Pontefract and Windsor previews: Rio ready to rock

The gelding looked a smart prospect when winning his sole start as a juvenile for William Haggas, but then suffered an injury and was on the sidelines for 345 days before joining O’Meara.

After shaping as if badly in need of the outing when well beaten on his first start for his new handler at Musselbrugh, Terhaal put in a much improved effort to finish a staying on third over 7f in soft ground at Catterick.

The four-year-old backed that up with a solid third of 12 under similar conditions at Newmarket, keeping on to be beaten just over five lengths after racing too keenly in the early stages.

Judge on those efforts a handicap mark of 78 looks very exploitable, especially as Terhaal remains unexposed and open to stacks more improvement.

Selections

14.10: Trois Bon Amis
14.40: Terhaal (NB)
15.10: My Name Is Rio (NAP)
15.40: Omid
16.10: Dacoity
16.45: Johnny B Goode
17.15: Dark Ocean

Navigate can get back on track at Windsor

Navigate will relish the testing conditions at Windsor and can defy top weight to land the 6f handicap on this evening’s seven-race card at the Berkshire venue (18.20).

The Martyn Meade trained gelding go off the mark when scoring over course and distance back in October 2014, and showed progressive form in handicaps at the start of last season.

After finishing fifth in a hot contest at Newmarket, the four-year-old scored in good style on soft ground at Chester when beating the useful Northgate Lad by a length in a competitive 12-runner affair.

Navigate got put up 7lb for that victory, but posted a solid effort of his revised rating of 91 when third at Haydock.

Although then not at his best in two subsequent starts, there was plenty to like about Navigate’s return to action when sixth in a big field at Doncaster earlier in the month.

Navigate has since been dropped 2lb, and is now able to race in this less competitive contest off a mark of 87.

That is just 3lb higher than when last successful and gives the son of Iffraaj major claims at the weights on the pick of his form.

Poternello and SDS a potent combination

In the 6f handicap that closes proceedings (19.50), Potternello looks to have plenty going for him.

The Mick Channon trained four-year-old was last successful on heavy ground at Epsom when staying on strongly to draw clear and land a 6f contest by 2 1/4 lengths off a mark of 64.

Potternello is now able to race off just 1lb higher having shaped better than the bare result suggests in three starts on the all-weather following a 128-day break.

The last two of those runs have been over 7f, and the drop back to 6f is a big plus.

Connections are also refitting Potternello with the visor, and both his career successes have come when sporting the headgear.

The son of Captain Marvellous also has the assistance in the saddle of Silvestre De Sousa who steered him to his last success, and hails from a yard going really well at present.

Selections

16.50: Zig Zag Girl
17.20: Stake Acclaim
17.50: Baadi
18.20: Navigate (NAP)
18.50: Allnecessaryforce
19.20: Argyle
19.50: Potternello (NB)

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