Racing tips: A Big chance at Pontefract?

The five-year-old has been a credit to connections, making progress up the ratings since finishing second in the John Smith’s Cup at York last year.

After a disappointing effort at Ascot, he bounced back with third at Sandown at the start of the month.

Michael Appleby has given him just over three weeks off the track since that run and Big Country should be nicely refreshed for a race in which he appears to hold all the aces.

Highly Sprung let down favourite-backers at Pontefract last time but can make amends in the tiesplanet.com - Ties For Every Occasion Handicap.

Les Eyre’s charge has won two of his last three outings at the Yorkshire venue, taking a 13lb hike in the weights in the process.

Matchmaking can preserve his unbeaten record this season when he runs at Wolverhampton.

Sir Mark Prescott’s three-year-old chestnut is three from three this summer and is clearly a textbook improver.

His most recent triumph, at Bath on Wednesday, was his most visually impressive as he readily disposed of two interesting rivals by upwards of four and a half lengths.

Matchmaking is burdened with a 6lb penalty for the mymedsuk.com Online Pharmacy Handicap, but that is highly unlikely to be too much of an issue.

Hammersly Lake bounced back to winning form for the first time in nearly a year at the start of the month and can kick on again in the Fox Family Chase at Uttoxeter.

He thrives on quick ground and proved more than capable of defying top weight when winning at Cartmel.

Selections

Wolverhampton: 1.20 Coiste Bodhar, 1.50 Penny Poet, 2.20 Kersall, 2.50 Domestic Way, 3.20 Medici Oro, 3.55 Matchmaking, 4.25 Blyton Lass, 5.00 Miss Mollie.

Pontefract: 2.00 Flawless Jewel, 2.30 Correggio, 3.00 Roddy, 3.35 BIG COUNTRY (NAP), 4.05 Highly Sprung, 4.35 Rock Force, 5.10 Scoundrel.

Uttoxeter: 2.10 Vive Le Roi, 2.40 Lord Caprio, 3.10 Monbeg Legend, 3.45 Theatrebar, 4.15 Hammersly Lake, 4.45 Grania O’Malley, 5.20 Aunty Ann.