SHROPSHIRE made a fine start to his campaign when successful at Kempton at the end of last month and rates a good bet on his return to turf at Pontefract.

The Shamardal colt was so impressive on his juvenile debut at Haydock a couple of years ago that he was stepped up to Pattern company for the Gimcrack Stakes, but he was a big disappointment.

This time last year he was running in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury and although well beaten into third, subsequent results have shown that there was no disgrace in finishing behind Frankel and Excelebration.

He returned to handicap company for the remainder of the campaign and while it is fair to say he failed to make the impact that was anticipated, his final run when fourth in a fair event at Doncaster was a big step forward.