Dave Nevison Thursday: all aboard the Wave Rider

Harry Charlton has his string in good form at and Wave Rider is an obvious favourite for this relatively uncompetitive handicap. 

He has been consistent all season, winning at Sandown in June and being placed in three subsequent starts, including twice on good to soft ground. 

Wave Rider also ran well the only previous time he encountered soft ground, so conditions are no concern. 

Sonic Pioneer made all the running on soft ground at Beverley last week to win by 3¾ lengths and looks to have a good opportunity to follow up under a penalty on similar ground. 

This race is over one of the stiffest 12f courses in Britain but Jack Morland’s three-year-old was powerful at the finish last time and looks set to get the trip, especially as he seems likely to be unchallenged for the early lead. He should be able to dictate the pace here. 

Loving Apprentice broke his maiden on heavy ground over this trip here at Pontefract last October, so conditions are of no concern for Ed Dunlop’s three-year-old in a tight handicap. 

He is usually a prominent racer and has four slower starters drawn inside of him, so he has a good opportunity to lead this field, which is often the place to be at Pontefract 

Dunlop has had plenty of seconds recently and deserves a change of luck.