Dave Nevison Tuesday tips: best bets at Pontefract

It is easy to put a line through his latest run at Royal Ascot where he missed the break when dropped down in trip in a massive field, and it is best to judge him on his reappearance effort, plus his two-year-old form, as that gives a strong chance in this much lower grade. 

Matters Most was highly tried after he won a Nursery Handicap at Windsor and managed an excellent second in a Listed race at Ripon last August before his form tailed off when he obviously did not act on heavy ground on his final two starts. 

His second at Windsor first time out this season came in a race that worked out well immediately, with the winner, Trefor, scoring at Newmarket next time out, and the fourth has also scored since, too.

A draw in stall one is perfect for Ralph Beckett’s three-year-old here and providing he breaks much better in this race, I can see him making all against these more exposed rivals.

Natzor can be excused for his past two efforts as he has not enjoyed the best of runs on either start due to being hampered and he was shuffled back before finishing with running left in him last time out. 

He is reunited with Danny Tudhope in this race, which could be significant after three different jockeys have been on since his win at Newcastle in May (under Tudhope) and he has been dropped down 3lb since that  victory which is obviously helpful. 

This is an unusual handicap in that Natzor is one of three horses who is running off a mark in excess of the ceiling, but hopefully he will have a class edge here as his recent win came in a 0-78 grade. The trip is no problem, and the David O’Meara team remain in strong form.

Kyle McHugh is a 7lb claimer still looking for his first win, but he is definitely getting closer having ridden plenty of placed horses recently, and is on a really interesting contender here. 

Shamardal Star finished second in a three-runner bumper before he was switched to the Flat in bigger-field maidens. 

He showed plenty of ability when he was second on his debut at Doncaster and I believe it is best to ignore his next two starts where he finished down the field at very big odds. 

All those runs were over 7f which, on pedigree, is too short and Shamardal Star should relish this extra furlong here. 

He has certainly not been pitched in too deep for this handicap debut and I am expecting him to be strongly supported to break his, and his rider’s, maiden.