Swingland expected to make winning reappearance

By Stephen, bettingexpert.com | Published 00:00 02.05.2012

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Paul Cole's Swingland was an impressive winner of a decent Goodwood maiden last season, and is expected to make a winning handicap/seasonal debut at Pontefract.

The well regarded 3-y-o showed a smart turn of speed to race clear in the closing stages from some useful juveniles, and appears to have been given a real chance by the assesor, with improvement sure to be forthcoming stepped upto 1m2f. The one concern is the really heavy ground, but her astute trainer seems unlikely to risk this useful prospect if he felt she would not handle it well, and she seems sure to be hard to beat with Ryan Moore an eyecatching jockey booking.

Main danger for the 12,000 prize money comes from the race-fit Cape Safari. James Tate has kept his 3-y-o busy on the all-weather and turf, racing her seven times since the start of 2012. It has proved a shrewd strategy with three wins, including a game victory in deep ground at Leicester in April. The handicapper has raised her to a career high rating as a result of this prolific spell, but her stamina is proven upto 1m4f and she will not be stopping when the hill takes its toll in the closing stages here.

Consistent Rio's Rosanna shaped with promise on her return at Catterick 21 days ago, tiring from the furlong pole to finish a respectable sixth. She has a decent record at this stiff course, winning and finishing placed in two attempts last season, and she is entitled to strip fitter for her seasonal debut.

Rythmic has crept in with bottomweight and represents the in-form Mark Johnston stable. However, she didn't build on early promise as a 2-y-o and there was scant encouragement when a disappointing fourth of six on her return three months ago.

Cala Santanyi landed a hefty gamble at Lingfield last time out in a weak contest, but her best efforts on turf in the past have all come on good or faster ground and it is very doubtful whether she has sufficient stamina for a slog up the hill.

Antigua Sunrise is on a long losing run and jockey arrangements suggest not much is expected after six months off, while Easy Terms seems firmly in the grip of the handicapper after a prolific season in 2011 (on ground far less testing than today's).

In summary, a gilt edged chance for Swingland to build on the impression she made when routing her rivals in a decent maiden last Summer. At around 5-2 this morning she is worth a fair sized win investment to brush these exposed rivals aside in the closing stages.

Stephen's Sunday Nap Commitment 2.55 Pontefract

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