Pontefract Preview Blog
Sunday 22nd June 2025
2.10: Pontefract Races Autism In Racing EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes: We get things underway on Sunday at Pontefract with the 2.10 and this is a Class 4 novice event for fillies over a distance of six furlongs. BLEEP TEST should be tough to beat here for Tim Easterby and David Allan. She’s already shown a good level of form, winning a maiden at Redcar on her penultimate start after finishing second on debut to the useful Ali Shuffle at that same track over five furlongs. She was narrowly denied by a neck in second on her most recent start at York in a Class 2 event last week, and if she runs to that level again here, she should go in again.
Shortlist: Bleep Test
2.40: Anna Woolley Memorial Handicap: We move into handicap company at 2.40 with a Class 6 handicap contested over a distance of a mile and two furlongs. This could be the day to side with ROMAN SECRET for Kevin Frost and Alec Voikhansky, who takes off three pounds. He ran a decent race on his seasonal reappearance at Nottingham, finishing fourth behind the in-form Dawn Of Liberation, with that run coming within Class 5 company. He got tired in the closing stages on that occasion, suggesting he should come on significantly for that run second time out here. He’s now ten pounds below his last winning mark, with a further three coming off his back via his rider.
Shortlist: Roman Secret
3.10: Pontefract Races Chairman’s Challenge Handicap: We move up in grade at 3.10 with a Class 3 handicap that’s contested over a mile and four furlongs. Andrew Balding’s LIEBER POWER is down in grade here, having contested Class 2 events recently, with his most recent run being a very solid fourth of fourteen at Haydock last month, where he was only a length and three-quarters behind the eventual winner, who was the useful Stressfree. That level of form would likely be good enough to win this, and it would be disappointing should he not post a bold bid in this grade off his current mark.
Shortlist: Lieber Power
3.40: Pontefract Castle Fillies’ Stakes: The feature race of the afternoon comes up at 3.40 and this is the Listed Pontefract Castle Fillies’ Stakes over a mile and four furlongs. The highly progressive SANTORINI STAR should have a big say here, up in grade for William Haggas and Tom Marquand. She’s been progressing through the ranks in impressive style and comes into the contest having three of her last four starts within handicap company, with the most recent success coming within Class 2 company at Goodwood. She may yet have more to offer, and looks very solid here.
Karl Burke’s Karmology is much more battle-hardened to this sort of level, and takes an ease in grade having finished a distant fifth behind See The Fire in the Group 2 Middleton Fillies Stakes at York last time out. She should be making her presence felt now she’s back down in Listed company. Meribella concludes the shortlist, Ralph Beckett’s filly was only a couple of lengths behind the Haggas filly last time out, and would have to enter calculations here on her third place behind Sea Theme in a Listed event at Lingfield back in November.
Shortlist: Santorini Star, Kamology, Meribella
4.15: Moor Top Farm Shop Hemsworth Pontefract Cup Handicap: The fifth race of the afternoon is the 4.15 and this is the Pontefract Cup, which is a Class 4 handicap that’s contested over two miles and two furlongs. It may be worth taking a chance on the unexposed SURREY FIRE here for Hughie Morrison and Tom Marquand. He’s a novice winner who posted his best effort to date last time out at Chelmsford when upped in distance, finishing fourth and just a length and a half behind Road To Wembley. He’ll contest this off just a pound higher mark, and whilst this is a significant step up in distance, it could unlock further improvement.
Brian Ellison’s Captain Potter has a bit to find on ratings; however, he does look well-handicapped with a seven-pound claimer on his back, and he shouldn’t have an issue with the distance. He also ran well here last time, finishing three-quarters of a length second of ten, albeit that coming with in Class 6 company. Almudena can make up the shortlist for Sir Mark Prescott and Luke Morris; he’ll need to bounce back from a poor seasonal reappearance, however, he’s proven over the trip and should be a lot sharper for this assignment.
Shortlist: Surrey Fire, Captain Potter, Almudena
4.50: Sunpak Potatoes Handicap: The penultimate race of the afternoon at Pontefract is the 4.50, and this is a Class 3 handicap that’s set to be ridden over six furlongs. One who’s currently trading at a best price of 10/1 at the time of writing, who makes some appeal here, is KNICKS for Michael & David Easterby, who’s the mount of Lewis Chalkey, who takes off seven pounds. He’s run well in each of his three handicaps so far this term, most notably, on his penultimate start when finishing a shoulder second of fourteen in a competitive Musselburgh handicap. He’ll effectively contest this off a five-pound lower mark than that run when you take the rider’s claim into consideration, and that could bring him into the equation.
Partisan Hero is the most solid-looking option in the race; he currently heads the betting and comes into the race in fine form, and has already won here twice this season, albeit over a mile. He drops back down in trip here but should still make a bold bid. Native Instinct is a potential improver for Ed Bethell and Callum Rodriguez. He wasn’t totally disgraced on handicap debut when finishing seventh on his seasonal reappearance, and should be a lot sharper here.
Shortlist: Knicks, Partisan Hero, Native Instinct
5.25: Napoleons Casino Bradford Handicap: Signing us off for the day will be the 5.25, and this is a Class 5 handicap which is contested over a mile. I think that ADORLA OF ACHILL can go well here for Hugo Palmer and Rossa Ryan. She progressed from an encouraging handicap debut when finishing fourth to win at Haydock last time out over today’s distance. She kept on well that day and has been given a five-pound pound for her troubles; however, she’s still unexposed and could still be on the upgrade. I think that she has to be considered a significant player.
Style Of Life also won last time out, with her success coming at Chester last week when winning a Class 5 handicap over seven and a half furlongs by two lengths. That was a good performance, and she can be on the premises again off a six-pound higher mark here if she’s in the same form. Sir Maxi could be on a tempting mark for Sam England and Shane Gray; he’s up in trip here and is just two pounds higher than his last winning mark. He’ll need to bounce back from a poor run here last time over six furlongs, but this distance could help.
Shortlist: Adorla Of Achill, Style Of Life, Sir Maxi
