Dave Nevison's Pontefract tips: best bets for Wednesday

Gemma Tutty is having a terrific summer and I am happy to trust her judgement in stepping Bateman up to ten furlongs in this Amateur Jockeys' Handicap. 

The three-year-old is by July Cup winner Ten Sovereigns but is out of an unraced Montjeu mare, so connections are hoping that Bateman has inherited some some stamina the dam’s side.

He certainly races as though a step up in trip is worth a try based upon the way he was staying on when successful at Carlisle, and when finishing a very close sixth at Newcastle last time out. 

Amy Collier has won three races for three different trainers recently, so is clearly a sought after jockey in these races, and Bateman has shown he can compete against his elders. 

With plenty of positives, I think it is worth rolling the dice with this youngster who is only having his seventh start here.

Soul Seeker was sent off the well-backed 7-4 favourite last time out, but his supporters had to endure watching the nine-year-old get locked up behind runners, and he got no gap whatsoever.

David O’Meara’s stalwart is a course and distance winner (he raced prominently en route to victory that day) and has bagged the prime draw in stall one here, so it will be a big surprise if he doesn’t adopt front-running tactics in this.

He has slower starters drawn close to him, so Ben Robinson shouldn’t be hard pressed early, and hopefully he can guide the veteran sprinter to another success.

Midnite Runner was drawn wide and raced too freely when he was third last time out over course and distance.

He has fared well with the draw in stall one here and I believe Connor Beasley will exploit that advantage and hopefully get the Michael Dods-trained three-year-old to settle better this time. Having the rail and rivals on his outside will hopefully help with that, too. 

His form is certainly strong enough to make him a contender here but if the hood that has recently been applied also help, he could land this at a decent price.