After a busy Saturday, the Sunday Series returns at Pontefract to close out this weekend. The seven-race card is full of quality and Matty Sutcliffe has three tips to follow across an enjoyable card.
Pontefract Racing Tips (Sunday 16 August 2026)
The Sunday Series meeting at Pontefract is one of the higher quality events in the series. Across seven races all above class 3, including the Listed Flying Fillies’ Stakes, Matty has three top tips.
16:15 Pontefract – Sky Bet For The Fans Fillies’ Handicap (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-95) – Si Grass 1pt WIN – 5/2 Sky Bet
This is a fairly modest turn out for this 0-95 albeit unsurprisingly given the prize money and more valuable fillies handicap at York next week. Regardless, it can fall the way of Si Grass for Charlie Johnston, who has a respectable 18% strike rate in course handicaps.
The daughter of Churchill made her debut was a 6/4 shot behind Inis Mor this time last year, beaten a length into second by that one who’s now rated 110 after finishing third and second in Group 1 contests this season.
She wasn’t seen until 171 days later when making a winning reappearance at Southwell in January, with Sean Bowen barely having to move. That wasn’t a deep race at all, and lost little in defeat when a neck second next time out giving 7lbs to the well backed winner.
She returned form a 167 day layoff at Goodwood last month when eight, but she was only beaten three lengths in a slowly run race where she was unsuited her pitch in rear, and that should’ve put her spot on for this and a mark of 81 looks workable back on a galloping track.
16:45 Pontefract – EBF Sky Bet Club Flying Fillies’ Stakes (Listed Race) (Fillies & Mares) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Miss Nightcap 1pt EW 3 places – 12/1 Sky Bet
America Queen will prove popular after her close fourth in Group 3 company at York last time out as this is a drop in grade, but she is 0-5 since her debut and her progress has seemingly plateaued.
Similar thoughts apply to the owners Magic Basma, who is 0-13 since making a winning debut and has form figures of 724534224 in listed races, including a 2nd in this race last season when rated significantly shorter.
So while Miss Nightcap has a fair bit of ratings to find with the protagonists, she’s one of the few improvers in the field and deserves her spot at this level for a yard travelling just shy of four hours up the country.
The daughter of Twilight Son evidently took a while to come to hand having had wind surgery in November and only making her debut in May, but it was a pleasing one when second to the now 98 rated Jazl. She got off the mark at Wolverhampton in June when beating 6/4 favourite Hozam in good style.
She then followed that up with a stellar handicap debut at Leicester in a feature fillies handicap, making all in excellent fashion to pull just shy of four lengths clear from the favourite, a runner up three times prior including in a 0-100 fillies handicap at York.
The form requires another step up here, but she was electric in that contest, clocking each furlong quicker than every horse bar one furlong, clocking the highest top speed and the quickest finishing speed percentage.
Combined with a long stride, the ability to sustain and quicken her sharp early speed is a huge asset and if gaining a prominent position early on, this rapidly improving filly could be tough to pass.
17:15 Pontefract – Sky Bet Price Boosts Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-95) – Ammes 1pt WIN – 15/2 Sky Bet
I’m willing to chance Ammes again after siding with him when well-backed at Goodwood last time out, in a race which failed to pan out late on.
The son of No Nay Never has just the one win to his name on the level, but he’s produced a number of solid efforts in defeat this season that suggests this turn is near. Arguably the best of them was when fourth in the Old Newton Cup at Newmarket, beaten three lengths by Sportingsilvermine who latterly finished second in the Shergar Cup Challenge at the weekend.
He was ahead of the fifth there, Al Aali, who had High Degree two lengths behind him next time out and given Ammes is 2lbs lower, he’s certainly better off with that one. He looked to be coming with a winning run at Goodwood last time out, but he was bumped numerous times by the eventual winner and clearly had his momentum thwarted, before staying on again.
Stepping back up in trip on the more galloping track should suit, back under Jason Hart who was beaten 3/4 lengths on him at Redcar four starts back.
Matthew Sutcliffe’s Tips for Saturday 15 August
16:15 Pontefract – Sky Bet For The Fans Fillies’ Handicap (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-95) – Si Grass 1pt WIN – 5/2 Sky Bet
16:45 Pontefract – EBF Sky Bet Club Flying Fillies’ Stakes (Listed Race) (Fillies & Mares) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Miss Nightcap 1pt EW 3 places – 12/1 Sky Bet
17:15 Pontefract – Sky Bet Price Boosts Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-95) – Ammes 1pt WIN – 15/2 Sky Bet
FAQs
What are today’s racing tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets at Pontefract on Sunday 16 August.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s Sunday Series tips were published at 4pm on Friday 14 August.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival. Follow him on X: @MattySutcliffe
Commercial notice: This article on GG.co.uk contains affiliate links. The offers we promote come from operators that we trust and our experts have first-hand experience dealing with. If you open an account through one of these affiliate links then GG will earn revenue. However, we ensure that the money earned goes back into improving and enhancing our coverage of horse racing and other sports, as we look to provide an excellent service to our growing audience.