Horse Racing Betting Tips - Wednesday 5th August 2026 - Pontefract

Horse Racing Betting Tips - Wednesday 5th August 2026 - Pontefract

3:45pm 1m Riu Hotels And Resorts Ladies Day Veterans' Handicap (Class 5) (6yo+ 0-75)

Garden Oasis returns to a race he won 12 months ago and arrives in the sort of form that makes a repeat bid entirely realistic. He’s a prolific veteran, 14 career wins, mostly at 1m, and he showed at Ripon last time that he’s still operating at a very competitive level. Sent off well backed, he made the running, travelled strongly, and was only picked off late, beaten a head by Farasi Lane off this same mark. That run suggested he’s very close to striking again.He’s now 8lb below his last winning mark, stays 1m to 1m2f, acts on any ground, and has an excellent record at this track. He enjoys being allowed to stride on, and in a weak race where he’s likely to get an easy lead, he could be very hard to peg back. Tim Easterby is the top course trainer, and the return of cheekpieces, replacing blinkers should help him settle into his usual rhythm.

The dangers are there, but they’re beatable. Soames Forsyte is on a dangerous mark but has been let down by slow starts. Spirit Genie drops in class and could bounce back, while Alessia Fernanda may be the main threat if she controls her early pace better than last time. But Garden Oasis is the one arriving in form, the one with proven course craft, and the one who looks primed to run another big race. If he performs as he did at Ripon, he can take this for the second year running.

Selection: Garden Oasis 5/6 with BetMGM

4:15pm 5f FBS Chartered Accountants Chaplins Club Handicap (Class 5) (3yo+ 0-70)

The Tunguska Event is a speedy, forward going 3yo who has shaped all season like a sprinter with more to give, and the return to 5f looks a very smart move. He made all at Catterick in May, travelling hard on the pace and refusing to be passed, winning by a neck off a 1lb lower mark. That performance showed exactly what he is, fast, aggressive, and happiest when allowed to stride on. Things haven’t quite gone right in his last two runs, but both efforts can be upgraded. At Newcastle he raced alone against the far rail, never able to latch onto the main group, yet still shaped with speed. At Leicester last time he was far too free early, doing too much too soon over 6f, but even then he travelled like the best horse for much of the race before fading late. He’s just 1lb above his last winning mark, remains effective at 5f and 6f, acts on good to soft, good and the AW, and was in good form until those two slightly messy runs.

The draw is a big plus. Stall 3 is ideal for a front runner, giving him the chance to ping out, grab the rail, and make life difficult for the closers. His natural early speed is a major weapon, and dropping to the minimum trip should help him settle better and use that speed more efficiently. There are dangers. Sea Her Excel is in form but has a tricky draw. Great will need luck from stall 8 with his hold up style. Betweenthesticks is another weights dropper who could bounce back. Last year’s winner also has claims off his last winning mark. But The Tunguska Event has the perfect setup, a good draw, a workable mark, and a trip that should suit him far better than 6f. If he breaks cleanly and gets into his rhythm, he could take plenty of catching.

Selection: The Tunguska Event 6/1 with BetMGM

4:45pm 6f Bet With Jayne - Your Local Bookmaker Handicap (Class 4) (4yo+ 0-80)

Mister Sox is a C&D winner who always deserves respect around here, and although his form has dipped in recent weeks, there are enough positives to think he can bounce back. All six of his career wins have come over 6 or 7f on good or slower ground, but he’s perfectly capable on fast going too, as shown by his solid second at Thirsk last month. Off this same mark, he travelled well, stuck on strongly, and was only beaten a length, a run that suggested he was turning a corner. His two subsequent efforts at York can both be forgiven. He met trouble in running most recently, shuffled back at a key stage and never able to recover, finishing down the field behind Jonny Concrete. Before that, he simply didn’t fire, but York can do that to horses who prefer a more straightforward rhythm.

Back at Pontefract, where his C&D win came off a 2lb higher mark under Sean Kirrane, he’s much more interesting. His third here in June was rock solid, and he’s with the top course trainer, who knows exactly how to get him into a rhythm. He needs to bounce back, but this is the right place for him to do it.

Selection: Mister Sox 9/2 with BetMGM

5:15pm 2m1f Napoleons Casino Bradford Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 4) (3yo+ 0-80)

Division Day is a dual purpose performer who has been steadily progressing in both codes, and he looks set to run a big race now back on the Flat with first time cheekpieces applied. He returned from a break to win well at Doncaster in June over 1m4f, sticking on strongly and showing a good attitude to fend off challengers. That effort came off a 3lb lower mark and confirmed he’s still improving. Things didn’t go to plan next time over hurdles at Worcester, where he laboured and never really travelled, but he left a better impression when back on the Flat at York over 2m. He was outpaced at a key stage but kept on, shaping as though an end to end gallop would have suited him better. He still ran to form, beaten 6 lengths by Cruden, and now drops back to a trip that should be well within range.

Cheekpieces go on for the first time, which could sharpen him up, and his trainer won this race last year, another positive. He’s effective from 14f to 20f, acts on good to soft, good and the AW, and remains competitive off this mark. The dangers include Anzac Day, who had a valid excuse last time after suffering heat stress, and Something, likely to make this a proper test from the front. But receiving plenty of weight and with headgear potentially unlocking a bit more, Division Day shades preference.

Selection: Division Day Evens with BetMGM

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