held up in 3rd and well off the pace, closed up 11f out, close 3rd when not much room on inside over 2f out, switched right to outside well over 1f out, went 2nd over 1f out, stayed on to close on winner towards finish, always held
held up in 5th and off the pace, closed up 11f out, tracked leading pair going well over 3f out, led 2f out, soon ridden and headed, no impression when lost 2nd over 1f out, faded and lost 3rd inside final furlong
led early, tracked clear leader, closed up 11f out, ridden along over 4f out, weakened 3f out, eased final 2f, tailed off
held up last and well off the pace, took closer order 11f out, pushed along on outside 6f out, headway to 3rd over 2f out, challenged 2f out, led soon after, driven inside final furlong, held on gamely towards finish
soon led, strong pace and soon well clear, reduced lead 11f out, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in last pair and well off the pace, closer order 11f out, pushed along 5f out, weakened 2f out
raced in 4th and off the pace, close up 11f out, ridden and outpaced over 3f out, rallied to well held 3rd inside final furlong
Course specialist DAN BUOY gets the vote in the Pontefract Cup ahead of Theola, with Markington and the Ian Williams pair also to be considered. Our pick has struck up a great partnership with Billy Cray here at Pontefract, where they combine for form figures of 1 - 2 - 2, and although he's 4lbs higher than that latest second we're inclined to give him the vote with the small field to suit. He has one way of winning and that's to fly off in front and attempt to burn them all off and if the others allow Cray to put that plan into affect it may pay off. Theola won here last term and may have come on for her first run of the term when mid-division at Ascot. She's only 6lbs higher than when winning at York back in September, bounces off quick ground, and should run well for Mark Tompkins who does well here. Markington has course form figures of 1 - 2 here as well and arrives on the back of a win over hurdles. He needs quick ground to be seen to his best but if he gets it must run well just 5lbs above his last winning rating. Ian Williams saddles two and of them Swinging Hawk is the most interesting, having his first run for the yard. He's hard to assess but appears to enjoy cut in the ground so if the combination of rain and market support arrived it'd surely pay to take note. His other runner Mith Hill isn't discounted on the pick of his form but ran poorly on his sole try here and has plenty of weight, Ambrose Princess runs from out of the weights and Spiders Star has work to do with Dan Buoy, who gets the vote.
Swinging Hawk (GER) (9-2) won at Deauville(FR) 1m 4f clm std in Dec, 16 ran.
Theola (IRE) 7-1 (8-9) Towards rear, steady headway on outside from 4f out, never reached leaders, 6th of 15, 5l behind Ermyn Lodge (8-10) at Ascot 2m hcp 0-90 (3) gf in May.
Mith Hill 20-1 (8-10) Mid-division, weakened over 3f out, 7th of 12, 9l behind Dayia (8-10) at Haydock 2m hcp 0-100 (2) gs in May.
Markington 20-1 (8-6) Held up, weakened over 3f out, 9th of 15, 20l behind Aaim To Prosper (9-8) at Newmarket 2m hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Oct.
Dan Buoy (FR) 7-1 (8-5) Led and clear until over 7f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, rallied and every chance inside final furlong, no extra near finish, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Miss Keck (9-2) at Pontefract 2m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Spiders Star 7-1 (8-2) In rear, pushed along and outpaced over 4f out, kept on from over 1f out, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Miss Keck (9-2) at Pontefract 2m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Ambrose Princess (IRE) 13-2 (8-11) Chased leading trio, went modest 2nd well over 1f out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 7l behind On Terms (9-4) at Folkestone 2m hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
