Race Day Is Here — And Pontefract Is Ready to Roar
Saturday, 18 July 2026. The sun is beating down on Pontefract, the going is Good to Good to Firm in places, and the atmosphere is already crackling with anticipation. At 15:15, eight talented handicappers will stride into the stalls for the Ripon Bell-Ringer Handicap Stakes (Class 3, GBBPlus) — a race carrying a juicy £50,000 prize pot and enough intrigue to keep punters debating in the car park long after the last horse has pulled up.
Over one mile, four furlongs and ten yards of Pontefract's unique, undulating terrain, this is a test that demands stamina, tactical intelligence, and a jockey who knows exactly when to press the button. With ratings spanning from 78 to 90, there's a genuine spread of ability here — but on the right day, any one of these eight could stride clear. Let's break it down.
Contender-by-Contender Breakdown
1. Spioradalta (6yo, 9-12) — Draw 4
The top weight carries the biggest case for favouritism. Rated 90 and trained by the shrewd Mark Walford, Spioradalta arrives here with the most compelling credential of all: he's a course winner at Pontefract. That matters enormously on a track as quirky and demanding as this one. Paul Mulrennan takes the reins, and he's a rider who knows how to deliver a horse at exactly the right moment. The 9-12 weight is the obvious concern, but Walford doesn't run horses to make up the numbers — if Spioradalta is here, he's here to win.
2. Star Harbour (8yo, 9-10) — Draw 1
The veteran of the field at eight years old, Star Harbour lines up from stall one in the care of Irish handler Adrian McGuinness. The visor goes on — always a signal worth noting — and Oisin Orr takes the ride. Drawing rail on a flat track can be an advantage, and Orr is more than capable of exploiting it. The age is a slight negative, but seasoned handicappers at this level often know their job better than younger rivals. Don't dismiss him.
3. Haku (7yo, 9-10) — Draw 8
Trained by Mark Loughnane and ridden by the ultra-consistent Silvestre De Sousa, Haku brings a crucial form flag to the table: he's a distance winner. A mile and four furlongs suits this horse, and De Sousa's ability to settle a horse and find a rhythm over this kind of trip is second to none. The wide draw in stall eight is the one thing working against him — he'll need to use some energy early to find a good position. But if De Sousa can slot him in smoothly, Haku could be finishing strongest of all.
4. Elsass (4yo, 9-9) — Draw 2
Charlie Johnston saddles the lightly-raced four-year-old Elsass, with Connor Beasley booked for the ride. Drawing stall two is a gift, and at just four years old, there's every chance Elsass hasn't reached his ceiling yet. Johnston is a trainer who targets these valuable handicaps with precision — when he turns up with a horse at this level, he expects to be competitive. No headgear, no fuss. This is a horse who could outrun his 87 rating.
5. Prince of The Seas (4yo, 9-9) — Draw 3
Another four-year-old, another distance winner. David O'Meara's Prince of The Seas has already proven he can get this trip, and Mark Winn rides with the tongue tie applied. Drawing stall three alongside Elsass means both youngsters are beautifully positioned to race prominently without burning unnecessary petrol. O'Meara is one of the most prolific trainers of handicappers in the north, and this looks right in his wheelhouse. Prince of The Seas is a serious contender.
6. Salamanca City (5yo Mare, 9-6) — Draw 5
James Fanshawe's Salamanca City is the only mare in the race, and she arrives with a distance-winning form flag that demands respect. Mares can be wonderfully consistent when conditions suit, and Good to Good to Firm ground is exactly what a Fanshawe horse tends to relish. Daniel Muscutt is a polished jockey who won't panic. She's drawn centrally in stall five, which gives her options. At 84 rated, she's got weight in her favour against the top two, and she could easily nick this if the pace scenario plays out kindly.
Going and Draw: What the Conditions Tell Us
The Good, Good to Firm in places surface at Pontefract on Saturday is ideal for horses with a bit of pace and a clean action. It's not a slog — it's a surface that rewards horses who travel well through their race rather than grinding it out. Stamina is still key over this trip, but the ground won't be a test of raw toughness.
On a flat course like Pontefract, the draw can play a role — and with Good to Firm patches in places, getting a clean run without being shuffled wide matters. Stalls one through four look the most advantageous here, which puts Star Harbour, Elsass, Prince of The Seas, and Spioradalta in the prime positions. Haku's wide draw in stall eight is the one genuine concern for his chances — De Sousa will need to work quickly to avoid covering extra ground.
Value Picks and Dangers to Watch
In a field this competitive, identifying value is the real game. Here's how we see it:
- Spioradalta is the form pick — course form, top jockey, in-form trainer. He'll likely be favourite, so the value may be limited.
- Prince of The Seas looks the most exciting value proposition — a distance winner with a perfect draw, trained by O'Meara at the peak of his powers, and still unexposed at four years old.
- Elsass is the wildcard — Johnston's horses improve dramatically, and Beasley from stall two could steal a march on the field.
- Salamanca City is the each-way danger — lighter weight, proven stamina, and Fanshawe knows how to place a mare.
- Don't completely ignore Per Contra (Tim Easterby, David Allan) — distance winner, and Easterby's horses often run well fresh at this time of year.
Our Selection: Prince of The Seas to Deliver
After weighing it all up, Prince of The Seas is our selection for the Ripon Bell-Ringer Handicap Stakes. The combination of a proven distance win, a favourable draw in stall three, and the tactical nous of David O'Meara makes this four-year-old the most compelling each-way proposition in the race. Mark Winn has been riding with real confidence this season, and the tongue tie suggests connections have left no stone unturned in getting this horse ready to fire.
Spioradalta is the obvious danger — course form is king at Pontefract — but at the top weight of 9-12, he's got more to overcome. If Prince of The Seas travels smoothly and Winn gets the split he needs in the straight, this could be his moment.
Our Tip: Prince of The Seas (Each Way)
Check the full Pontefract racecard for the latest market moves and any late scratchings before the off.
Who is the favourite for the Ripon Bell-Ringer Handicap Stakes?
Spioradalta is expected to head the market as the top-rated runner at 90 and a proven course winner at Pontefract. Trained by Mark Walford and ridden by Paul Mulrennan, he carries the strongest claims on paper — though his 9-12 weight burden means he'll have to work harder than most.
Is Pontefract a good track for front-runners?
Pontefract's undulating, turning nature means it rewards horses that travel well and get a good position early. It's not a pure front-runner's track, but horses drawn low who can race prominently without pulling hard have a clear advantage over a mile and four furlongs. The Good to Firm patches in the ground will also favour horses with a smooth, economical action.
What does the GBBPlus status mean for the Ripon Bell-Ringer Handicap?
GBBPlus (Great British Bonus Plus) races offer additional prize money incentives for British-bred horses, making them particularly attractive to connections running homebred or British-purchased stock. It adds an extra financial dimension to the race and often draws a higher quality of runner than the base prize fund alone might suggest — which is reflected in this competitive eight-runner field.
