Banker or Bust? Calla Lagoon in the 3.15 at Pontefract

A fabulous season for Ralph Beckett could include another happy hour on Monday when he will field the two favourites for the feature races at Pontefract and, in between, has a leading fancy for a Group Three contest at Deauville. 

His potential sixty-minute spree begins with Calla Lagoon lining up in the British Stallion Studs EBF Silver Tankard Stakes (3.15). This Juddmonte homebred is a best-priced 11-10 (price correct at 9am on Monday) to beat four rivals and the portents are good. 

There’s little doubt that Beckett has a soft spot for this mile feature as he landed it with Thanksfortellingme (2015) and Manuella De Vega (2018), with the pair both obliging for favourite backers.  And he’s also had the runner-up three times in the past four years, with his challengers beaten no more than half a length. 

Calla Lagoon looks well up to scratch, catching the eye when a staying-on fifth on his debut over 7f at Kempton in August, having fluffed the start, before building on that when landing a maiden over the same trip on soft ground at Ascot a month later.

He snatched victory from the jaws of defeat that day after getting messed about a furlong from home, keeping on most willingly to claw back Seaplane, who looked all over the winner with half a furlong to run. 

The runner-up franked the form when an impressive wide-margin winner at Newmarket next time, while third home, Too Soon, scored at Epsom next time before being a creditable fourth in the Zetland Stakes. Isambard Brunel (fifth) has also won since, while the sixth has performed creditably in defeat, giving the form a glow. 

Like so many of New Bay’s progeny, Calla Lagoon clearly copes well with deep ground and he promises to stay a mile standing on his head, even if he may not be so stamina-laden as Westover, who was second in this for Beckett and Juddmonte two years ago before landing the Irish Derby and finishing runner-up in the Arc. 

His four opponents on Monday were also winners last time out, but Calla Lagoon has the best form and is open to more improvement. With his stable continuing to fire on all cylinders, he promise to take plenty of stopping. 

Verdict: Banker