Wednesday 14 April 2010

Pontefract Review...rather not talk about it, thank you!


Richard Fahey and stable jockey Paul Hanagan continued their flying start to the season with a Pontefract double courtesy of Harrison George and Albaqaa.

The former (11-2), conceding weight all round in the Dalby Stand Handicap, came with a strong run to lead inside the final quarter-mile and pass the post with seven lengths to spare over Marvo.

"We did not know whether he got the trip (a mile) or not in the Lincoln as he saw too much daylight," said Fahey's assistant, Robin O'Ryan.

"His owner (Phil Smith) lives in York, so I am sure he will want him to run there at the May meeting, but I don't know in what race yet."

It was a much closer call for Albaqaa (9-4 favourite), but he battled on gamely inside the final furlong of the Paddock Package Handicap to get the better of Distant Memories and Shadows Lengthen.

O'Ryan added: "Albaqaa has deserved to win a good race. He missed the break in the Lincoln and he half-missed it again today, but Paul said it probably helped him as he was able to get him settled. If there is anything for him at York he will go there too."

Apprentice Billy Cray gave Richard Guest's Dan Buoy (20-1) a splendid ride from the front to win the Jamaican Flight Handicap in good style, holding off Bold Adventure by half a length.

Guest said: "I thought he would win, he is a decent horse if he gets his own way in front. If he is OK he will come back here next week for the 'Marathon'."

Fahey and Hanagan came desperately close to completing a treble with Fairy Shoes in the pontefract-races.co.uk Maiden Fillies' Stakes, but she was caught in the last strides by the Shane Kelly-ridden Maid In Heaven, who prevailed by a head.

Zuider Zee (2-1), Newmarket trainer John Gosden's only runner at the meeting, took the High-Rise Median Auction Maiden Stakes, Robert Havlin collaring Forsyth in the last strides to win by a short head.