NAP of the Day: Devon to have Adaay in the sun at Pontefract

There are three meetings on an unusually busy Sunday of racing in Britain and Ireland, not to mention lots of domestic interest in the two Group 1s at Deauville on the same afternoon. The three on this side of the Channel are at Pontefract, a Premier meeting, Southwell and Tramore in Ireland.

Our NAP for August 18 comes then from the feature race of the principal card at Pontefract, where a prolific and likeable filly can add another Listed race to her mantelpiece. After the column landed the nap yesterday courtesy of my colleague Alan (advised 5/2), who also tipped up the Great St Wilfred winner (advised 9/1) for good measure in his ITV piece, let’s hope we can double up!

Today’s Horse Races

16:45 Pontefract – Adaay In Devon @ 13/8

This Listed race was won last year by Believing, who has gone on to become something of a Group 1 mainstay. She is an outlier among recent winners, as her Racing Post Rating of 110 on the day showed. In the previous nine years, the highest-rated winner had an RPR of 108 and the average was 103.

The best form in this year’s field belongs to Rage Of Bamby, who won at York last time. She is increasingly looking like a Knavesmire specialist, though, and a horse who is at her best after a break.

ADAAY IN DEVON has a lot more in her favour in terms of conditions. She has already won two Listed races this year. What’s more, she has won them at Bath and Sandown. Both of those tracks present a stiff finish and Adaay In Devon is at her most effective when she has to hang tough.

Pontefract is another track where you need to see out the trip thoroughly. The home straight is short, but it stings and runners will climb more than 20 feet over the last couple of furlongs. That may not sound like much, but when you are trying to sprint it cannot help but register.

Pontefract is also a course where nabbing the rail can prove decisive, especially in sprints. Adaay In Devon, who is a prominent racer, will shoot out of stall one here. She has got A1 position when it comes to dominating a race like this.

She also arrives in top form. She mixed it in handicap company last time, and her fourth at the Shergar Cup off a mark of 104 is arguably as good as anything she’s shown in winning Listed races. A tough, likeable filly who is still improving and has the best of the draw, Adaay In Devon looks a great bet on Sunday.

Nap Of The Day with Betfred Insights.