Keeper can save the day

RACING: Stiff finish can play into hands of Dascombe hope

HE’S A KEEPER can provide the key to the ebfstallions.com Silver Tankard Stakes at Pontefract.

Tom Dascombe’s youngster has shaped with promise in his three starts to date, all of which have been at Haydock.

The son of Brazen Beau got off the mark at the second attempt when landing the odds by a comfortable four lengths on soft ground in August.

Sent off 7-2 second-favourite for the Listed Ascendant Stakes, he was outpaced at a crucial stage but stayed on well to finish sixth behind Pyledriver.

Bearing that in mind, the stiff finish at Pontefract should play to He’s A Keeper’s strengths.

The two and a quarter miles of the Phil Bull Trophy Conditions Stakes will take some getting in soft ground so with that in mind, it is safest to go for a dualpurpose performer.

Possibly the one who fits the bill best in Keith Dalgleish’s TAXMEIFYOUCAN.

Last seen winning over hurdles at Hexham over two and a half miles, stamina is certainly not going to be an issue for the five-year-old.

With £20,000 up for grabs, it is no wonder Dalgleish has decided to switch him back to the Flat and, having not run under this code since December 2018, there is every chance he could be well handicapped. SELECTIONS PLUMPTON: 2.10 War Lord, 2.40 Wenceslaus, 3.10 Magen’s Moon, 3.40 Musical Slave, 4.10 Shambra, 4.40 Dont Be Robin, 5.10 Chloe’s Court. PONTEFRACT: 2.20 Out Of Breath, 2.50 Simply Silca, 3.20 Illustrissime, 3.50 HE’S A KEEPER (NAP), 4.20 King Power, 4.50 Taxmeifyoucan, 5.20 Militia. WINDSOR: 2.00 Just An Idea, 2.30 Letscrackon, 3.00 Voltaic, 3.30 Data Protection, 4.00 Leader Writer, 4.30 Flying Dragon, 5.00 Banksy’s Art. DOUBLE: He’s A Keeper and Taxmeifyoucan.