Range can lay down the Law at Pontefract

By Stephen, bettingexpert.com | Published 00:01 10.07.2012

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Marco Botti's Law of the Range is selected to land Pontefract's Listed Arkle Finance Pipalong Stakes at 4.00 this afternoon.

The 5-y-o mare has run with credit without winning this season, and her latest sixth behind Joviality in the Group 2 Windsor Forest Stakes at Royal Ascot makes her the form-pick in a wide open contest. She won this prize last season and the only concern for supporters is the very testing ground (unplaced both times she has run on a soft surface).

Main danger for the £33,000 pot comes from Sir Mark Prescott's Mid Mon Lady. She was caught out by the sharp Warwick course when third in the Warwickshire Oaks last time out, and showed when touched off in the Zetland Gold Cup that this level is well within her compass. The 7-y-o has only been with her shrewd new yard for two runs after a long career at the top level in Ireland and is sure to handle the ground well. A positive frontrunning ride seems likely dropping down in trip under Chris Catlin, and if unpestered on the often favoured far-rail she could be hard to catch up the hill.

Madam Macie is thriving on a busy spell, winning twice in six runs since the start of May, and posted career best figures when storming 8l clear in the Hamilton mud last time. However, that was a weak handicap where the other market principals were labouring a long way out, and it seems unlikely she is suddenly upto listed compnay after seeming exposed at a lower grade in 16 lifetime runs.

Winter's Night hails from the in-form Clive Cox yard and made a promising start to 2012 when finishing second to Boastful at Goodwood. She disappointed when sent over to the Curragh last time but could easily bounce back given her quietly progressive profile previously.

Dragonera got off the mark in a fair Doncaster handicap on her seasonal bow and has made steady improvement in the mud since. She lacks a sharp turn of foot but has a decent attitude and could easily be thereabouts if things develop into a slog at this stiff track.

Making Eyes lost her way after a good start in 2011 and the pattern seems to be that she is best caught fresh, while Rhythm of Light has appeared a shadow of her former self in three starts as a 4-y-o (despite the Dascombe yard being in great form).

In summary, a fascinating listed prize that brings together a large number of different formlines. Law of the Range should relish this class drop and impressed over course and distance when landing this contest last season. At around 5-1 this morning she is worth a small win investment to assert in the closing stages.

Stephen's Tuesday Nap La Pampita 3.45 Wolverhampton

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