Another Grand Evening at Ponty
Well now, if you were looking for a quiet Wednesday evening by the fire, you picked the wrong night to skip Pontefract. The Yorkshire track served up a proper feast of competitive flat racing that had more twists than a Cork country road. Six races of varying quality, but by God, there was enough promise on show to keep the notebook busy and the betting slips flowing.
The going description of good to soft, good in places was spot on – proper summer racing conditions that allowed the speed merchants to show their wares while still giving the stayers a fair crack. You could see the horses enjoying themselves out there, and when they're happy, we're all happy, aren't we?
Novice Stakes Sets the Tone
The opener, that British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes, was always going to be the form race of the evening, and it didn't disappoint. Seven runners over the minimum trip, and you had to love the variety on offer – from Andrew Mullen's Dubai Champion to Daniel Tudhope's Calef, there was genuine depth here.
What caught my eye was the way these youngsters handled the track. Pontefract's quirky bends and undulations can find out the pretenders quickly enough, but the class showed through. Fantasy Force under M.P. Sheehy looked particularly impressive in the preliminaries – there's a horse with the right attitude for this game.
Hidden Gift with Oisin Orr aboard is one I'll be keeping a close eye on. That combination alone tells you there's ability there, and Orr doesn't travel from Ireland for no reason. Mark that one down for future reference, especially when the handicapper gets his hands on him.
Maiden Fillies Show Promise
The second race, that marathon maiden fillies' stakes over a mile and two furlongs, was a different kettle of fish entirely. Four runners might seem sparse, but sometimes quality trumps quantity, and Golden Step looked every inch a filly going places.
Jack Mitchell in the saddle is never a bad sign, and the way she moved through her work suggested we'll be seeing her name in winners' enclosures before too long. Gone By with Hector Crouch was another to note – Crouch's been riding with real confidence lately, and connections clearly think enough of this one to pitch her into this grade.
Wootton's Gal is an interesting runner for the future. That breeding suggests she'll only improve with time and distance, and Oisin Orr picking up the spare ride tells its own story. These are the fillies that pop up in decent handicaps come autumn, mark my words.
Handicap Heaven and Future Stars
The meat and drink of the evening came with those three handicaps, and what a mixed bag they served up. The Bishopton Equine Handicap was a proper cavalry charge with fourteen runners, the sort of race where fortunes are made and lost in a furlong.
Superfortress at the top of the weights looked the part in the paddock – James Sullivan knows his way around this track, and a horse rated 70 in this company suggested connections fancied their chances. But it was further down the weights where the real value might have lurked.
The Childe of Hale is a name that'll stick with you, and Tom Eaves riding at 68 looked each way value. That's the sort of mark where a horse can find improvement, especially one that's been campaigned carefully. Avatar Jet is another for the notebook – rated 67 but showing signs of coming to hand at just the right time.
The sprint handicaps that followed were pure theater. Beattie Is Back in the 6f contest looked ready to live up to that optimistic name, while the 5f finale promised fireworks with Wen Moon and Betweenthesticks heading the market.
Ones to Follow and Future Targets
Right, let's talk about the horses that'll be paying the bills in the weeks ahead. From tonight's Pontefract racecard, I'm marking down several for future investment.
Hidden Gift from the opener is bred to improve and showed enough natural ability to suggest bigger things await. Fantasy Force looked professional beyond her years – that's a filly who could step up significantly in grade.
From the handicaps, keep a close eye on The Childe of Hale. That rating of 68 looks workable, and the way he moved suggested the penny's about to drop. Avatar Jet is another who caught the eye – sometimes a horse just needs the right conditions to show his true worth.
Magic Boy in the 6f handicap is worth following through the summer circuit. That rating of 72 might look steep, but Faye McManoman's claim makes him interesting, and there's been whispers from the yard that he's been working like a dream at home.
For the sprint merchants, Azuinthejungle is a name that'll either make you rich or drive you to drink – probably both. That rating of 68 with the claim looks fair enough, and she's the type who could nick a decent prize on her day.
Looking Ahead
The beauty of an evening like this is seeing where these horses pop up next. Several of tonight's runners will be heading to the summer festivals – York, Goodwood, and the like – while others will stick to the bread-and-butter circuit where the real money's made.
What impressed me most was the competitive nature of every race. Even that final Class 6 affair had enough depth to keep you guessing, and when Ziggy's Avenger and Deep Sleep are heading the market, you know there's genuine ability on show.
The trainers deserve credit too – seeing horses turned out in proper order, ready to do themselves justice. That's what this game's all about, and tonight Pontefract delivered in spades. Roll on the next evening meeting – I'll be there with bells on and notebook ready.
