sue Smith was narrowly denied in the Scottish National on Saturday with Auroras Encore and runs Kilkenny All Star in the Grant & Michelle Handicap Chase after he returned to winning ways. An easy winner, last time out at Sedgefield he has gone up 6lb but that might not be enough to stop him.