Sunday's horse racing preview, tips and selections


Nick Robson provides a selection for every race on Sunday, with Queen Kindly fancied to resume winning ways at Pontefract.

Queen Kindly must go well in the Flying Fillies' Stakes at Pontefract.

A big field has been declared for the Listed dash in West Yorkshire, but Richard Fahey's three-year-old is a standout contender for the gold medal.

The daughter of Frankel has had her ups and downs since she won the Lowther at York last summer.

But she has consistently been tried at a really good level, and showed at York last month that the fires still flicker with intent.

Queen Kindly was sent on her way an 11-2 chance for the Group Three Summer Stakes but she was agonisingly denied by a short head as Mystic Dawn seized the day in a stirring finish.

She might have failed to get a mile in the Guineas in the spring, but six furlongs is very much her bag.

Conditions at Pontefract look just about ideal, and though there are some interesting horses in the line-up, it is fair to say Queen Kindly has less on her plate than in most of her other races to date.

Major Crispies is respected in division one of the six-furlong handicap.

The six-year-old gelding does not have a particularly good win-to-run ratio - he has only claimed victory once on the turf - but he gone very close to improving that record since his transfer to David O'Meara.

Major Crispies was particularly unfortunate at Musselburgh a few weeks ago when he was all dressed up with nowhere to go inside the final furlong.

The game was up from there on in as the son of Pastoral Pursuits ended up finishing fourth in a fair seven-furlong handicap.

O'Meara will not exactly be delighted that the assessor has bumped him up 3lb for this assignment, but he is clearly in decent nick and will be unfazed by dropping back to six furlongs.

Henryville can make short shrift of top weight in the Vivienne Squires Trophy Handicap Chase at Southwell.

Harry Fry's nine-year-old is a good horse, but he did not enjoy himself on soft ground at Uttoxeter last time.

A brisker surface in Nottinghamshire should cast the Grade Two-winning chaser in a much more favourable light.

Jim Bolger loves Theobald, who should take the beating in the Futurity Stakes at the Curragh.

The Teofilo colt last month chased home Actress and leading Classic hope The Pentagon in Group Threes and he looks to be learning all the time.

Theobald defeated Berkeley Square on his debut at Leopardstown and can nicely uphold the form with that Ballydoyle inmate.

All eyes will later be on the unbeaten September, who runs in the Debutante Stakes.

This was always the plan for the terrifically exciting filly since she won a watertight renewal of the Chesham at Royal Ascot.

It will be a huge shock if she regressed in this Group Two over seven furlongs.

Sporting Life suggestions

CURRAGH: 1.40 Hazapour, 2.10 Theobald, 2.45 Treasuring, 3.20 September, 3.55 Central Square, 4.30 El Tren, 5.00 Byron Beauty, 5.30 Zippy.

PONTEFRACT: 2.15 Awsaaf, 2.50 Melting Dew, 3.25 Tectonic, 4.00 QUEEN KINDLY (NAP), 4.35 Isabella, 5.10 Glassy Waters, 5.40 Major Crispies, 6.10 Equiano Springs

SOUTHWELL: 2.00 Cliffside Park, 2.35 Skilled, 3.10 Henryville, 3.40 Braavos, 4.15 Premier Rose, 4.50 A Touch Of Sparkle, 5.25 Chilly Miss.

TRAMORE: 1.50 Glan Y Gors, 2.25 Ayelya, 2.55 Theydon Park, 3.30 Summer Storm, 4.05 Conduct Yourself, 4.40 Garrai Phaidin, 5.15 Glebe Girl.

DOUBLE: Queen Kindly and Major Crispies.

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