Free horse racing selections for Sunday July 28

NAP: Exhort 3.55 Pontefract

Next best: Joyful Mission 5.05 Pontefract

Exhort has provided plenty of encouragement that she can carry out a successful return mission to Pontefract in the Sky Bet Go-Racing-In-Yorkshire Summer Festival Pomfret Stakes.

Richard Fahey's filly was largely unconsidered in the market over the same course and distance almost three weeks ago.

But she belied her starting price of 25-1 as she showed a liking for this stiff track and delivered a withering late run to mow down back-to-form 2018 1000 Guineas heroine Billesdon Brook and previous York winner Agincourt.

Cheveley Park Stud's four-year-old has shown her true colours exclusively on quick ground so far this summer, but she has useful back form on soft and heavy too.

Unlike some of her rivals therefore, the threat of weekend rain in Yorkshire is no obvious detriment to her chances on Sunday - whether it comes to pass or not.

Exhort faces several worthy opponents, of course, in Listed class again and against the colts and geldings this time.

Richard Hannon's Oh This Is Us is a regular and also most consistent at this level - while three-year-olds I Could Do Better and Marie's Diamond have contrasting but highly respectable profiles.

I Could Do Better has a debut victory over subsequent Group One heavyweight King Of Comedy on his brief CV - and has moved from Keith Dalgleish to Ian Williams since this month's easy, long odds-on Catterick win.

The much more battle-hardened Marie's Diamond has often plied his trade with credit at a high level - while Khafoo Shememi ran with promise in a Listed race last time, on his first run since a gelding operation, substantial break and switch to Sir Michael Stoute.

Nonetheless, in this highly-competitive renewal of Pontefract's mid-summer feature, Exhort has persuasive credentials.

In the opening British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes on the same card, debutant Slaidburn represents connections accustomed to winning here.

Tim Easterby's gelding, from the family of Owington, is drawn widest of the eight runners but is bred to be a handy two-year-old at this minimum trip.

Joyful Mission can strike a winning tone in the Happy 70th Birthday Jackie Barber Maiden Stakes.

Stoute's colt has acquired a first-time hood for his third career start, after letting his supporters down at his second attempt when finishing only a disappointing third at Haydock this month.

He previously looked the part when a closing fourth in a Newmarket maiden on debut, though.

Sporting Life tips:

PONTEFRACT: 2.20 Slaidburn, 2.50 King And Queen, 3.20 Sod's Law, 3.55 EXHORT (NAP), 4.30 Musharrif, 5.05 Joyful Mission, 5.40 Astrophysics.

DOUBLE: Exhort and Joyful Mission.

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