Pontefract Preview: Fazza fancied to get back on winning trail

Fazza can take advantage of a drop in the weights to land the 1m handicap at Pontefract today (3.00) now returned to the scene of his last success.

The Edwin Tuer trained gelding was in good heart last season when winning twice over course and distance.

The last of those successes coming off a mark of 72 in a class 4 handicap where Fazza stayed on strongly in the hands of gthis afternoon’s rider Kevin Stott to beat Ralphy Boy with more in hand than the winning margin of 1 3/4 lengths suggests.

The son of Sulamani has also posted some solid efforts this season including when a strong finishing fifth of 18 to Eurysthues at York, where he didn’t get the clearest of runs and was beaten just 1 1/4 lengths off a mark of 75.

The seven-year-old was also far from disgraced when seventh of 17 to Osteopathic Remedy in the class 3 Thirsk Summer Cup, and shaped as if his time was near last time out when staying on to finish a never nearer 2 3/4 length fourth to Janaab at Ripon in a contest run at a slow pace which didn’t suit.

Fazza has been dropped a further 1lb since, and now gets into this weak looking class 4 contest off 73 – just 1lb higher than when last successful.

It gives Fazza a big shout at the weights, especially as he is likely to to get the strong pace he needs to be seen at his best at a track which suits his run style.

In the 6f handicap (4.00), the Nigel Tinkler trained Misplaced Fortune looks to have plenty going for her and can score a long overdue success.

The mare hasn’t got her head in front since landing this contest back in 2012 off a mark of 90 and also won it in 2011, finished second in 2009 and fourth last year.

The nine-year-old clearly runs the track very well, and is now able to race off a mark of just 82.

That is 8lb lower than when last victorious, and the lowest rating Misplaced Fortune has raced off since September 2011.

It gives the daughter of Compton Place a big chance at the weights, especially as Misplaced Fortune now gets the services of the highly talented George Challoner in the saddle who takes another 3lb of her back and is terrific value for his claim.